REVIEW: Kilby Block Party 2025 Proves It’s Still the Coolest Weekend in Salt Lake

Welcome to Kilby Block Party, where the energy is electric and the music is just getting started. From breakout acts to hometown favorites, KBP captured the vibrant spirit and unforgettable moments that kicked off the festival in style. Dive in and experience the sights and sounds that made the opening day one to remember:

Salt Lake City, Utah doesn’t always feel like a festival town, but for one weekend in late spring, the city turns into something else entirely. By the time crowds packed into the fairground for Kilby Block Party 2025, the air already felt electric. People were still figuring out where the stages were and which line was for water, but none of that mattered. The second the music kicked in, the whole place shifted. It wasn’t overtly polished, it wasn’t perfect, but it hit in all the right ways.

Acts jumped between moods all weekend, bouncing from guitar-heavy indie sets to danceable pop to the sort of chaotic punk that rattles your ribcage. Every day had at least one “everyone sprint to this stage now” moment, the kind of set that becomes the default highlight when people recount the festival later.

HIGHLIGHTS

Sloppy Jane, by Keira Lindgren

Sloppy Jane ended up being the surprise hit of the weekend. From the moment they hit the stage, the band drew everyone in with a raw, dramatic energy that felt completely unique to frontwoman Haley Dahl. Dahl’s vocals were intense and captivating, pulling the crowd into every twist of the songs. The music shifted seamlessly from quiet, tense moments to explosive bursts of sound, keeping everyone hooked. By the end, what started as a curiosity became one of the festival’s most talked-about performances.

Weezer’s set was one of those festival moments that just felt instantly right. From the first guitar crunch, the energy shifted and the crowd lit up like they’d been waiting all day for this exact sound. Rivers Cuomo was in great form, hitting every note and tossing out pleasantly awkward and charming little asides that had the crowd grinning between songs.

Weezer, by Keira Lindgren

TV on the Radio delivered one of the most magnetic sets, the kind that pulls you in before you even realize what’s happening. Their sound hit with a perfect mix of sharp energy and emotional weight, and every song felt bigger than the stage it was on. Tunde Adebimpe’s vocals were locked in, rich and urgent, and the band played with a chemistry that made everything feel alive and slightly unpredictable in the best way. It was a set that reminded everyone just how classic this band is: bold, heartfelt, and impossible to look away from.

KBP Artwork, by Keira Lindgren

Between sets, the festival was packed with little moments that made the weekend feel full. Food vendors stayed slammed but still delivered, the merch tents kept pulling in long lines, and the art installations gave everyone an excuse to stop walking and just look around for a second.

KPB attendees, by Keira Lindgren

Kilby’s magic isn’t just in the music, it’s in the people. Longtime fans, locals, and first-time visitors all shared the same enthusiasm, creating a sense of community that you could feel in the air. Everywhere you looked, people were smiling, dancing, or cheering along to a set. That kind of energy made the festival feel alive, and it was impossible not to get swept up in the fun.

The thing about Kilby Block Party is that all the loose edges make it better. The (few and far between) imperfections give it a huge personality. You can feel people lean into the weekend rather than trying to control it. By the last night, the exhaustion was collective, the energy was still high, and everyone felt like they’d just lived through something that mattered in its own chaotic way.

View the full gallery of the weekend below:

Photos by Keira Lindgren