Smash Bash focuses on all local lineup

From The Used to Neon Trees and Voice Mail, Utah has produced music of all genres and styles. But until recently, there wasn’t a music festival highlighting just Utah talent, which is where Ashley Francis-Evans comes in with the inaugural Smash Bash music festival in Salt Lake City on Aug. 28, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., at the Gallivan Center.“We’re going to have 20 local bands performing throughout the day,” Francis-Evans said. “We’re going to showcase the best of Utah and have at least two bands of every genre.”The lineup is an impressive look at a who’s-who of Salt Lake music and most of the bands are seen around the city in bars, clubs and concert halls. The festival is a not-for-profit venture and all the bands are donating their time to the cause of spreading good music in Salt Lake, Francis-Evans said.

The tickets are $5 in advance and $8 at the door, but a portion of the proceeds goes to HopeKids, a foundation for families with children who have life-threatening diseases such as cancer.

“I like to go and see as many bands as I can, but I realized there wasn’t a place to go see all of them at the same time,” Francis-Evans said.

The day will kick off with some softer bands and as the day progresses, so will the music toward a harder, edgier and louder sound.

“It’s just going to be a huge blast,” Francis-Evans said. “There’s going to be so much great music and it’s a perfect time to be introduced to some local talent. We have so much talent here in Salt Lake.”

The lineup includes: King Niko, Ryan Darton, Nate Francis, The Swinging Lights, Fail to Follow, MC Pigpen & Amber Lees, Red Bennies, The Wayne Hoskins Band, Fox Van Cleef, Muscle Hawk, Scenic Byway, Dirty Blonde, Red Dog Revival, Dark Seas, I Capture Castle, DJ Robo Rob and Max Pain and the Groovies.

For more information and to buy tickets, go to smashbashmusicfestival.blogspot.com.