Summer Concert Primer: Lists, Tips and Tricks

Summer concerts in Park City embody the “come for the winter, stay for the summer” cliché so often repeated, and for good reason: Watching either an upcoming or legendary performer outside, at night, at 7,000 feet is an experience not soon forgotten.

We’ve compiled a list of the top local venues, both in Park City and the Salt Lake Valley, to help you plan your summer concert schedule. But fair warning: With the amazing variety and breadth of shows coming to the Beehive State this summer, you’ll need to be strategic with both your time and your money. So take a few minutes to download the following listing to plot your summer musical course:

Deer Valley’s Snow Park Lodge has long been the summertime mountain home of the Utah Symphony | Utah Opera (USUO), and this year’s 15th Deer Valley Music Festival lineup is sure to impress.

Kicking off with the venerable Chris Botti on June 28th, and finishing with every ‘90s college student’s fave, the Indigo Girls on August 10th, the series features headliners performing with one of the few full-time symphony orchestras remaining in the U.S. Not many musical experiences can compare to sitting outside under Park City’s starry skies with a picnic and a beverage. Bonus: You can either bring in your own picnic and beverages, or enjoy the legendary Deer Valley cuisine by either ordering in advance or purchasing on-site.

Tickets are either lawn or reserved, with low-slung (9” or lower) chairs allowed within the lawn seating area. And, while individual tickets are available for each show, you can also build your own package with the Design-A-Series and receive up to 20% off.

Tip: VIP packages that include special parking and admission to the Intermission Reception start at $1,000 (tickets not included), and since the USUO is a nonprofit, a portion of your purchase supports the arts and is tax-deductible.

Trick: Take free public transit from Park City Mountain, where there is plenty of free parking and a convenient transit stop. The Red and Lime busses will take you directly to the concert venue.

The List (only Main Stage concerts listed; smaller venue shows can be found on this listing:

June 28:
Chris Botti
June 29:
Marie Osmond with the Utah Symphony
July 5:
Patriotic Celebration with Broadway’s Hugh Panaro
July 6:
Bravo Broadway! Life is a Cabaret
July 12:
Aretha: A Tribute to the Queen of Soul
July 13:
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – Film in Concert
July 19:
Disney in Concert: A Magical Celebration
July 20:
Renée Elise Goldsberry
July 26:
A Symphonic Space Celebration
July 27:
Rodrigo Y Gabriela – Mettavolution Tour
August 2:
Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture & Piano Concerto No. 1
August 3:
An Intimate Evening with Kristin Chenoweth
August 9:
The Music of the Rolling Stones: Circa 1969
August 10:
Indigo Girls

The resort’s other concert series, aptly-named the Deer Valley Concert Series, begins on June 30 with Michael Franti & Spearhead + Ziggy Marley, closing on Sept. 7 with ‘80s mainstay Squeeze. As with the USUO shows, both reserved and lawn seats are available, however, this series places a “GA Floor” section between the reserved seating and the stage, with additional lawn seating behind reserved, while the USUO series places reserved seating right in front of the stage. Chairs no higher than 9” are permitted on the lawn, but the series does reserve one side of this section for blankets only. Tickets are available online by clicking here.

Tip: Lukas Nelson (yep – Willie’s son) and his band, Promise of the Real, were featured in the recent blockbuster, “A Star Is Born” as Jackson Maine’s backup band, so take a minute to watch (or re-watch) the film before checking out Lukas’ show.

Trick: Summer nights in Park City in late August and early September can get downright chilly, so be sure to bring layers – and even a down jacket – to put on as the evening cools considerably from the day.

The List:
June 30:
Michael Franti & Spearhead | Ziggy Marley
July 11:
Jenny Lewis plus special guest
August 8:
Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real with special guest The War and Treaty
August 11:
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals | Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue with special guest Jessy Wilson
August 17:
John Butler Trio + | St. Paul & The Broken Bones
August 23:
Thievery Corporation
September 7:
Squeeze – The Songbook Tour with special guest X

Park City’s historic Mary G. Steiner Egyptian Theatre has an impressive lineup of concerts and live theater this summer, as well, beginning with Rickie Lee Jones on June 7, 8 & 9, and running through to Labor Day weekend with The Lettermen performing Aug. 30, 31 & Sept. 1. With fewer than 300 seats, the Egyptian offers an intimate musical experience unmatched by larger venues. All shows conveniently have multiple run dates, and tickets can be purchased by clicking here.

Tip: Join The Pharaoh Club to access front-of-house seating, and to also receive a few tickets for the Sundance Film Festival.

Trick: Park for free in the lower Deer Valley Resort lots and either walk to Main Street or grab the free city bus (but only on nights where there isn’t a concert at Snow Park Amphitheatre).

The List:
May 16-19:
Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
June 7-9:
Rickie Lee Jones
June 13-15:
An Evening with Leo Kottke
June 19-21:
Patty Griffin
June 27-29:
Hot Tuna
July 5-21:
A Chorus Line
July 26-28:
Martin Sexton
August 2, 3:
Stand-Up Comedy
August 9-11:
Janis Ian & Livingston Taylor
August 14-18:
Barefoot in the Park
August 22-25:
Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals – Egyptian Theatre
August 30-Sept. 1:
The Lettermen – Egyptian Theatre

This year’s Park City Institute Big Stars Bright Nights series will be held indoors at the Eccles Center, and includes six shows, with Brothers Osborne on July 7, and concluding with Cam on Aug. 24. Tickets went on sale to members on April 26, and will go on sale to the public on May 6, when they will be available by clicking here.

Tip: Keep an eye out for information about off-site gatherings before each show, as food and beverages are not allowed inside the Eccles Center.

Trick: Purchase a membership before tickets go on sale to the public on May 6 for the best seating options.

The List:
July 7:
Brothers Osborne
July 30:
Punch Brothers
August 13:
Taj Mahal Quartet, and Marc Cohn featuring special guest vocalists Blind Boys of Alabama
August 16:
Gone West
August 24:
Cam

There are many indoor spaces along Main Street to get your funk on, but none so perfectly laid out to allow for up-close-and-personal experiences with touring artists as O.P. Rockwell. Named for Orrin Porter Rockwell, controversial bodyguard to Latter-day Saints founder Joseph Smith, the venue offers craft cocktails and ample vantage points to enjoy the raised stage. Only a few shows for the summer have been announced, so far, and tickets can be purchased by clicking here.

Tip: Sit above the crowd in one of the three VIP reserved seating areas, which include restricted entry and dedicated cocktail service.

Trick: Get a leg-up on the hottest shows coming to town before everyone else hears about them by subscribing to the venue’s newsletter.

The List:
May 18:
Sean Kelly and The Samples
June 7:
Poor Man’s Whiskey

Concerts at one of Salt Lake’s most beloved summer music venues, Red Butte Garden, go on sale to members on Monday, April 27 at 7 p.m., but – unfortunately – you can no longer buy a membership, as they have been placed on-hold until April 30. However, many shows are already on-sale, and tickets can be purchased here. This year’s series features an impressive 31 shows, and begins with Béla Fleck & The Flecktones on May 31. Highlights include Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats (July 23), The Mighty O.A.R. with American Authors (Aug. 8) and Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit (Sept. 19). Like the Deer Valley venue, concert goers can bring in their own food and drink. Tickets are available by clicking here.

Tip: Tickets for many sold-out shows become available on the day of the performance when artist holds are released, so keep an eye on the venue website or head to the box office when it opens that day.

Trick: Grab a group of friends and hire a local transportation company to bring you to and from the venue so you don’t have to worry about parking.

The List:
May 31:
Béla Fleck & The Flecktones’
June 5:
Little Feat 50th Anniversary Tour
June 6:
A Concert Version of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
June 25
Howard Jones – Transform Tour 2019 with Men Without Hats and All Hail The Silence
June 26:
Lucinda Williams and her band Buick 6
June 27:
Greensky Bluegrass with The Lil Smokeys
July 2:
Utah Symphony’s Patriotic Celebration
July 10:
Galactic with Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe
July 11:
Pink Martini with singer China Forbes
July 14:
An Evening with Lyle Lovett and his Large Band
July 18:
Seal
July 23:
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
July 26:
Trampled by Turtles with Dead South
July 30:
John Prine – The Tree of Forgiveness Tour with I’m With Her
August 4:
Umphrey’s McGee with Pigeons Playing Ping Pong
August 5:
Johnny Lang, J.J. Grey & Mofro
August 7:
Mandolin Orange
August 8:
The Mighty O.A.R. – Summer Tour 2019 with American Authors
August 13:
Shakey Graves/Dr. Dog
August 14:
Lord Huron
August 16:
The B-52’s – 40th Anniversary Tour with OMD & Berlin
August 19:
Steve Miller Band, Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives
August 26:
The Stray Cats – 40th Anniversary Tour
August 28:
The Wood Brothers, Colter Wall
August 29:
Amos Lee – My New Moon 2019 Tour with Madison Cunningham
September 4:
An Evening with Gov’t Mule
September 6:
Gary Clark, Jr.
September 11:
An Evening with Mark Knopfler
September 15:
Boz Scaggs
September 19:
Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit
September 23:
Tash Sultana with The Teskey Brothers

USANA Amphitheatre, Utah’s outdoor venue for headliner concerts, is located in West Valley and is the place to see many of the hottest tours of the summer. This year’s USANA series begins with Brad Paisley on June 13, and includes the highly-anticipated performance by Sting with the Utah Symphony to benefit Zion National Park on Aug. 31, plus a return of Dan Reynolds’ (of Imagine Dragons) LoveLoud Tour on June 29 to benefit national LGBTQ+ charities. Tickets for all shows can be purchased by clicking here.

Tip: From May 1-7, $20 all-in (no additional fees, etc.) tickets will be available for 15 USANA shows, with a T-Mobile presale on starting at 5 a.m. on April 30. Visit this link for more info.

Trick: Take a staycation at one of the many nearby hotels and use Uber or Lyft to get to the venue.

The List:
June 13:
Brad Paisley Tour 2019
June 18:
Train, Goo Goo Dolls
June 21:
Summer Gods Tour 2019
June 29:
LoveLoud Festival – Kesha, Martin Garrix, Tegan and Sara, Daya, Grouplove and others
July 2:
Santana: Supernatural Now
July 9:
The Avett Brothers
July 18:
Shinedown: ATTENTION ATTENTION World Tour
July 20:
Jon Bellion: The Glory Sound Prep Tour
July 27:
Jason Aldean: Ride All Night Tour 2019
August 1:
Knotfest Roadshow featuring: Slipknot, Volbeat, Gojira, Behemoth
August 7:
Wiz Khalifa with French Montana, Playboi Carti, Moneybagg Yo, Chevy Woods and DJ Drama
August 13:
Mumford & Sons
August 20:
311 & Dirty Heads
August 27:
Dave Matthews Band
August 30:
Heart: Love Alive Tour
August 31:
Sting and the Utah Symphony Celebrate 100 years of Zion National Par
September 12:
Florida Georgia Line: Can’t Say I Ain’t Country Tour
September 14:
KISS: End of the Road World Tour
September 20:
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour
September 25:
Breaking Benjamin

Located at the south end of the Salt Lake Valley, Sandy City might be the last place you’d think to enjoy some solid musical entertainment, but the Sandy Amphitheater has been growing its reputation and roster of artists every year since opening in 1999. The 2,750-seat venue offers 2,000 reserved seats and 750 lawn spaces, and features a ton of blast-from-the-past artists this summer, including Pat Benatar and the Gin Blossoms. Tickets are available by clicking here.

Tip: Sandy City has just voted to allow the previously-dry venue to sell beer to its thirsty patrons.

Trick: Got kiddos? Arrive early and beat the Salt Lake Valley heat to enjoy the adjacent water feature, a.k.a. splash pad on steroids.

The List:
June 7:          
Ryan Shupe & the Rubberband
June 8:
Foghat
June 21:
Imagine + Beatles Orchestral Tribute
June 22:
Tommy James & The Shondells
June 25:
Lee Brice
June 29:
Arrival: The Music of ABBA
July 6:
Home Free
July 12:
Satisfaction: The International Rolling Stone Tribute
July 13:
Colin Mochrie presents HYPROV: Improv Under Hypnosis
July 16:
Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Melissa Etheridge
July 19 & 20
Norah Jones – Sandy Amphitheater
August 2-10:
MAMMA MIA, The Musical
August 15:
Lost ‘80s Live: A Flock of Seagulls, Wang Chung, The Vapors, Boys Don’t Cry, The Escape Club, Real Lafe, Farrington & Mann
August 16:
The Bellamy Brothers
August 23:
Broadway Princess Party featuring Broadway’s Original Cinderella, Belle and Anastasia
August 27:
Collective Soul & Gin Blossoms: Now’s The Time Tour
August 30:
KIDZ BOP World Tour 2019
September 7:
Peter Breinholt
September 13:
Zeppelin USA
September 19:
Brian Wilson with Al Jardine & Blondie Chaplin plus special guests The Zombies

Located in nearby Kamas, the DeJoria Center offers two indoor venues – the main arena and the more intimate State Road Tavern – in which to present their summer concerts, which include Leftover Salmon (June 21), Wynonna and the Big Noise (Aug. 2) and UB40 (Aug. 23). Tickets are available by clicking here.

Tip: Enjoy dinner onsite at the State Road Tavern & Restaurant before the show. 

Trick: Stay out of the fray and purchase a VIP Booth for certain shows, which includes eight seats, complimentary soft drinks and a dedicated server.

The List (this does not include smaller shows at the State Road Tavern or community events):
June 7:
Air Supply
July 5:
Roots & Boots 90s Electric Throwdow
July 26:
Queen Nation
July 19:
Scotty McCreery

Local summer events are one of the many reasons so many Choose Park City. You can, too, by calling Christine Grenney at 435-640-4238, or visiting her website by clicking here.