Saturday, especially, was amazing. I was on the fence about attending Sunday. You see, I was at Crucial Fest X until 2 am on Friday night, and then the UAF most of the day and night Saturday. (By the way, Crucialfest organizer Jaron Bischoff put on an amazing event. We’re gonna do a wrap up on that event this week).
Anyhow, by Sunday morning I was feeling the burn. I was sipping coffee and enjoying my couch when Terry Burden texted me. He pretty much coaxed my lazy butt off the couch and out the door for another day of music and friends—old and new. I resisted, but ultimately I was glad he did. Sunday was just as amazing as Saturday was, but more on Sunday in a bit.
…by Sunday morning I was feeling the burn.
Saturday
When I arrived at the festival, I did a quick walkabout to check out the locations of the three different stage setups. Organizers spared no cost on sound and lighting. All the sound guys I saw and heard were killing it…and so were the bands.
When The Pour took to the Festival Stage Saturday afternoon, the sun was out and everybody seemed to be enjoying the return of the outdoor festival scene.
My only complaint is that festival organizers should have scheduled The Pour to play 30 minutes later. Perhaps they could have moved all the Festival Stage bands back a bit. It seemed more people started showing up, halfway through the set, as the shadows grew and the day started cooling off. As the attendance grew, so did the energy.
As the attendance grew, so did the energy.
Regardless of the on stage timing, The Pour played a great set. I got to say hello to bassist Matt Calder after the show. He was very polite, but he must have been wondering “who let this guy backstage?” I admit was acting a bit sycophantic that day. There we so many amazing musicians milling about that I couldn’t help it.
If you want to learn more about The Pour, you might enjoy this concert review we did awhile back when they played at one of my favorite pubs, The Hog Wallow. And check them out live, this weekend at The Cabin in Park City.
Left to Right: Jeremy Whitesides, a barely visible Jesse Howerton, and Nate Barkdull.
Jesse Howerton checking out his new number one fan.
Like Brandon B of SuperBubble, Matt Calder does an amazing job on lead vocals AND bass guitar. How do they do it?
Left to Right: Jesse Howerton, Nate Barkdull, Jeremy Whitesides and Matt Calder
As the shadows grew and the venue cooled, the crowd started to get up close and personal during The Pour’s set.
When The Pour wrapped up their set, I hustled over the the Park Stage to check out Brother. I’ve been waiting to see Brother. play live for some time. You could say they’ve gotten under my skin (wink wink). I’m not seeped in the Indie music scene, but I know when I hear something that works, and these kids from Provo are crushing it.
Brother.’s live sound was true to their studio renditions and, after their set, I got to meet the band. Frontman Check Emery says the band is setting out for a tour in September—hitting mostly the West Coast. The tour wraps up in October when the band returns to Utah for a gig at the Urban Lounge. Then, back to Provo and an album release party at Velour. Sounded kinda like it was a private party. I think as many of us as possible should just show up and be like…”What?”
Provo Indie Rockers, Brother. Left to Right: Check Emery, Doctor DAW (a.k.a., Nathan Standage), Eli Pratt, Scott Knutson and Erika Goodwin.
Brother. performing on the Park Stage.
After Brother., I scrambled back towards the Garden Stage and met up with the band Quicksand Soup—all the way from Moab, Utah. They bill themselves as a sweetgrass band and—true to their word—there wasn’t a sour note to be heard.
Unlike Pixie and the Partygrass Boys—who often wander into newgrass territory—Quicksand Soup sticks to more of a traditional sound. Their music keeps you engaged with stories and melodies that borrow from the classic old-time sound. Learn more at quicksandsoup.com.
After performing at the UAF, I caught up with Quicksand Soup, from Moab Utah. What a bunch of cool pickers this lot is. Left to Right: Sand Sheff, David Steward, Tamara Frieda, Eric Jones and Alan Snow.
Next up were SuperBubble on the Festival Stage. I was doing my super-annoying cameraman thing: you know…walking in front of people to get that elusive Hero shot…not caring if I was blocking someone’s view. Basically acting like a real dick.
I was leaning over the stage for a shot when these great looking ladies broke out a liter bottle of soap bubbles and started doing that bubble thing that SuperBubble fans like to do. So I had no excuse when—a minute later with my face buried in my camera—I tripped over the bottle and spilled half of the soap bubbles before I could set it back upright.
For a moment, I knew I was the most-hated man in Utah.
Suddenly, the air around me went still. It was like all the people in front of the stage froze and turned towards me in slow motion horror. For a moment, I knew I was the most-hated man in Utah. As I planned my getaway—hunched over like Quasimodo and trying to look small—I felt the stillness break. SuperBubble fans are the kindest, most loving fans in Utah. I was hugged and forgiven. By the way, if you want to read more about SuperBubble, check out the show review we wrote last June.
SuperBubble fans are the kindest, most loving fans in Utah. On stage, left to right: Rob Drayna, Brandon “B” Barker and Max Webb.
Left to Right: Tim Ouburg, Rob Drayna, Dan Muir and Brandon “B” Barker.
Left to Right: Rob Drayna, Tim Ouburg, Pierre Menefield and Dan Muir.
Max Webb has the best view in the house.
After SuperBubble wrapped it up, I got to chat briefly with a few members of the band. What a humble bunch of rockstars. This time, however—before I could wear out my welcome—I took off and started wandering around aimlessly, searching for the next act. As I did, I almost got run over by a red-headed dude with a beard that would make Billy Gibbons jealous.
…I almost got run over by a red-headed dude with a beard that would make Billy Gibbons jealous.
My double take was so quick I swear my neck cracked. Fortunately I recovered my whits in time to realize I was staring at Nick Johnson, the Red Shredder. You know…that guy who just won the 2021 Utah State Fingerstyle Championship. I think he recognized me, because he definitely tried to avoid me and slip past. But I grabbed him by the arm and tugged him back.
Nick has some great original material and tells me he’s heading up to Canada to record a new album. Can’t wait for that. If you haven’t heard his music, do yourself a favor and check him out here.
Nick Johnson (right) was kind enough to hang out with me for a few minutes after watching the SuperBubble show.
Sunday
I mentioned Terry Burden at the beginning of this piece. When you hang out at a music festival with this guy, you’ll never get more than 10 feet without running into some famous musician he knows…and knows well. Conversations ensue. Long ones. It’s a wonder I saw any music at all that day. On the shiny side, I did get to meet and become better acquainted to a lot of great people.
When you hang out at a music festival with that Terry Burden, you’ll never get more than 10 feet without running into somebody he knows…and knows well.
Like when we ran into Shell Danis…one of many people who make KRCL such a great local music radio station. What a wealth of knowledge Shell is.
KCRL’s Shell Danis and Terry Burden, wearing the gently-used pink pants he scored from Savers.
Danis was hanging around the Garden Stage where Nick Passey and the Perpetual Sadness were performing. Seeing Passey reminded me that last year, in the midst of the lockdowns, I’m fairly certain I prepaid for his new CD If I’m Saying iIt Right. I’m gonna have to find a paper trail and nab my copy. Meanwhile, I enjoyed catching up with cellist Kaitlin Findlay and meeting Nick Passey in person.
Nick Passey and Kaitlin Findlay on the Garden Stage.
Terry and I ran into a lot of other great people. However, I was getting embarrassed—goggling over all the luminaries and asking for photos. Sooner or later someone was going to go full paparazzi on me. Dave Crespo and Pepper Rose of Spirit Machines were nice enough to not to punch me. I also got to chat with folks like Dustin Swan of Swantourage, Kirk Dath of Crook And The Bluff, Morgan Snow of Triggers and Slips, Brandon “B” Barker of SuperBubble and the adorable Alexandria Lee. So many great people hanging hanging out on Sunday, listening to music.
Dave Crespo and Pepper Rose of Spirit Machines were nice enough to not to punch me.
I also got to chat with Callie Ann Crofts and Zac Bryant, who played with Robyn Cage on the Park Stage. I hear a new album is coming from this trio. Learn more at Robyn Cage. Callie and Zac are also in the bands Die Shiny and Mowth. Mowth bandmate, Rachel Clark, was also hanging out. So many great artists hanging out that day.
Robyn Cage was joined on stage by Callie Ann Crofts on bass, and Zac Bryant on drums.
One surprise of the day was meeting Jeff Crosby and his lovely girlfriend Darci. I was kind of blown away by Crosby’s band, who closed out the festival on the Festival Stage. These guys really rock hard for a bunch of country boys.
Jeff Crosby has a powerful voice and he rocks the guitar pretty hard. Left to right: Dave Manion, Jeff Crosby, Will Prescott and brother Andy Crosby.
Dave Manion on pedal steel.
Coming Full Circle
I wanted to save this next bit for last. The festival began, for me, with a showcase of the future of Rock n’ Roll—as demonstrated by Salt Lake Music Academy’s (SLAM) Rock Program students. As I was approaching the venue on Saturday morning, I could hear somebody covering a Zeppelin tune. It was like the Sirens call. I followed the sound and found SLAM playing on the Park Stage.
There may have been a tiny bit of hesitancy on vocals—as you might expect—but the over musicianship and performance was incredible. After the performance, I got to speak with SLAM Executive Director Steve Aueurbach, Rock Program Director Terence Hansen, and the entire band. What a great group of people.
Terence Hansen’s SLAM students rocked hard at the Utah Arts Festival…so fun to watch.
Salt lake Music Academy Rock Program Director Terence Hansen coaches the kids on how to do an interview, backstage at the UAF on Saturday.
The music alone made the 2021 Utah Arts Festival price of admission well worth it. The art side of the festival was more of a backdrop for the music. There was some great art, of course, but there was also some of the typical stuff you see at all the other art festivals. For me, and many others, it is the local music that makes the UAF so great. There’s no other event where can you find so much world-class music talent in one spot. Metal fans might argue that CrucialFest fills that requirement, but that’s another story.
Salt Lake Bard promotes the best music, venues and events in Utah. Please like us on Facebook, follow us in Instagram, bookmark slbard.com and please…support the local music scene.
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.