Utah's Live Music Scene: The Best Concert Venues in Salt Lake, Utah County, and Park City
Utah's live music scene punches well above its weight. On any given week you can hear the Utah Symphony under the pines at Deer Valley, catch a national headliner at a downtown amphitheater, or stumble into a basement club for a band you'll brag about later. Whether you're new to the area or a longtime local, here's your guide to the venues that make the Wasatch Front one of the best places in the West to catch a show.
The big outdoor amphitheaters
These are the bucket-list venues, where summer evenings and mountain backdrops make the music feel bigger.
Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre (Salt Lake City). The region's premier outdoor concert venue, a big amphitheater with lawn seating and a skyline view, hosting everyone from classic rock to today's biggest touring acts. It's the go-to for a full-scale outdoor show.
Sandy Amphitheater (Sandy). One of the most loved community venues in the valley. It's an outdoor amphitheater set against the Wasatch foothills with a packed summer concert series, from tribute bands to national touring acts. The setting is beautiful and the tickets are refreshingly reasonable. It's a favorite for families and date nights alike.
Red Butte Garden Outdoor Concert Series (Salt Lake City). Held in the amphitheater inside the Red Butte Garden botanical garden at the University of Utah, this is one of the most scenic places to hear live music in the state. The summer series books a thoughtful mix of indie, folk, rock, and world music, and you can picnic on the lawn under the trees as the sun goes down.
Gallivan Center (downtown Salt Lake City). The downtown plaza hosts the long-running Twilight Concert Series in summer, a free weekly outdoor series that's become a Salt Lake institution. Expect big names, big crowds, and a lively downtown atmosphere.
Sandy's City Hall / other community amphitheaters. Cities across both counties run their own summer series, which is part of what makes the local music scene so accessible.
The big indoor venues
Delta Center (Salt Lake City). Utah's home for the biggest touring concerts, from arena-scale pop and rock to comedy and family shows. If a major artist is coming to Utah, this is usually where they land.
Maverik Center (West Valley City). Another large arena hosting major tours, family shows, and special events, just minutes from downtown Salt Lake.
Abravanel Hall (Salt Lake City). Home of the Utah Symphony, and one of the finest concert halls in the country acoustically. If you want to hear orchestral music at the highest level, this is the room.
Eccles Theater (downtown Salt Lake City). A modern performing arts center hosting Broadway tours, concerts, and comedy in an elegant downtown setting.
Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre (Salt Lake City). The historic downtown theater for ballet, opera, Broadway, and concerts in a beautifully restored setting.
The intimate clubs and indie rooms
This is where Utah's music scene really lives, the small rooms where you see tomorrow's favorites before they blow up.
The Complex (Salt Lake City). A versatile multi-room venue downtown hosting everything from hip-hop and electronic to rock and metal.
The Depot (Salt Lake City). A stylish club in downtown's Gateway area with a great mix of national touring acts and local favorites.
The Urban Lounge (Salt Lake City). A cozy, beloved indie venue with a killer calendar of underground and emerging artists.
Kilby Court (Salt Lake City). An iconic little venue tucked behind a garage downtown, famous for the intimate shows that launched bands you've definitely heard of. It's a rite of passage for local music fans.
Metro Music Hall and The State Room (Salt Lake City). Two more excellent mid-sized rooms, with The State Room hosting the Deer Valley Concert Series in the winter, a favorite of serious music fans.
Soundwell (Salt Lake City). A newer downtown club with a strong indie and electronic calendar.
Utah County venues
The Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre is technically on the border and easily accessible from both counties, but Utah County has its own live music scene worth knowing.
Sundance Mountain Resort (Provo Canyon). The Sundance Bluebird Cafe Concert Series is a beloved, intimate series of singer-songwriter performances at the resort just outside Provo. It's a magical, close-up listening experience in the mountains.
The Covey Center for the Arts (Provo). A civic arts venue hosting concerts, theater, and community performances in the heart of Provo.
Brigham Young University venues (Provo). BYU's performance halls regularly host touring musicians, orchestras, and major acts throughout the year.
Lehi / Silicon Slopes-area venues. As the south end of the valley grows, so does its entertainment, with new venues and events popping up regularly across Utah County.
Deer Valley, Park City: the crown jewel
No guide to Utah live music is complete without the Deer Valley Music Festival in Park City. Set at the Deer Valley Resort's Snow Park base area, it's presented by the Utah Symphony and offers one of the most stunning concert settings anywhere: orchestra and touring artists performing under the open sky with mountain views in every direction.
The summer festival runs through August and mixes full symphonic performances (think Beethoven's Ninth) with beloved guest artists across genres. The Deer Valley Concert Series, produced with The State Room Presents, brings a different flavor of national touring acts through the venue. People come from all over the country for a night on the lawn at Deer Valley, and it's an easy, gorgeous drive from anywhere on the Wasatch Front.
Making the most of Utah's music scene
- Go to the free series. The Gallivan Center's Twilight series and many community summer series are free, which is an unbeatable way to sample live music.
- Pack a picnic for lawn venues. Red Butte, the amphitheaters, and Deer Valley all reward a picnic blanket and a cooler.
- Buy early for Deer Valley. The marquee festival nights sell out well in advance.
- Check small venues for tour announcements. Kilby Court, The Urban Lounge, and The State Room punch far above their size for who they book.
- Dress for mountain weather. Evening shows at outdoor venues get cool fast, even in summer.
Music makes a community feel like home
One of the things we love about the Wasatch Front is that there's always something to do, and the music scene is a huge part of that. From a free Friday night downtown to a symphony under the pines at Deer Valley, there's a seat for everyone.
If you're thinking about moving to a community that's as lively as it is beautiful, we'd love to help you find your home near the music. Reach out anytime, and we'll help you find the right spot on the Wasatch Front.
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