Utah is primarily known for two things: its high Mormon population and is breathtaking natural formations. What it isn’t known for is its music scene. However, Salt Lake has a surprisingly good set of musicians playing at any given time, if you know where to look. Here is a list of the best concerts coming this fall:
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, The State Room, Thursday September 3, 8 p.m.
Genre: Folk Rock
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats has opened for bands such as the Lumineers. Their music walks the line between folk and country, with lead singer Nathaniel Rateliff employing a twang in his voice as he sings. They have just released three singles, the most famous of which is “S.O.B.”
Note: This concert is 21+
Allen Stone, The Depot, Tuesday Sept. 15, 8:30 p.m.
Genre: Soulful Pop
When Allen Stone was only 22, he self-released his debut album, “Last To Speak,” in 2010. However, it wasn’t until his next album, the self-titled Allen Stone, that he started gaining traction. His second album led to his scoring a spot in the top five of iTunes’ R&B/Soul chart as well as appearances on late night talk shows such as Conan and The Late Show with David Letterman.
Stone just released his newest album, “Radius,” made in collaboration with Swedish musician Magnus Tingsek.
Noah Gundersen, The State Room, Wednesday September 16, 7 p.m.
Genre: Indie Folk
Noah Gundersen is a singer-songwriter from Seattle, Wash. He produced his first album, “Brand New World,” in 2008 before founding the band The Courage. Many of his songs have appeared in television shows, such as “The Follow,” “Vampire Diaries,” and “Sons of Anarchy.”
On July 24, he released the single “Jealous Love,” the first music he has released since his last album, “Ledges.” His newest album, “Carry the Ghost,” is scheduled to be released on August 21.
Note: This concert is 21+
Lighthouse and the Whaler, Kilby Court, September 18, 7 p.m.
Genre: Indie
The Lighthouse and the Whaler, whose name was inspired the Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, released their self-titled debut album in 2009. The following year, the band performed at SXSW, an annual multi-media festival that takes place in Austin, Texas. Their performance there helped get their name out, but they are still not very widely known and have not received very much press coverage.
Mew, The Complex, Friday October 2, 7 p.m.
Genre: Indie Rock
Mew is a band hailing from Denmark and consisting of Jonas Bjerre (lead vocals), Johan Wohlert (bass) and Silas Utke Graae Jørgensen (drums). Formed in Copenhagen, the band gained immediate press nationally for their major impact on the Danish indie music scene. Now they are internationally famous and have played in countries worldwide.
Charli XCX, The Complex, Saturday October 8, 6 p.m.
Genre: Pop
Charli XCX is best known for her song, “Boom Clap,” featured in the 2014 movie “The Fault in Our Stars.” Born Charlotte Aitchison, Charli XCX is a stage name she adopted when she started performing at illegal raves in London warehouses. She released her first single in 2008.
Owl City, The Complex, Tuesday October 20, 7 p.m.
Genre: Electronic
Owl City is the name adopted by singer-songwriter Adam Young when he began to make electronic music. Owl City became big around 2009 when he released the song “Fireflies” off his album “Ocean Eyes.” At the time, the song played across most radio stations. Though the hype around the song died down, Owl City maintains a steady fan base, made up of mostly electronic music fans.
Shakey Graves, The Depot, Sunday October 25, 8 p.m.
Genre: Folk
Shakey Graves is the stage name for Texas native Alejandro Rose-Garcia. Because he was born in Austin, the mayor of Austin declared Feb. 9 to be Shakey Graves Day in 2012. On this day, all of his music is available on Bandcamp for pay-what-you-want prices.
His latest album, “And the War Came,” is available on iTunes now.
Marina and the Diamonds, Tuesday October 27, 7 p.m.
Genre: Alternative Pop
Marina and the Diamonds, born Marina Diamandis, is a Welsh singer-songwriter. Her debut studio album was “The Family Jewels.” She just released her third album, “Froot,” inspired by synthpop music.
@TheChrony