Sunday brought clouds and then rain later in the afternoon, but it ended up adding to the atmosphere more than hurting it. Hannah Cohen opened the day with a relaxed set that matched the slower afternoon pace, setting an easy tone for the final day. Melody’s Echo Chamber followed, delivering hazy psychedelic guitars that fit perfectly with the gray skies and damp weather.
Magdalena Bay took the stage it right as began to rain, but that didn’t stop the huge crowd from dancing to songs off their 2024 album Imaginal Disk. They are an absolutely incredible live band with die-hard fans to prove it.
Next Hayley Williams took the main stage, playing songs off her latest solo album Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party. This was her first festival performance as a solo artist, a statement that feels almost surreal to make given her 20+ years of experience touring with Paramore. She mentioned on stage how nervous she was to be there, though those nerves quickly felt unfounded once the set got going. She delivered an outstanding performance, backed by her famously powerful vocals and steady presence as a front woman, showing exactly why she remains such a commanding live performer.
The rain continued as Lorde, the most anticipated act of the weekend took the stage. Coming in 64 shows into the run and on the tail end of her Virgin tour, she was clearly locked into the performance. The weather ended up playing its own part in the set, creating an ethereal atmosphere that stage lights and production alone couldn’t replicate. She mentioned multiple times how much she loves a rain show and seemed genuinely connected to the audience throughout, especially since it was her first time ever performing in Salt Lake City. After a raw, high-energy set, she moved through the crowd and eventually finished the night on the B stage in the middle of the audience with fan favorite ‘Ribs,’ a moment that felt like it was becoming a core memory in real time.
Kilby Block Party stands out because of how fully it commits to being a festival for music lovers. The lineup, size, layout, and production all feel intentionally designed around the music itself, and that focus shows in the crowd as much as the lineup. It’s the kind of festival where locals buy tickets the moment they go on sale before the lineup is even announced and hundreds of others make the pilgrimage to Salt Lake City to partake in the weekend.
Across the entire experience, it felt well organized and safe, but still relaxed and easygoing in a way that never felt over-managed or corporate. That balance is what makes Kilby work so well.
Long Live Kilby Block Party.