GrillFest has been resurrected since making a name for itself on the local scene in Midvale and Salt Lake City, Utah, in the early 2010s, with the last one being held in 2013. Founded by John Yelland of Judicator as a backyard festival that was organized by his first band, Disforia, GrillFest is being revitalized. Supported by Judicator and the City of Midvale, and the Midvale Main Business Alliance. This year's 2025 event will shut down Main Street and transform it into a full-scale festival. Local businesses will host pop-ups, and they’re curating a lineup of vendors offering savory food, desserts, and more. And of course, the music will remain diverse, dynamic, and electrifying as GrillFest's 2025 lineup features Judicator, Advent Horizon, Silver Talon, Michael Barrow & The Tourists, Seizure, Celestial Wizard, Arsenic Addiction, Viperwitch, Storm Haven, DiseNgaged, Hisingen, and Moon Wizard.
Being hosted on August 22nd and 23rd at The Pearl on Main in Midvale, Utah, Grillfest ’25 is more than just an event—it’s a rekindling of something special. It’s a gathering for artists and fans who crave authenticity, connection, and experiences to cherish for the rest of their lives.
“Grillfest isn’t just another music festival—it’s a community movement built by fans—for fans. We’re bringing together some of the best underground metal acts from across the West, pairing them with real smokehouse BBQ and a no-frills, all-heart atmosphere. Our goal is to grow something truly special here in Utah: a boutique-style festival that stays loud, stays local, and gives both rising bands and dedicated fans a place to call home,” adds John Yelland, Founder of Grillfest and Vocalist of Judicator.
Two-day and single-day passes are available at https://linktr.ee/grillfestutah
Facebook Event - https://www.facebook.com/events/1264606655378437/
GrillFest'25 - Festival Spotify Playlist - https://bit.ly/4knzlcR
Grillfest '25 Lineup:
Friday, August 22nd
Hisingen
Moon Wizard
Michael Barrow & The Tourists
Advent Horizon
Saturday, August 23rd
DiseNgaged
Viperwitch
Storm Haven
Celestial Wizard
Arsenic Addiction
Seizure
Silver Talon
Judicator
About The Headliners:
Judicator isn’t just a power metal band — it’s a reckoning with history and mortality, plumbing the depths of the human condition one album at a time.
Since their serendipitous formation in 2012, when singer John Yelland and guitarist Alicia Cordisco (ex-Judicator, Transgressive) crossed paths at a Blind Guardian concert, the band has been on a relentless journey to craft concept albums that confront existential anxiety in its many forms. From character studies of historical figures like Napoleon Bonaparte and Frederick the Great, to the deeply personal At the Expense of Humanity, which recounts Yelland’s experience losing his brother to cancer, Judicator brings history and humanity into sharp focus.
Rooted in Salt Lake City, Judicator has produced six albums over the course of a decade, with their latest opus, Concord, set to release in early 2025. The band’s blend of thought-provoking lyrics, memorable riffs, and charismatic energy has earned them a loyal following and some surreal milestones, like featuring Hansi Kürsch as a guest vocalist on 2018’s The Last Emperor and opening for Blind Guardian in Salt Lake City during the God Machine North American tour in 2024.
While co-founding member Alicia Cordisco departed in 2020, her legacy remains an integral part of Judicator’s DNA. Today, the band continues to push boundaries as a five-piece power metal powerhouse, weaving tales that are as epic as they are intimate.
Judicator’s music seeks to hold a mirror up to life’s greatest struggles and triumphs, whether great or small, whether grand historical sagas or intimate struggles with mortality. Judicator invites you to grapple with the inevitable, together, one song at a time.
Info - https://linktr.ee/judicatormetal
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USA-based prog rockers Advent Horizon are making waves in the progressive music world and beyond after the release of their new album "A Cell To Call Home."
Featuring guest performances from Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater), Dave Meros (Spock's Beard), Randy McStine (Porcupine Tree), and Jared Hill (Snow Child), plus album and single artwork by Travis Smith (Opeth, Devin Townsend), "A Cell To Call Home" has received high praise internationally from fans and reviewers alike. ProgRadio named "A Cell To Call Home" their 2023 "Album of the year", while ProgReport and Sonic Perspectives ranked it at #5 and #4 respectively on their "Best of 2023" lists.
Much of 2024 was spent on the road, with performances across the USA. At Progstock in October 2024, "A Cell To Call Home" was performed live in its entirety and was met with overwhelming enthusiasm from festival attendees and multiple press outlets, with one reviewer writing, "something about this act really felt unusually magical."
Following the success of their 2024 live appearances, Advent Horizon has returned to the studio, and is currently recording their 4th full-length studio album, which features a side-long 20-minute epic track, and 5 other heavy-hitting progressive rock/metal songs.
Info - https://www.adventhorizonmusic.com/
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Silver Talon emerged from the remnants of the Portland heavy metal group Spellcaster after their disbandment in 2017. Seeking a sonic identity that was heavier and more aggressive, guitarist Bryce VanHoosen spearheaded the project and enlisted vocalist Wyatt Howell. Howell's addition refined Silver Talon’s identity, setting the band distinctly apart from its predecessor. By late 2018, the band released their acclaimed debut EP, 'Becoming A Demon.'
This release encapsulated the band’s uncompromising, raw-edged sound across five original tracks. Notably, it featured a collaboration with Jeff Loomis (Arch Enemy / Nevermore), who delivered a scorching guitar solo for a cover of Sanctuary’s cult classic, 'Battle Angels.' Despite a few lineup changes, the band navigated a tumultuous 2019, ultimately solidifying their lineup with guitarist Devon Miller and bassist Walter Hartzell, enhancing their power and versatility.
Throughout the 2020 pandemic, Silver Talon remained focused and productive, culminating in the release of 'Deceiver, I Am,’ the lead single off their debut album 'Decadence and Decay,' in early December. This marked a new phase for the band, showcasing deeper arrangements, an expansive sound, and intricate musical layering.
In May of 2021, the full debut album 'Decadence and Decay’ dropped, earning rave reviews and securing spots on both Decibel Magazine and Bandcamp's top metal albums of the year lists. No Clean Singing praised the band's songwriting and technical prowess, stating, “it’s the band’s songwriting (coupled with their obvious artistic abilities and technical talents) which really makes this record stand out from the crowd.” The album even boasted a collaboration with King Diamond's main axeman, Andy La Rocque, on the track 'Resistance 2029.'
The post-pandemic era brought touring opportunities in support of 'Decadence and Decay,' including appearances at Hell’s Heroes and Legions of Metal festivals, alongside shows across the United States with metal legends such as Cynic, Atheist, and Exmortus.
As 2023 unfolds, the band is diligently crafting their sophomore album, scheduled for release on M-Theory Audio.
Silver Talon's music blends a brooding and dark approach to heavy metal with classic influences, paying homage to revered acts like King Diamond, Nevermore, Savatage, Judas Priest, and Alice in Chains, among others.
Info - https://silvertalon.us/
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Please note: Main Street in front of the festival will be cordoned off, however, and so there will be a level of foot traffic—attendees who are only interested in the local business pop-ups, food trucks, and so on, but not the performances, which take place inside the venue.
About GrillFest:
GrillFest began humbly in the early 2010s as a backyard festival organized by John Yelland’s first band, Disforia. Held at their bassist’s house, it was a laid-back, community-driven celebration of local music, friendship, and grilling. They invited fellow bands of all styles—metal, punk, acoustic, death metal—and played from noon until noise curfew! There were no genre boundaries, no egos—just artists, fans, and neighbors coming together in an atmosphere that felt more like a family reunion than a festival.
As the years passed and life took them in different directions, Disforia disbanded, and the original Grillfest faded into memory. But its spirit never left John. That sense of connection, creativity, and grassroots joy is something he carried with him, and now, he is thrilled to bring it back in 2025.
About The Organizers:
John Yelland is the powerhouse frontman of Salt Lake City’s acclaimed power metal band Judicator, known for his soaring vocals and emotionally rich storytelling across seven studio albums. He’s also the voice of the epic doom project Behölder, and formerly of sci-fi power metal act Dire Peril. With collaborations ranging from Blind Guardian’s Hansi Kürsch to his genre-bending concept albums, Yelland is one of the most distinctive voices in modern metal. This year, he brings that fire home to Grillfest, joining a lineup built by and for foodies who love chill vibes and good music.
More info:
https://grillfestutah.com/
https://www.facebook.com/grillfestutah
https://www.instagram.com/grillfest.utah/
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