Here’s a little known fact: If you’re looking to see a concert in Salt Lake City, you’ve actually got more options than just The Tabernacle Choir (although they can really rock). Utah’s capital city has a vibrant live music scene, and there are plenty of places to catch established artists and up-and-comers alike. From sold out stadiums to intimate concert halls, we’ve got a bit of everything here in SLC (most famously, we’ve got SLC Punk). Here are the best ways to see live music in Salt Lake City.
At an Arena or Stadium
From October through April, you can catch Jazz every week at the Vivint Arena. But you can see rock, pop, hip-hop and country performances there all year round. The home of the Utah Jazz is also the premier concert arena in the state, and when a huge name comes through town, they’ll most likely be making the Vivint rock harder than a playoff dunk. From current chart toppers like Lizzo and Post Malone (Salt Lake native, by the way) to classic acts like Elton John and Jimmy Buffett, Vivint brings all kinds of stars to the stage. And it’s not the only stadium in town, either. Keep an eye out for epic shows at some of Utah’s other big venues.
Best arenas and stadiums to catch a show in Salt Lake:
- Vivint Arena - Encores are pretty much overtimes for concerts, right? Vivint's got ‘em all.
- Rice Eccles Stadium - The home of the University of Utah Utes only sees a few concerts a year, but they usually wind up being some of the most memorable. With a capacity of 51,000, it’s the biggest venue in the state when it wants to be.
- Maverik Center - You can see anyone at the home of Utah’s minor league hockey team, but we’re waiting until Vanilla Ice comes through.
- America First Field - Utah’s Major League Soccer team, Real Salt Lake, plays here most of the time. But if there’s a concert, you’ll definitely want to goooooooooooooooooooooooo.
At an Outdoor Venue
Because good music pairs very well with sunsets and mountain ranges. There’s nothing like catching a show outside in the summer months, (winter affairs are usually confined to ski resort parking lots) and Salt Lake has some of the finest outdoor venues in the Mountain West.
And outdoor shows really do have it all. Want to dance? A ticket on the lawn will give you all kinds of room. Want to lie down? A ticket on the lawn will give you all kinds of room. Even if you’re stuck in a seat, the vibes at a good outdoor show in Salt Lake City are immaculate. How to describe it? … It’s like reaching the top of a hike, taking in the view and finding out that your favorite band and all your friends were also hiking to the same spot. Oh, and they sell snacks up there too.
The best outdoor venues to catch a show in Salt Lake City:
- Red Butte Amphitheatre - Their BYOB (and food) policy is picnic approved. And if you’re more into moshing than munching, it’s easy to pass the picnickers and get close to the stage.
- USANA Amphitheater - This Is The Place … to catch the biggest names in the summer. It’s located in the outskirts of West Valley at the foot of the Oquirrh Mountains, though, so factor in about 2 days of drive time.
- Salt Lake Twilight Concert Series - Half concert, half party, this concert series is a Salt Lake staple. Go there to see every person in town under thirty.
- Sandy Amphitheater - Winner of ‘Best Sunset’ out of a very crowded field.
- The Great Saltair - Located on the shores of the Great Salt lake at the site of a historic resort, it’s the only venue where you’ll see folks with ear plugs and nose plugs.
At a Concert Hall
Concerts are all about celebrating your favorite artists with a community of fellow fans. What better way to embrace your community than by getting repeatedly shoved into your community?
A show at a classic concert hall can be divisive. Cons include sore feet, sweaty strangers, unexpected crowd surfers and the knowledge that your sightline could be taken away by a tall person at any moment.
But the pros almost always outweigh those temporary discomforts, especially with the quality of acts at Salt Lake CIty’s music venues. Some pretty popular names often choose to play these smaller venues instead of larger, less personal spaces. So while you may have someone pushing by you to get to their friends who are “just up there,” you’ll also get the chance to rock out with your favorite band within setlist-grabbing distance.
The best concert halls to see a show in Salt Lake City:
- The State Room - Seats AND a dancefloor? The best of both worlds does exist.
- Kilby Court - The longest running all-ages venue in town! Enjoy a local act and learn new slang words that feel bizarre and outlandish to you.
- The Depot - Located in the historic Union Pacific train depot, this venue has an open dancefloor, cool balcony views and enough stairs to log it as a hike on Strava.
- Union Event Center - A surprisingly cavernous venue on the west side of town that’s most known for being a center for events.
- Metro Music Hall - This venue puts the “hall” in music hall. A long corridor-like room that’s bigger than it looks from outside and filled with good vibes.
- The Commonwealth Room - With a TRAX stop next door, this venue’s convenient as can be. And it’s surrounded by local breweries, so there’s plenty of places to toast to a good show.
- The Urban Lounge - This local favorite hosts everything from obscure acts to sneaky-big bands. Pro tip: our marketing manager recommends the Sprite!
- The Complex - One of the bigger indoor venues in Salt Lake, the Complex might boast the most diverse lineup in town. Metal bands, DJ sets, hip-hop groups … the Complex has it all.
At a Theater
Don’t forget your fancy opera glasses! You want to really be able to zoom in on that drum solo. Plenty of big acts decide to play at Utah’s theaters when they’re in town, and you can also catch speakers, authors and comedians too. Some people might not take kindly to the idea of a concert in a theater, but let’s be honest, the image of sitting down in a cushy theater seat has your aching back excited. And don’t be surprised if you end up on your feet — depending on the artist, those theaters can really get rocking! Just remember to yell “Brava!” instead of “Rock on!”
The best theaters to see a concert in Salt Lake City:
- Eccles Theater - One of the most luxurious venues in town. A show here is a black tie affair. Or black T-shirt. We can’t remember.
- Capitol Theatre - Originally a vaudeville house, the Capitol Theatre has been a mainstay of Salt Lake’s cultural scene for over 100 years.
- Kingsbury Hall - The University of Utah’s performing arts center hosts musicians, speakers, comedians and shows of all kinds. Go for a concert, stay for a Bachelors in Engineering.
- Temple Square - We told you, that choir really rocks.
In Another City
Salt Lake’s not the only music hotspot in Utah, and if you’re willing to travel a bit, there are some pretty awesome venues within an hours’ drive or train ride.
The best places to catch a show outside of Salt Lake City:
- Ogden Twilight Concert Series, Ogden - The Salt Lake Twilight Concert Series’ artsy younger sibling. Head north for a more intimate setting and a more indie-heavy lineup in Utah’s quirkiest mountain town.
- Velour Live, Provo - Head to the Velour for great local music and one of the grooviest settings on the Wasatch Front. Fun fact! Utah-based bands Neon Trees and Imagine Dragons credit the Velour with launching their careers.
- The Egyptian Theatre, Park City - You may know the Egyptian Theatre from celebrity Instagram posts during Sundance, but the storied venue has shows all year round.
- Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater, Park City - Home to Deer Valley’s summer concert series. Enjoy music in the mountains and some surprisingly big names.
Bonus: See a Comedy Show
Trade in head banging for knee slapping! Catching a comedy show is a great change of pace from concerts, and a great way to enjoy a night out without losing your voice (hopefully — no one likes a heckler). And the good news is that Salt Lake City regularly sees some of the biggest names in comedy come through town. Catch huge stars like John Mulaney, Dave Chapelle and Bill Burr at an arena, or see household names like Patton Oswald, Brian Regan and Ali Wong at a theater. Or better yet, catch some of the nations best touring comics at Wiseguys Comedy Club, which Conan O’Brien hand picked as one of his favorite clubs in the country in 2019.
There’s no bad way to catch a show in Salt Lake City, and that includes following your ears and wandering into a rocking bar or restaurant downtown. Talent abounds in Utah’s cultural center, and we guarantee that the next Salt Lake City concert you see won’t be your last. Until then, rock on \m/.
