# Kilby Block Party (music festival)

Kilby Block Party Music Festival is an annual, four-day independent music festival in Salt Lake City, Utah that originated in 2019 as an actual block party honoring Kilby Court, Salt Lake City's longest-standing all-ages music venue. Over the years, it has grown and developed into a major event featuring nationally and internationally recognized artists alongside local acts held at the Utah State Fairpark. With a focus on indie rock, alternative, and pop music, the festival has brought in around 25,000 attendees per day from all over the world.

## History
### Origins

Kilby Block Party was initially organized in 2019 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Kilby Court, a beloved and intimate venue known for hosting emerging artists. In 2019, it was a one-day event that took place on a closed-off street near Kilby Court, featuring a lineup that reflected the venue's legacy of supporting indie and alternative music. Due to its success and positive reception, the festival expanded in subsequent years, moving to larger locations to accommodate increasing attendance.
After its initial success, Kilby Block Party continuted to evolve, attracting a wider audience and securing high-profile headliners. The festival expanded beyond its original block party setting, relocating to larger venues within Salt Lake City, currently settled at Utah State Fairpark. With each edition, the lineup has grown to include a diverse mix of indie rock, alternative, and pop acts, making it a significant event in Utah's music scene.

## Events

Kilby Block Party yearly overview :
| Year | Dates | Location | Headliners | Notable developments |
| 2019 | May 11 | Granary District | Death Cab for Cutie | Inaugural single-day event |
| 2021 | October 2 | Granary District | Young the Giant • Built to Spill • IDKHow | Post-pandemic return with first afterparties |
| 2022 | May 13-14 | Liberty Square | Phoebe Bridgers • Mac DeMarco • Clairo • Steve Lacy | First two-day format; venue change |
| 2023 | May 12-14 | Utah State Fairpark | The Strokes • Pavement • Yeah Yeah Yeahs • Pixies • Run the Jewels • Dominic Fike | Expanded to 3 days |
| 2024 | May 10-12 | Utah State Fairpark | LCD Soundsystem • The Postal Service • Vampire Weekend | 25th anniversary edition |

### 2019

In 2019, the first Kilby Block Party was hosted on Saturday, May 11th starting at 3pm in the Granary District (400 W 700 S). It was an all day block party that included music, food trucks, craft beer, and art installations.
* Blue Rain Boots
* Breakfast in Silence
* Death Cab for Cutie
* Drew Danburry
* Joshua James
* Palace of Buddies
* Picture This
* Resonate
* Ritt Momney
* Sincerely
* The Backseat Lovers
* The National Parks
* The Sardines
* The Universe

### 2020

There was no festival in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

### 2021

The second Kilby Block Party was hosted on Saturday, October 2nd, 2021 at the same location from 2019. It was an all day block party, starting at 1pm, that included music, art installations, craft beer, and food trucks. 2021's Kilby Block Party Lineup also boasted an after party at The Urban Lounge with Mates of State and Flash & Flare.
* Anais Chantal
* Becca Mancari
* Blue Rain Boots
* Built to Spill
* Dad Bod
* Darling
* Drusky
* Flor
* Horrible Penny
* IDKHow
* Kipper Snack
* Krooked Kings
* Ron Gallo
* Sammy Brue
* The Moss
* Who Killed Candace
* Young the Giant

### 2022

In 2022 Kilby Block Party expanded into a two day festival on May 13th and 14th. It took place at a new location: Liberty Square in Downtown Salt Lake City. The lineup also advertised after parties at Urban Lounge and Blue Gene's with Choir Boy on May 13th and Form of Rocket on May 14th.
* Alvvays
* Animal Collective
* Bartees Strange
* Binki
* Blue Rain Boots
* Brother
* Car Seat Headrest
* Choir Boy
* Clairo
* Cop Kid
* Dad Bod
* Fonteyn
* Form of Rocket
* Future.Exboyfriend
* Goldsmith
* Idi Et Amin
* Jawny
* JW Francis
* Kevin Devine
* Kississippi
* Lomelda
* Lord Vox
* Mac DeMarco
* Mild High Club
* Nicole Canaan
* Phoebe Bridgers
* Sam Evian
* Soccer Mommy
* Steve Lacy
* The Devil Whale
* The Rubies
* Spirit of the Beehive
* The Still Tide
* The Walters
* Worlds Worst

### 2023

Kilby Block Party expanded to 3 days (May 12th - May 14th, 2023) and took place at the Utah State Fairpark.
* Alex G
* Alice Phoebe Lou
* Anais Chantal
* Backhand
* Caroline Polachek
* Crumb
* Cuco
* Deeper
* Deerhoof
* Dominic Fike.
* Dreamer Isioma
* Duster
* Ethel Cain
* Faye Webster
* Fonteyn
* Goth Babe
* Grace Ives
* Frankie Cosmos
* Gus Dapperton
* Hi Again
* Hippo Campus
* Homophone
* Indigo De Souza
* Japanese Breakfast
* Jean Dawson
* Josh Doss & The Cancers
* Julie
* Kate Bollinger
* Kipper Snack
* Lucius
* Mannequin Pussy
* Miya Folick
* Momma
* Musor
* Noso
* Osees
* Pavement
* Pixies
* Remi Wolf
* Ritt Momney
* Run the Jewels
* Spill Tab
* Sundials
* Sunsleeper
* Surf Curse
* Tamino
* Tanukichan
* The Backseat Lovers
* The Moss
* The Plastic Cherries
* The Strokes
* The Walkmen
* Tolchock Trio
* Wallice
* Wednesday
* Westerman
* Weyes Blood
* Worlds Worst
* Yeah Yeah Yeahs

### 2024

Kilby Block Party 5, hosted May 10th through May 12th of 2024 at the Utah State Fairpark, celebrated 25 years of Kilby Court. According to Nic Smith, the managing director of S&S Presents which runs Kilby Court, Kilby Block Party 5 was the biggest and most attended festival so far.
* 26Fix
* 100 Gecs
* Abby Sage
* Alvvays
* Death Cab for Cutie
* Andy Shauf
* Annie DiRusso
* Arcy Drive
* Beach Fossils
* Belle and Sebastian
* Blondshell
* Blue Rain Boots
* Bobo
* Body of Leaves
* Bombay Bicycle Club
* Boyfriend Sushi Town
* Cautious Clay
* Choir Boy
* Courtney Barnett
* CSS
* Daytime Lover
* Dinosaur Jr.
* Drusky
* Ekkstacy
* Fazerdaze
* Ginger Root
* Guided by Voices
* Gustaf
* Hana Vu
* Hemlocke Springs
* Horse Jumper of Love
* Interpol
* Jai Paul
* Joanna Newsom
* Joanna Sternberg
* Kara Jackson
* Kevin Kaarl
* Krooked Kings
* Late Night Drive Home
* LCD Soundsystem
* Little Moon
* Lomelda
* Luna Li
* Malcolm Todd
* Model/Actriz
* Current Joys
* Nicole Canaan
* Odie Leigh
* Panchiko
* Peach Pit
* Persona 749
* Petey
* Pond
* Royel Otis
* Santigold
* Sculpture Club
* Dayglow
* Slow Pulp
* The Garden
* The Postal Service
* TAGABOW
* TV Girl
* Ty Segall
* Unknown Mortal Orchestra
* Vampire Weekend
* Water From Your Eyes
* Yellow Days
* Yoke Lore
* Yot Club
* Yves Tumor