Kilby Block Party5, in celebration of the titular local venue’s 25th anniversary, was the festival’s biggest iteration yet. Acts such as LCD Soundsystem and Vampire Weekend brought fans from around the country, donning plenty of glitter and vibrating off of the free Celsius energy drinks offered. Though the festival is known primarily for its pull with indie fans, this year’s lineup contained sprinklings of shoegaze, post-punk and experimental pop. KBP hasn’t typically hosted bands known for aggressive mosh pits, but mosh the younger crowd did. Allegedly, shoes were thrown during at least one performance, which may explain the disturbing quantity of bare toes out on the asphalt. There were also a few alleged physical altercations for which the gentle tunes of Death Cab for Cutie provided the background music. Musical festivals—the excitement, booze and heat stroke—bring out the far-too-often-untapped feral side of each of us, and we’re grateful to be home to an environment that brings that out of folks in our stereotypically sheltered state.
KBP deserves props for bringing so many incredible acts and so much national media attention to SLC, as well as for boasting an above-adequate bathroom situation and plenty of free water stations for a crowd of thousands. Waiting in line forever is what I often dread most about events of this size, but that proved to be a non-issue here, despite the masses of people flooding in. The second thing I dread with festivals of this nature is a no re-entry policy that holds attendees hostage, forcing them to either cough up a full day’s wages for a plate of something hardly edible. This concern was also quickly dismissed by the way KBP was run, with re-entry for all and a plethora of genuinely delicious food. The impressive lineup of local food vendors included Vegan Daddy Meats, whose vegan rendition of the Arby’s Beef n’ Cheddar regenerated my life force following hours of standing in the sun surrounded by intoxicated influencers.
For those who missed out this year, allow our testimonials of the festival experience to guide you into making the right call when next year’s lineup gets announced—we’re already anxiously awaiting it. Kilby Block Party has something for everyone, regardless of taste in music, food, drink or social battery, and is not to be missed. Check out photos from the SLUG team’s personal favorite performances of the rowdy weekend!
Photos by Jess Gruneisen | jess@jessgruneisen.com
Hemlocke Springs performs at Kilby Block Party.
Abby Sage performs at Kilby Block Party.
Kara Jackson performs at Kilby Block Party.
The crowd during Yoke Lore at Kilby Block Party.
Fans stick together in the KBP crowd.
A fan crowdsurfs at Kilby Block Party.
Horse Jumper of Love performs at Kilby Block Party.
Jai Paul performs at Kilby Block Party.
Gustaf performs at Kilby Block Party.
Joanna Newsom performs at Kilby Block Party.
The crowd at Kilby Block Party throws their hands up.
A closeup of a guitar during Daytime Lover’s set.
Blondshell performs at Kilby Block Party.
Ty Segall performs at Kilby Block Party.
Arcy Drive performs at Kilby Block Party.
Beach Fossils performs at Kilby Block Party.
Death Cab for Cutie performs at Kilby Block Party.
Fazerdaze performs at Kilby Block Party.
Krooked Kings performs at Kilby Block Party.
Santigold performs at Kilby Block Party.
The Garden performs at Kilby Block Party.
A fan of The Garden wears facepaint in the crowd.
TV Girl performs at Kilby Block Party.
Sculpture Club performs at Kilby Block Party.
Yellow Days performs at Kilby Block Party.
Cautious Clay performs at Kilby Block Party.
Yellow Days performs at Kilby Block Party.
26fix performs at Kilby Block Party.
Royel Otis performs at Kilby Block Party.
100 Gecs performs at Kilby Block Party.
100 Gecs performs at Kilby Block Party.
Model/Actriz performs at Kilby Block Party.
Interpol performs at Kilby Block Party.
Odie Leigh performs at Kilby Block Party.
Yves Tumor performs at Kilby Block Party.
Nicole Canaan performs at Kilby Block Party.
The crowd is psyched at Kilby Block Party.
Ekkstacy performs at Kilby Block Party.
Photos by Jovvany Villalobos | villalobos.jovvany@gmail.com
Interpol performs at Kilby Block Party.
Kevin Kaarl performs at Kilby Block Party.
A skater competes at the SkullCandy Crusher Cup at Kilby Block Party.
Yves Tumor performs at Kilby Block Party.
Yves Tumor performs at Kilby Block Party.
Death Cab for Cutie performs at Kilby Block Party.
Santigold performs at Kilby Block Party.
Jai Paul performs at Kilby Block Party.
Courtney Barnett performs at Kilby Block Party.
Jai Paul performs at Kilby Block Party.
Vampire Weekend performs at Kilby Block Party.
Yves Tumor performs at Kilby Block Party.
A fan shows off their rings at Kilby Block Party.
A fan wears a tiny hand with its middle finger up.
The crowd sits down between sets at Kilby Block Party.
Photos by Ashley Christenson | ashley.day45@gmail.com
Yves Tumor performs at Kilby Block Party.
Yves Tumor performs at Kilby Block Party.
Yot Club performs at Kilby Block Party.
TV Girl performs at Kilby Block Party.
TV Girl performs at Kilby Block Party.
The Garden performs at Kilby Block Party.
The Garden performs at Kilby Block Party.
TAGABOW performs at Kilby Block Party.
Santigold performs at Kilby Block Party.
Persona 749 performs at Kilby Block Party.
Persona 749 performs at Kilby Block Party.
Sculpture Club performs at Kilby Block Party.
Peach Pit performs at Kilby Block Party.
Peach Pit performs at Kilby Block Party.
Odie Leigh performs at Kilby Block Party.
Odie Leigh performs at Kilby Block Party.
Drusky performs at Kilby Block Party.
Gustaf performs at Kilby Block Party.
Gustaf performs at Kilby Block Party.
Joanna Newsom performs at Kilby Block Party.
Joanna Newsom performs at Kilby Block Party.
The crowd braved the sun to go wild for their favorite acts at Kilby Block Party. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
A skater competes in the SkullCandy Crusher Cup at Kilby Block Party.
A skater competes in the SkullCandy Crusher Cup at Kilby Block Party.
Krooked Kings performs at Kilby Block Party.
Drusky performs at Kilby Block Party.
Dayglow performs at Kilby Block Party.
Dayglow performs at Kilby Block Party.
Courtney Barnett performs at Kilby Block Party.
Courtney Barnett performs at Kilby Block Party.
Blue Rain Boots performs at Kilby Block Party.
Blue Rain Boots performs at Kilby Block Party.
Photos by Nathan Gentry | nzg12@outlook.com
Alvvays performs at Kilby Block Party.
Alvvays performs at Kilby Block Party.
The crowd was thrilled from the get-go on day one of Kilby Block Party.
Crowdsurfing was plentiful at Kilby Block Party.
Interpol performs at Kilby Block Party.
100 Gecs had one of the most anticipated performances of Kilby Block Party.
Boyfriend Sushi Town performs at Kilby Block Party.
Slow Pulp performs at Kilby Block Party.
Boyfriend Sushi Town performs at Kilby Block Party.
Beach Fossils performs at Kilby Block Party.
Beach Fossils performs at Kilby Block Party.
Slow Pulp performs at Kilby Block Party.
Current Joys performs at Kilby Block Party.
TV Girl performs at Kilby Block Party.
100 Gecs performs at Kilby Block Party.
Little Moon performs at Kilby Block Party.
Little Moon performs at Kilby Block Party.
Panchiko performs at Kilby Block Party.
Panchiko performs at Kilby Block Party.
Peach Pit performs at Kilby Block Party.
Peach Pit brought a huge crowd to Kilby Block Party.