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second time’s a charm.

I didn’t think I’d be back at Kilby Block Party so soon, but there I was in Salt Lake City in May for round two. Last year I did the Friday through Sunday stretch, but this year the fest added a Thursday night set, which gave everything a more stretched-out feel. I didn’t go hard on Thursday. Instead, I wandered the grounds, scoped out the new layout, and posted up for New Order’s headlining set.

The biggest surprise of the night? Brandon Flowers from The Killers joined New Order on stage to perform Bizarre Love Triangle. No one around me saw it coming and the crowd went wild. Such an iconic moment and the perfect way to kick things off.

friday’s marathon.

Friday was hands-down the longest day for me. I kicked things off early with Cardinal Bloom at the lake stage and basically didn’t stop moving for the rest of the day. Sets I caught in order (or close to it): Being Dead, Free Range, The Lemon Twigs, Been Stellar, Perfume Genius, Medium Build, Hey, Nothing, Youth Lagoon, and Rilo Kiley. I can’t even tell you how many steps I took, but I know I hit that sweet spot where you’re tired but not quite crashing yet.

Perfume Genius was incredible. It felt theatrical and raw all at once, somehow both personal and massive. Medium Build surprised me too. I had liked what I’d heard before but seeing them live added a whole new layer.

saturday’s sweet spot.

Saturday was a little more manageable. I managed to catch Bartees Strange, Black Country, New Road, and then the big three: St. Vincent, Wallows, and Weezer.

I had seen Wallows at Hinterland in 2023 during a rained-out set, so seeing them again in much better weather and under far more enjoyable conditions was a treat. Dylan even jumped down and made his way through the crowd, getting a little lost in the VIP+ section, which added a fun and spontaneous touch to the set. It all made for a much more memorable performance this time around.

sunday, soggy edition.

It rained. A lot. I didn’t even try to rally for the early sets. Sometimes you have to listen to your body (and your mud-caked shoes). I showed up later in the day and managed to catch Beeson, Tennis, Suki Waterhouse, Nation of Language, TV on the Radio, and part of Justice’s set before calling it.

Suki Waterhouse was a standout. I’d seen her before and liked her well enough, but she blew me away this time. Her stage presence felt effortless in the best way. TV on the Radio was another highlight. It’s wild to think how long they’ve been around and still bring that much energy.

logistics, layout, and VIP+.

A few things changed from last year:

• They moved one of the stages into the stadium and added a smaller one near the Kilby Stage, which helped reduce that noise bleed you sometimes get when sets overlap.
• The silent disco relocated too and felt more tucked away this time.
• I upgraded from VIP to VIP+ and honestly? Worth it. Front-of-stage access at both the lake and main stages made all the difference. Prices are still pretty reasonable compared to bigger festivals and it felt good to treat myself without feeling like I was getting scammed.

final thoughts.

KBP 2025 was more of a slow burn than a sprint, but it paid off. I didn’t have that full adrenaline-dump weekend I’ve had at other fests, but the individual moments—Perfume Genius, Suki, St. Vincent—stood out in such clear ways. I also felt more confident navigating everything this time around, from the schedule to where to stand to how to pace myself.

Will I go again next year? Probably. There’s something really special about Kilby. The mix of acts, the manageable size, the way it doesn’t try too hard to be “cool.” It just is.

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