Kilby Block Party: No Longer America’s Best Kept Secret
The XX headline Saturday night of the 2026 Kilby Block Party
The 2026 edition of The Kilby Block Party has emerged as one of the most sought-after events on the festival circuit, having successfully established itself as a premier destination. Our fourth year of hattending the festival in the scenic Salt Lake City has solidified its reputation as a remarkable experience. While maintaining a grassroots ethos, the festival provides all the amenities and attractions of major festivals such as Coachella and Lollapalooza, including exceptional musical performances, impeccable facilities, and a user-friendly, easily navigable map.
Crowds get a birds eye view of the festival.
The venue is situated against a breathtaking backdrop of snow-capped peaks, providing an ideal setting for the festival’s Utah-inspired ambiance. The three-day festival featured a predominantly female-led lineup, showcasing exceptional performances by Lorde, Hayley Williams, Die Spitz, Lucy Dacus, and The Last Dinner Party, among the majority of indie acts. With an estimated attendance exceeding 90,000 during the weekend, the small, independent festival has emerged as a significant player in the music festival circuit. The remarkable growth we have witnessed from four years ago to the present has been substantial, while still preserving the intimate atmosphere of a small festival.
Turnstile headlined day one.
Our Friday lineup featured an impressive array of performances, headlined by Baltimore’s Turnstile, who captivated a new audience with their distinctive brand of rock. The evening commenced with the energetic anthem “Never Enough” from 2026. The subsequent set was nothing short of flawless, setting the stage for an unforgettable night. Other notable performances included Austin’s Die Spitz, whose mid-day set was particularly captivating, Japanese Breakfast’s strong performance, and Modest Mouse’s nostalgic set that transported the audience back in time. As the evening progressed, Father John Misty delivered a captivating singalong set. Among the standout performances was Geli Haha, whose extravagant theatrics made for one of the most entertaining sets of the weekend.
Japanese Breakfast always amazing.
Saturday we arrived in time for legacy act Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Never missing a beat they sounded as grand as ever. Our nextact was our first schedule conflict as both Ben Kweller and Between Friends bith played the same time slot. We had to support Ben Kweller on this one as we were a bit more familiar with their catalog. The Texas band tore through their amazing catalog of old and new and definetly made for one of the best standout sets of the festival. We had a chance to listen to Briston Maroney from afar and as is every year of the festival their is an act we believe will reach great heights in a short period of time, for us this year it was Briston. With great music, crowd interaction, it’s only a matter of time before he is a household name. As our day began to wind down, we knew we had a few fan favorites to close out our night. The Last Dinner Party was more than we expected with lead singer Abigail Morris commanding the stage with such grace and fashion style that left the crowd in awe. Next up was one of our all time favorires Lucy Dacus her golden hour set complimented her song catolg perfectly. The Grammy award winner had one of the most loyal crowds of the weekend, just as succesful in her solo career Dacus also makes up one third of the band Boygenius with partner Julien Baker and Phoebe Bridgers. As the night descended upon us it was time for the nights headliner The XX. The band has been on a break and just this year has started playing again. We first fell in love with The XX back in 2010 and have seen them rise to the top of the indie world. Not missing a beat the band tore through their catalog of hits that we have all become familiar with. It was a trip down memory lane leaving the door open for new material we hope arrives soon.
The majestic Magdalena Bay.
On the highly anticipated Sunday of the festival, the lineup featured back-to-back headliners, Haylee Williams and Lorde. The evening commenced with outstanding performances by Hannah Cohen and Melody’s Echo Chamber. Attracting the largest crowd of the festival, Flipturn captivated attendees with their indie music, prompting many to arrive early for their preferred viewing spot. As the weather took a slight turn during Magdlena Bay’s performance, it enhanced the experience, as the elements often contribute to memorable moments. Kenny Hoopla’s late-starting set resolved a scheduling conflict, and his performance was one of the best of the day. The atmosphere was set for Haylee Williams, who surprised everyone by arriving a few minutes earlier to perform with American Football. It was evident that the audience was eagerly anticipating her appearance. The Paramore singer has embarked on a successful solo tour, with sold-out performances everywhere. Her first festival appearance was not a disappointment. Her hit song “Parachute” resonated among the crowded Kilby Stage, as everyone knew the lyrics by heart. As the rain persisted, Lorde took the stage to deliver an unforgettable performance. Her singing and dancing will become legendary Kilby Block Party lore for years to come. As it has every year, Kilby continues to set the bar for an amazing festival, it’s only a matter of time before it outgrows its small independent scale size to be mentioned with the bigger feats in the world, truthfully it already has.
Words and Images-Robert Castro
