Kilby Block Party Returns With A Stellar 4 Day/Night Lineup

Jun 3

Written By Castro

The 2025 Kilby Block Party, held from May 15–18 at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City, marked a significant milestone in the festival’s evolution. Expanding to a four-day event for the first time, it attracted over 25,000 plus attendees daily, solidifying its reputation as a premier indie and alternative music festival in the U.S. This was our third year covering and cannot emphasize enough how this festival continues to impress year by year. Check out some of the highlights.

Musical Bliss

New Order opened the festival on Thursday night. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

The lineup was a harmonious blend of legendary acts and emerging talents. Thursday afternoon/night kick-off featured electrifying performances by Future Islands, Devo, and New Order. New Order’s set was particularly memorable, culminating in a dazzling laser show during “Blue Monday.” At one point in what can be the surprise of the festival, the group was joined by none other than The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers to sing “Bizaree Love Triangle”; you can tell in many ways how New Order has influenced The Killers’ sound, primarily in the early Hot Fuzz days.

Dark and dreamy as always the case with fest favorites Beach House (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

To kick things off on Friday, we saw Yo La Tengo delivering a warm, nostalgic performance, setting the tone for the weekend. Other notable acts on Friday included sets from dreamy Beach House, Car Seat Head Rest, and a reunion of indie legends Rilo Kiley with Jenny Lewis sounding as amazing as she did back then. Momma was our favorite of the day, giving us that, “Do you remember when they played The Lake Stage at Kilby vibe?”. Perfume Genius played an electrifying animated day set, only leading to his reputation as an amazing live musician/band.

Legends never die. Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo shreds. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

Saturday, the festival was in full stride as worthy sets from Panda Bear, Toro Y Moi, St. Vincent, and Wallows all set us up for the nights headliner, Weezer. Rivers Cuomo and company played the entire “Blue” album with some classics sprinkled in that had the whole crowd singing along. The space-themed set had the band adorned in astronaut costumes as they played along and delivered one of the best sets we have seen from them to date.

Suki Waterhouse did not dissappoint. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

The festival concluded on Sunday with a diverse lineup. Suki Waterhouse enchanted with her ethereal pop melodies, while TV on the Radio delivered a politically charged and energetic set, featuring a rare performance of “The Wrong Way.” Justice closed the festival with a visually stunning electronic set, leaving the crowd in awe. An array of lights and strobes energized the crowd to finish up four days of amazing music from some amazing artists.

Fashion lived up at Kilby. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

Atmosphere & Community

Beyond the music, Kilby Block Party fostered a vibrant community spirit. Attendees from across the country gathered, many considering it their favorite festival, surpassing even Coachella and Bonnaroo. The festival grounds buzzed with creativity, from expressive fashion statements to engaging activities like skateboarding competitions and silent discos. Vendors such as Skull Candy, Verizon, and Sun Bum enabled attendees to try and learn about some amazing products, with some freebies to go along.

Weather & Logistics

While the festival enjoyed mostly favorable weather, Sunday morning brought rain. However, the downpour didn’t dampen spirits; instead, it inspired joyful dancing among attendees. The festival’s organization was commendable, with efficient scheduling allowing fans to transition between sets seamlessly. Seasoned festival attendees always seem prepared in case of weather takes a turn for the worse. A new stage layout also made it easier for festival traffic to go back and forth between stages. Even the main arena in the stadium opened up this year to host a stage, which was a good call.

Final Thoughts

Kilby Block Party 2025 successfully blended musical excellence with a sense of community and creativity. Its growth from a simple block party to a major festival is a testament to its commitment to showcasing diverse talent and fostering an inclusive atmosphere. As one attendee aptly put it, “I don’t know how they’ll ever top this weekend. But I imagine they’ll sure try.” A question we ask ourselves every year. With every new year, Kilby continues to showcase why this humble little block party has turned into one of the most anticipated festivals for the past couple of years. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. See you next year, Kilby.