The Grid City Music Festival is back. Now in its fourth year, the homegrown celebration of local music, art and community is gearing up for its most ambitious installment yet, spanning three days, nine stages, and more than 80 local bands. The event runs Friday, August 22 through Sunday, August 24 in South Salt Lake’s Creative Industries Zone.
What started as a modest series of shows at a single venue has grown into a full-blown citywide festival, activating a vibrant but often overlooked neighborhood with the power of live music and street art. This year’s lineup features all local artists, spread across a dynamic collection of stages—from rooftop sets and brewery shows to outdoor block parties and late-night punk jams.
“We started with just one venue and a handful of national acts,” says festival organizer Drew Reynolds. “Now we’re up to 81 bands, 10 stages, and it’s all local talent. It’s amazing to see how it’s grown.”
The event is free to the public—thanks to a host of generous sponsors—and aims to showcase not just local musicians, but the businesses, artists and nonprofits that make South Salt Lake unique. The Creative Industries Zone, the festival’s home base, is an emerging hub of creative entrepreneurship west of State Street, between 2100 South and 2700 South. Our readers will know it best for places like Poor York Studios, Spectrum Studios, Workshop SLC and the more than 80 street murals found in every nook and cranny of the area. During the festival, many of these spaces become performance venues, mural canvases, and gathering points for the thousands expected to attend.
“The idea is activation,” Reynolds explains. “People might think of South Salt Lake as just a direction on the grid, but it’s its own city, with its own vibe and a thriving arts scene.”
Friday night kicks off with a rooftop performance by Jordan Matthew Young at Grid City Beer Works, while The Glitter Bombs and Terence Hansen perform at Pat’s BBQ and Level Crossing, respectively. The official opening party at The Commonwealth Room—featuring Gordon Greenwood, Brazuca Band, and The Kirk Dath Band—is free, though tickets are required.
The diverse lineup was curated by Derrek Wright, founder of Tiny Porch Music and longtime advocate of the local music scene. “Every act is original and local,” Reynolds says. “We don’t book cover bands. This is about giving our scene a stage.”
Rather than spotlighting a single headliner, the festival aims to create a shared experience rooted in music, community, and discovery. “It’s less about standout acts and more about the vibe,” Reynolds adds. “Being surrounded by people who love live music—there’s nothing like it.”
Saturday features music from noon until nearly midnight across nine stages, with venues like Chappell Brewing, Contento Cafe, and Pat’s BBQ offering all-ages access. Sunday continues the music from noon to 9:30 p.m., closing out the weekend on a high note.
To make it easy to explore, the festival offers a free “Fun Bus” courtesy of the South Salt Lake Arts Council, shuttling attendees from venue to venue with stops at Central Pointe TRAX station. Also new this year: a community bike ride through the neighborhood’s celebrated mural art and local businesses, culminating in the kick-off party and late-night punk show at Salt Fire Brewing.
Grid City Music Fest also supports two local nonprofits: the Salt Lake Academy of Music (SLAM) and Heart & Soul, both of which use music to uplift and connect communities.
Looking ahead, Reynolds sees the festival continuing to grow—potentially across more neighborhoods and genres. But the mission remains the same: “To lift up the city’s creative spirit, year after year.”
Free tickets and more info are available at www.gridcitymusicfest.com.
The founder of Artists of Utah and editor of its online magazine, 15 Bytes, Shawn Rossiter has undergraduate degrees in English, French and Italian Literature and studied Comparative Literature in graduate school before pursuing a career in art.
Categories: Music
