Festivals

Redwest Festival 2025 Recap & Photos

Published

3 weeks ago

October 21, 2025

Colin H.

Redwest Festival 2025 — All Photo Credit: Colin Hancock

Redwest Country Music Festival 2025 took over Salt Lake City October 10–12, and from the second gates opened, it was clear: this was the country lineup of the fall. Fans showed up early, boots laced and voices warmed, ready to scream every lyric for three straight days.

Friday kicked off under calm skies. The warm-up acts: Noah Rinker, Willow Avalon, Waylon Wyatt, Ella Langley, each earned their moment under the lights, warming up the crowd and proving the undercard was no afterthought. Then Kacey Musgraves headlined, and she delivered exactly what people came for: a polished set that leaned as much on atmosphere as it did on hits. The Utah crowd seemed transfixed, swaying in unity under a sky brushed with pink dusk. She managed to turn the fairground into an ethereal dream.

By Saturday, things went sideways. Lightning storms rolled in, thunder cracking overhead, forcing organizers to cancel large portions of the day, Post Malone included. Chaos overtook the stage: a scramble for safety, tents shredded by wind, mud mixing with despair. Fans huddled under makeshift cover, drenched and heartbroken. The mood shifted fast, from hype to heartbreak, in a matter of minutes.

Amid that disaster, though, there was a deeper blow: a 23-year-old concertgoer named Ava Ahlander was killed in a freak accident during the evacuation. A plank from nearby scaffolding, likely torn loose by gale winds, struck her as she sought shelter near her car. She later died from her injuries. The tragedy cast a long shadow over the festival, reminding everyone how fragile these moments can be.

And then Sunday came to save the story. The skies cleared. The ground dried (mostly). The crowd, starved for something to believe in, came back.

*Redwest Country Music Festival 2025 – Photo credit: Colin Hancock*

The Band Perry hit the stage and owned it, nostalgia, power vocals, and a crowd that sang so loudly it practically became a backing track. The energy felt huge, and everyone knew the weekend was just getting started. They even did a surprise cover of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” and cowboys and girls went wild.

The crowd starved for redemption and the festival roared back to life. Avery Anna and Sam Barber not only debuted a brand-new song, but they also delivered a massive crowd moment during “Indigo”.

By the time Noah Kahan closed out the night with his own set, Redwest was fully resurrected. Every song was a sing-along. Every lyric echoed back at him. Then, Avery Anna walks on stage. Together, they delivered a breathtaking duet of “If We Were Vampires,” and suddenly the entire festival felt intimate, as thousands of people silently took it in before screaming the last chorus.

The storm may have wrecked Saturday, but Sunday made everyone forget, proving the right lineup and the right crowd can still turn chaos into magic.

Boots muddy, hearts full. Redwest, we’ll be back next year!

Check out our favorite photos of the festival below or head to our Facebook page for the full galleries of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday!