This year’s Twilight Concert Series lineup:
July 5 Beach House / The Walkmen July 12 Raphael Saadiq / JJ Grey & Mofro July 19 Nas / Tinie Tempah July 26 Band of Horses / Lower Dens Aug. 2 My Morning Jacket / Joshua James Aug. 9 Passion Pit / Austra Aug. 16 Iron and Wine / Kathleen Edwards Aug. 23 M. Ward / DeVotchKa Aug. 30 Common / Aloe Blacc
This year’s Twilight Concert Series lineup is as impressive as ever, but there is one major change to the event.
The Twilight Concert Series is no longer free. For the first time in the event’s 25 year history, there is an entrance fee of $5 per person.
“The $5 charge was needed because the concert series became financially tough. [The fee’s purpose is] to make sure that people’s experience is good and to be able to have more artists come in,” says Twilight Concert Series Programs Director Casey Jarman. “This year, we have nine shows. Last year, we only had seven, and if we didn’t charge people to get in this year, we would have gone down to five shows.”
The Twilight Concert Series started when Jarman realized that few people could come during the day to the Living Traditions Festival. Jarman, who also produces for the Salt Lake City Arts Council, Living Traditions Festival and Brown Bag Concert Series conceived the idea of the Twilight Concert Series and turned it into a reality.
“We wanted something that was accessible, at the time free, and to give people an opportunity to experience performing arts,” Jarmann says. “We started with two hundred people working with us on the first few years, and the Twilight Concert Series was held first at the Salt Lake City Arts Center, then Gallivan Center, and now Pioneer Park.”
Jarman is proud of the Twilight Concert Series, but he is quick to point out that many other individuals and organizations should also feel proud for making the event a success over the years.
“Twilight concerts have a different feel, and for that people are proud of it,” Jarman says. “It’s a public gathering, it’s a progressive concert series, and it has become a tradition in Salt Lake City where people feel like it’s theirs, and it is.”
In early years, the Twilight Concert Series was paid for by sponsors and the Salt Lake City Arts Council program fund. Now, it’s largely up to Salt Lake City to keep the concerts going.
Although there is no student discount, 24tix.com does offer a deal. Tickets for all nine of this summer’s concerts are available for a lump sum of $35, which is a $10 savings.
Cash is the only accepted form of payment at the gate. There are ATM’s located at all the entrances at Pioneer Park, but with the concerts’ expected attendance, lines for the machines might prove to be a hassle.
The future of the Twilight Concert Series may have a lot hanging on how this year turns out.
“My goal is to make Twilight Concerts the best possible,” Jarman said. “There is a lot of potential, but we will see how it goes financially. I hope we are back here next year in Pioneer Park.”
