The Best Sets from Kilby Block Party 2026 (ARCHIVE)
(This piece was previously published in the Moab Sun News)
Last weekend I attended Kilby Block Party 2026. Here’s my favorite sets from the festival, in order of when I saw them. I highly recommend checking out all of these artists’ big songs.
Ritt Momney – This Utah-based artist drowned the main stage right in the middle of the day in intense synths and grand vocals. He poured his heart and soul into this set, and I’m sure everyone could hear and understand his emotional perspective.
Show Me The Body – I left halfway through Ritt Momney to get powered up by the sheer rage of this NYC experimental rap group’s crowdsurf-worth screaming. It was for sure a powerup for the rest of the weekend.
Japanese Breakfast – Michelle Zauner was on her A-game for this one, using a drum pad as much as her guitars to bring a cheerful wave into the audience before Turnstile. Her 2021 album “Jubilee” is one to for sure check out. They brought out a gong for crying out loud!
Between Friends – Definitely the sexiest moment of the festival, this was an hour of dance, pop, and electronic fusion that made me ready to move! It was a set so nice, they had to play their hit song “JAM!” twice.
Briston Maroney – The indie rock sound was imbued into the bones of this set, full of laughter and tears. One of Maroney’s first shows fully sober, this one was really fun and wholesome all the way around.
Freak Slug – With a sound very reminiscent of Wet Leg, this one was recommended to me by a guy in the group I came with. It definitely did not disappoint. The fun and flirty sound of this band really hyped me up for the rest of Sunday’s stacked lineup.
American Football – I thought this set would be a little too quiet for my liking, and boy was I wrong. This one was a joyful depiction of all things midwest emo, and they even brought out Hayley Williams to sing “Never Meant!” I didn’t see that part though, sadly.
Blood Orange – My festival highlight, I stood on a ping pong table to get a killer view from way-way out and danced gleefully to “Uncle ACE,” and yeah, that guitar solo rocked my world. Dev Hynes also opened the set with a cello solo, which was incredibly cool. So yeah, good stuff all around, these artists are all killers and changemakers in the indie world.