OGDEN, Utah (ABC4) — Utah is no stranger to the live music scene, with decades-old festivals like Kilby Block Party and major artists performing in some of the largest venues in Salt Lake City year after year.
So, what is Ogden Twilight? And what makes it different from other concerts?
For starters, the concert series doesn’t take place in Utah’s capital city — it brings big crowds and even bigger names a little further north to the city of Ogden. 2024 will be the ninth year of the series.
How Ogden Twilight started
Jared Allen, the founder of Ogden Twilight, created the concert series after a conversation with Christy McBride, who oversees arts, culture and events in Ogden City.
“We felt like Ogden had a bad/unfair reputation within the state and thought that if people actually came to Ogden to see what it was about, that that unfair reputation might change,” Allen told ABC4.com.
A singer performs during the Ogden Twilight concert series in Ogden, Utah. The Ogden Twilight concert series puts on 10 shows every summer. (Courtesy: Jared Allen) 
A crowd watches a performance during the Ogden Twilight concert series in Ogden, Utah. The Ogden Twilight concert series puts on 10 shows every summer. (Courtesy: Jared Allen)
Since 2018, the Ogden Twilight concert series has been putting on 10 shows throughout the summer, according to Allen. Before that, events were typically held on Thursday nights only in June.
“It was challenging, but Ogden City was great to work with and there were a few bookings agents that were generous with their time and information,” Allen said.
In the early days, Allen said S&S Presents was helpful, and has continued to be a “tremendous asset to the series.”
How Ogden Twilight is going
While the 2024 lineup is scheduled to be announced sometime in March — following the typical timeline for lineup announcements — Allen said it has been in the works for a while.
“Many of the bookings that come through on any given year are the results of multiple years of conversations,” Allen said.
Most of the artists who perform at Ogden Twilight are contacted by Allen and his team, who reach out to the booking agencies and artists. Allen told ABC4.com that booking and researching for the shows happens all throughout the year, and he and his team form close relationships with performers.
Several artists have returned to play Ogden Twilight numerous times, with The Flaming Lips performing at the concert series four times and Noah Cyrus (yes, the same Cyrus as Billy Ray and Miley) coming back twice so far.
In recent years, other big-name headliners have included Bon Iver, Cigarettes After Sex and Lauv.
“We’re less like a business and more like crazy fans that somehow got the keys to an amazing venue and the contact info for their favorite artists,” Allen said. “We’re just as excited as anyone to be there.”
Allen told ABC4.com that he has never missed an Ogden Twilight show and is most proud of the community pride that comes out of the concert series, along with the affordability of the tickets.
How Ogden Twilight will continue
“I think so long as it’s still enjoyed, we’ll keep it going,” Allen said. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s also a passion project, so in a way the work is also a lot of fun.”
Allen said his favorite part of running the Ogden Twilight concert series is the shows and seeing the joy they bring to everyone involved.
“It’s so fulfilling to see how much these shows mean to our guests,” Allen said. “It’s easy to get a little teary-eyed watching everyone’s socials/tags the following day and seeing how important these experiences are to them.”
Allen said he and his team take their job of booking artists very seriously, with the goal of curating a series that is meaningful to attendees each year.
So, what should Utahns expect for 2024’s series?
“Another great summer of live music in Ogden,” Allen said.
