The indie music lovers' Superbowl: Kilby Block Party 7 is here

SALT LAKE CITY — What started as an actual block party in Salt Lake's Granary District seven years ago now draws a crowd organizers estimate will be 90,000-strong this year, over the course of three days, with nearly half coming from outside of Utah.

An artist in Friday's lineup, Jack Rutter, known on stage as Ritt Momney, told KSL he felt lucky to be on the festival's first-ever bill, next to Death Cab for Cutie — a well-liked band in Utah, which previously visited the festival in 2024. Rutter released a cover of Corinne Bailey Rae's "Put Your Records On" that went viral and helped launch his career. He's now celebrating the release of his third album with a tour that was bookended with Kilby — launching with a show at Kilby Court, the festival's original venue, and ending on Friday with his performance at Kilby Block Party at 7 p.m. at the Utah State Fairpark.

"When I think of playing a show, I think of Kilby (Court)," he said. "It's very much like the symbol of Salt Lake live music to me."

The annual festival runs for three days, except for last year, when a fourth day was added because "that was the only day New Order could play," said marketing coordinator Riley Bode, laughing. "We thought that was so special and it was just a show that we really wanted to do. We fit the lineup so well, so we just threw it in there."

With hot artists including Lorde, Hayley Williams, Modest Mouse, The XX, Turnstile, Lucy Dacus, Briston Maroney and more, organizers have promised to bring ticket-holders a magical experience.

How artists are chosen

Something Bode said people might not know is that the team at S&S Presents — the event production company behind KBP, among other popular SLC venues — studies the listening behavior, survey results, and social media comments of its attendees when forming the lineup for the next festival.

"We really focus on 'who do people want?'" Bode said. "And whoever people want, we're going to go and get."

After identifying high-scoring artists, bookers find similar artists and curate the lineup from a creative standpoint — a choose-your-own-festival of sorts… but with curation that supports local artists and creates a cohesive lineup.

"It was really cool that year LCD Soundsystem played, because you had Persona 749, which is like a local Utah band opening the festival and they totally, totally go with LCD Soundsystem and it's awesome," Bode said. "I mean, in what world do you see a local Utah band opening for LCD Soundsystem?"

When asked what sets KBP apart from any other music festival, booker Faye Barhnhurst said it was hard not to gush.

"We really do value fan experience as well as artist experience," she said. "We really listen to feedback we've gotten feedback over the years that we've implemented, like people asked for re-entry and so we allowed re-entry. Or, when we release set times, if there's a band that we're seeing a lot of people (ask), 'Why are these bands playing at the same time?' we'll try to adjust it if we can."

And KBP has increased its events, accommodations, and overall hype: kickoff performances days in advance, after parties featuring lineup bands who play a second time, a silent disco, a skateboarding "Crusher Cup," and a mobile app that largely influences the plans attendees make on festival weekend.

Bode said a fun tidbit this year will manifest in the form of a sponsor: JNCO — a brand of jeans made popular in the 90s, an increasingly important fashion era to the youth of today. Although some in attendance might be able to remember purchasing JNCOs back then, because ticket holders range in age from 18 to over 55. Bode said KBP's largest age group range is 18–29-year-olds, with 43% of the pie.

Celebrity sightings

Asked if she could tease any celebrity appearances this year, Bode said, "There will be some. I can say that … they'll be exciting and fun and kind of unexpected."

KBP lovers flocked to social media two years ago when YouTuber-turned-fashion mogul Emma Chamberlain attended, and the same year, "Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" star Heather Gay made a cameo appearance during Vampire Weekend's set. Now, online forums often track who has been spotted and where, with some celebrity performers reportedly joining the crowd after their own sets and enjoying the festival themselves.

Despite the hype, S&S doesn't tout itself as a function for elites but rather as a curated experience that aims to support and serve its own community. Every partnership, down to the local ticketing platform, 24tix, is an intentional choice made to reinforce its supporters and community. If anything, Bode said, she feels the celebrity attention proves that music can be a commonality between classes.

"It shows that you come to Kilby Block Party because you love the artists playing, you have an appreciation for music, you like being able to find new bands and I think that's like the common heart of it," she said. "With some of these people coming, it just shows that music has no bounds. You know? I think it's really cool."

Effect on Utah's music industry

Barnhurst and Rutter expressed gratitude to S&S Presents and Kilby Court for pushing jobs in the industry, expanding into the state of Utah, and making it possible for them to live out their dreams without having to relocate. Barnhurst said she felt this way early in her career after searching for an industry field that fit her.

"I feel this was a nice route for me because I mean, I love music. I love live music, but I don't play," she said. "So yeah, I feel like I never really knew that there were jobs in the industry that you could have that weren't just like playing music, you know?"

Barnhurst started booking local talent for the original venue around the time Kilby Block Party got its start. She said her interactions with local talent are the ones that stand out to her most, "making fun shows for these local bands that are kind of just getting their start," but she's also enjoyed working with agencies all around the country, watching bigger projects come into fruition.

Rutter echoed Barnhurst, confirming that the chances he had to be featured on Kilby Court lineups were crucial for his blossoming career.

"I feel a loyalty to Kilby because they make it a point to prop up local young acts and help people like me get started with live music," he said. "Before we were really selling any kind of tickets, they were putting us on opening bills for cool bands that were coming through, and I just think it's like a really important contribution that they make to the community."

Now, Rutter said, he's lucky to be able to keep his home life steady and live close to his family, while still touring alongside his East High School sweetheart and now wife, Lindsay, who sews merch from thrifted clothing for Ritt Momney fans.

Tickets

While VIP options are sold out as KBP 7 launches, single-day passes are still available for $145 to $155, and three-day general admission passes for $350. A three-day VIP pass sold for $460, where pass holders get unlimited re-entry, access to VIP lounges, exclusive VIP food options, bars, restrooms, merch booths and photo ops. Another layer of exclusivity is the Kilby Club VIP pass, which costs $800 and includes everything a regular VIP pass does, plus access to the Kilby Club VIP Lounge and a "really special" viewing area for the main stages, Bode said. All prices quoted include fees and sales tax.

"There's a spot that they can be in that's going to kind of give them this, like 'back-of-house' view, which I think is really special when you're at a festival. I think people who purchase a high-level ticket are looking for something like that," she said.

She encouraged festivalgoers to register their wristbands so they could fill out the survey after this year's wrap and put in their votes for the artists they'd most like to see next time. Because, as Bode insists, you visit to listen to Kilby and, in turn, Kilby listens to you.

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