And then, life happened. We got older, bands got busy and the original Grillfest quietly faded away.

Over the years I’d bump into old acquaintances who’d say, “You should bring Grillfest back.” I’d nod, laugh and tell them I’d think about it. Eventually, I stopped brushing it off and made the commitment.

Grillfest 2025 will take place Aug. 22-23 in downtown Midvale, where we’re shutting down Main Street for music, barbecue and community. What started in a backyard is now a full-blown street festival with local food trucks, pop-up vendors and a two-day lineup of some of the West’s most exciting underground bands, including Judicator, Advent Horizon, Silver Talon and many more. It’s been a labor of love, months in the making. But it’s also something more than a music festival: Grillfest is my response to Utah’s growing hunger for events that are local, authentic and made for today’s music fans — people who want connection, comfort and a good night’s sleep.

Utah’s music scene doesn’t need to mimic Coachella or South by Southwest. I believe there’s a hunger for cultural infrastructure that more closely reflects the values and rhythms of today’s music lovers. For example, Grillfest ends at a reasonable hour, features food breaks so artists and fans can eat together, and is deliberately designed to feel more like a family reunion than a cattle-call concert. We’ve kept our focus small by design: quality over quantity, experience over scale.

This isn’t just about entertainment. It’s about creating a space for meaningful connection. Grillfest brings people together across music, food and shared local pride. It’s where a metalhead might end up swapping salsa recipes with a city council member. Or maybe an aspiring high school musician might pick a professional musician’s brain over brisket. That’s the kind of Utah I want to live in.

We’ve also built Grillfest to be approachable for a wide range of listeners. Friday night features melodic and rock-leaning acts to ease people into the weekend, while Saturday brings the heavy hitters and the full sensory experience. We’ve partnered with the City of Midvale, the Midvale Main Street Business Alliance and dozens of local creators to make Grillfest a celebration of what’s good and homegrown in Utah.

And this year’s festival isn’t just a throwback — it’s a foundation. Our long-term goal is to create a sustainable, annual event that attracts regional tourism, supports local business and gives emerging bands a meaningful stage. We’ve already had artists reach out to play next year’s Grillfest and sold dozens of tickets to people from out of state. That tells me we’re building something that resonates.

Utah’s economy is booming. Our tech sector is thriving. But culture is what makes a place feel like home. We need more than jobs and housing — we need music, food, laughter and shared memories. We need events that don’t just bring people to Utah, but bring people together in Utah.

That’s why I brought back Grillfest. And that’s why I think Utah needs it.

John Yelland is the singer of Judicator and festival director of Grillfest.