Provo Acts to Headline Salt Lake New Year’s Eve Celebration

_{By Mike Romero}

Home to over a million square feet of restaurants, retail, living, and office space, The Gateway is a vital part of downtown Salt Lake City. It’s experiencing a resurgence after a brutal 2020, and many of its community entertainment events have returned. One of those events is Last Hurrah 2021, a free event presented by Downtown SLC and Sartain and Saunders.

Promoted as “Utah’s largest countdown celebration,” the public event will feature live music on an outdoor stage, buskers, pop-up bars, and extended hours for most of the restaurants at The Gateway. Draft beer, wine, hot cocktails, and hot chocolate will be served in the main plaza.

Provo darlings The Rubies and Brother. will headline the concert portion of the event, with a set from DJ Justin Cornwall. After their performances, a fireworks show will close the evening.

The Rubies are an all-girl band with beautiful harmonies and that Dusty Deseret sound: pop melodies over mildly distorted guitars with a lilting folk influence in the rhythm section. With songs like “Capture Your Love,” they’d fit well with similar acts like Michael Barrow & The Tourists (i.e. “Clover”), Cardinal Bloom (i.e. “Little Ghost”), and Mia Hicken (i.e. “The Reasons I’m Alone”).

Brother. brings together an eclectic shimmer of energetic bass, retro inspired synths, and catchy soundscapes. Fronted by the enigmatic Chuck Emery with backing vocals from Erika Goodwin, Brother. is a VIBE. They recently released a new full length record called Volume III, and it’s excellent.

Last Hurrah 2021 lasts from 9 PM to midnight this Friday, December 21_^st. You can make dining reservations and see complete event information online here. While you’re waiting for New Year’s Eve, check out “You Can’t Hide” by The Rubies below.