Get out the camping gear: it’s time for a musical sojourn. The 16th annual Ogden Music Festival returns to Fort Buenaventura from May 31 to June 2, 2024 with a stellar all-star lineup. The three-day concert is the signature event of the Ogden Friends of Acoustic Music (OFOAM) organization, a nonprofit group that really knows how to put on a show.

They won’t all be string bands (although there will be world-class bluegrass acts, too). OFOAM balances the lineup with other genres from the American roots canon such as soul, blues, R&B, Afro-Mexican rhythms, folk, mariachi, funk and disco. The festival includes 27 musical acts over the three-day event.

Find the full schedule here

Friday May 31

Kicking off the festival is the Utah-based great band Pixie & The Partygrass Boys. Their unique “party grass” music combines bluegrass, newgrass, pop, punk and rock ‘n’ roll into an exciting sound that’s sure to get your feet moving and your hips swaying.

Say she she is a soulful, female-led disco-delic band from Brooklyn that will transport you back to Studio 54 with their hypnotic tri-vocal harmonies and infectious beats.

Friday night’s headliner Celisse, is a relative newcomer to the soul/gospel/blues music circuit. Her artistic ambitions took her to Broadway before she strapped on an electric guitar and channeled Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the godmother of rock ‘n’ roll. As the regular guitarist for Brandi Carlile, Alicia Keys and Joni Mitchell, Celisse’s musical career is just getting off the ground. Her debut album is coming out and she has already made her presence known. I can’t wait to hear her shred her guitar and belt out soulful gospel blues. I love being able to see her up close before she reaches the stratosphere.

In between performers, ‘tweener’ acts will play a short set to keep the music flowing during set-ups.

Saturday June 1

There’s an insane schedule of great acts lined up from the afternoon until the early hours. The pickpockets, Wyatt Ellis, The Slocan Ramblers, And Twisted pine rock the daylight (and don’t forget the tweeners who often leave you wanting more.) As the sun begins to dip below the horizon, a series of headliners emerge, and on Saturday night there’s a trifecta of hugely successful acts.

Hayes Carl–The Grammy-nominated storyteller from Texas sings whimsical, well-crafted songs with the swagger of rock ‘n’ roll, the sweet touch of country and the introspection of folk. Carll occupies the center lane between James McMurtry and Ray Wylie Hubbard. His fun, often irreverent songs will put a smile on your face and make you dance. His latest single with The Band of Heathens, released just in time for April 20, is “Nobody Dies From Weed,” an upbeat honky-tonk celebration of Mother Nature’s gift.

Sarah Jarosz– The multi-instrumentalist and multiple Grammy-winning Americana artist has just released her seventh full-length album Polaroid lovers. The record shifts the musical wind from Laurel Canyon towards Nashville and creates a masterpiece bordering on pop: various love stories told with a light country-pop sound.

Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway– Headlining the coveted Saturday night spot is the winner of the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album for City of gold (she also won the prize last year for Crooked tree.) Tuttle & Golden Highway is the hottest ticket in Bluegrass today. For those who saw her magical performance at The Commonwealth Room in 2023, I’m sure you’re ready for more (I know). For those who have not yet seen this group of virtuosos, this is an unmissable opportunity in a fantastic location.

Sunday June 2

Bring on that late morning coffee. The last day of the festival starts at 12 noon with Utah’s Mariachi Aguilas de la Esperanzaabout 30 children from the Esperanza School and 20 graduate young people let us start with Mariachi, Banda, Norteno and Sierreno music.

The jamgrass band from Birmingham, Alabama Mountain grass unit will make you more likely to blow up some dirt Hayes Carl returns for a bonus solo show! Don’t miss the electro-folk musical collective Las Cafeteras, the East LA group that combines cumbia, punk, hip-hop and Afro-Mexican beats. Of course, there are several great tweeners who keep the rhythms flowing all day long. The exclamation point at this year’s Ogden Music Festival comes from the local supergroup Josie O and the Big Sixa gathering of familiar faces from Salt Lake City’s music scene who will hit us with a foot-stomping honky-tonk finale.

Here’s a Spotify playlist to get you festival ready. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/20xOlebH3LkUvBfBIsZjxy?si=fsK4xK8aTVCCsRXStb4Frg&pi=u-U1ZEeOMzTCid

Tickets and camping information: https://ofoam.ticketspice.com/2024-ogden-music-festival

It’s just a short drive (or a FrontRunner trip) from Salt Lake City, so whether you opt for a three-day camping adventure or a few day excursions, you won’t want to miss the great atmosphere at Fort Buenaventura.

What: 16th Ogden Music Festival
Where: Fort Buenaventura (2450 A Ave Ogden)
When: May 31 – June 2, 2024
Information and tickets: https://www.ofoam.org/

---

Get the latest news about arts and entertainment in and around Utah. And while you’re here, subscribe and get six issues of Salt lake magazine, your guide to the best of Utah living.