PAPER is heading to Utah this weekend for the annual Kilby Block Party, aka the ultimate indie musicscape of your dreams. Salt Lake City is being blessed with a lineup of some of rock and alternative’s biggest names.
This year, there’s truly something for every generation visiting Kilby Court. It’s fitting, given the festival grounds’ history as the longest-running, all-ages venue. Whether you’re a true old head who listened to Souvlaki before it ever scored a Gregg Araki film, are a subscriber of r/indieheads and had Beach House in your rotation before “Space Song” was even a twinkle in their eye or you’re a member of Gen Z who predicted Frost Children’s recent blow up, this year’s Kilby lineup is one of its most promising to-date. Here’s who PAPER will be watching.
The OGs
The ’90s birthed some of the greatest pioneers of the indie genre, a select few of whom are featured in Salt Lake this weekend. Before we reach this era, though, we must first highlight a group that got their start in the ’80s. New Order is headlining Thursday night. We’ll be ready to kick the weekend off in a trance, head nodding to their timeless synths and killer keyboards. Also Thursday, Yo La Tengo takes the stage. If you’re looking for something equally as iconic but a bit more lo-fi, this is the set you need to establish the vibes for the following three days.
The oldies mood isn’t going anywhere after day one, though. Friday night has Slowdive slotted for the ultimate shoegaze sound bath and Saturday Weezer is teleporting land-locked Utah to their “Island in the Sun.” Dads everywhere will celebrate, live the weekend of their dreams and return to their offices Monday to talk coworkers’ ears off about how great the sets were. But they’ll make sure to remind them how they’d never compare to when they saw them live in ‘98.
The Modernists
The meat and potatoes of Kilby’s lineup this year comes from the 2000s-2010s generation of indie music. Arguably, the most populous time for indie acs, representing the moment the genre got its footing and adopted its namesake. Artists got creative, experimenting in the definitionless scene, morphing it into the free-for-all playground we know indie as today.
Beach House is filling Friday night’s headlining spot. The group is currently on a short festival tour in the states, having added some special headlining shows along the way before going across the pond for European dates this summer. They’re the ultimate example of the subdued beauty that the indie genre explores. PAPER will welcome the waves of organ, guitars and drum machines from Beach House Friday. If you want to tire yourself out before their performance, some moshing at Car Seat Headrest alongside cropped- t shirt-wearing, carabiner carriers would be the perfect opportunity. Or if you lean more melancholy, Perfume Genius will be serving all the trippy, tepid feelings from his stunning 2025 release, Glory.
On Saturday, St. Vincent will save us. We’ll be ready for live versions of Forever Howlong tracks at Black Country, New Road. Panda Bear is riding the highs of his shimmering Sinister Gift. The most exciting thing about these established goats of indie is their continual experimentation. They’re all offering new music and new chances to fall in love with their live performances.
The Internet’s Indie
The true excitement though is for the genre’s freshest faces. George Clanton’s electronic-infused, pop-fueled sounds will light up his crowd. We want to rock out at Sasami, who’s bringing all the metal and industrial sounds that hurt so good. Known for announcing random LA shows via Twitter that make fans spiral, Frost Children is certain to be a ki. And after Wisp’s Coachella set, PAPER’s keen not to miss any future live appearance from her.
The Salt Lake Locals
Part of Kilby’s mission is highlighting local acts. This year, six will make their debut. Levelor is the first to go up, Thursday. Their noisy, shoegazey hooks are instant earworms that we’ll be leaving Utah with. There are more local talents to stick around for through the weekend with Poolhouse and Molotov Dress rounding things out Sunday for the local legends.
The acts at Kilby are exciting to say the least. Forces from every phase of the evolving indie space will make appearances, and PAPER can’t wait to watch. We barely left New York for Coachella, so know that our time in Utah is precious — we wouldn’t spend it on any old lineup. Kilby is proving, once again, that no matter your age, no matter when you were introduced and fell in love with indie and alternative, they’re the great uniter when it comes to summer music festivals.
Photos courtesy of Kilby Block Party