Festival Fodder: GrillFest Founder John Yelland Discusses the Festival and How it Stands Out

As far as music festivals go, most of them aren’t much different from each other, which makes GrillFest stand out among them all. The brainchild of musician John Yelland, GrillFest (tickets) had become a local staple of the summer in Midvale and Salt Lake City, Utah, in the early 2010s. It was then put on ice for many years, until now, as it makes its much-anticipated return. Taking place on August 22nd and 23rd at the Pearl on Main in Midvale, Grillfest ’25 is set to take over Main Street and turn it into a full-on street festival. It will feature pop-ups with food, desserts, and local culture. And, of course, there will be music headlined by Yelland’s band Judicator. Other featured acts include Advent Horizon, Silver Talon, Michael Barrow & The Tourists, Seizure, Celestial Wizard, and many more.

Yelland conceived of GrillFest as not being just another summer music festival. He viewed it as more of a community movement that would pair underground heavy metal from across the West Coast with authentic smokehouse barbecue. It’s very important to Yelland that the essence of the festival be local and authentic. It’s a celebration of the community where locals can congregate in a forum that enables them to meet and connect. Yelland has designed GrillFest to be more of an experience rather than just a basic music fest with no opportunity to enjoy what’s great about the local community.

Yelland joins us today for Festival Fodder to discuss GrillFest, how he designed and curated it, and what makes it stand out.

What usually draws you to say yes to booking a band for Grillfest?

Johny Yelland: “What draws me to book a band for Grillfest isn’t their size or reach, it’s whether they bring something genuinely unique to the table. I’m looking for bands that are not only musically interesting but that I believe will contribute to the warm, laid-back, family reunion energy that defines the spirit of Grillfest.”

How do you define the vibe or energy of a great festival experience—for both artists and attendees?

“To me, a great festival feels like a shared experience from start to finish — not just a concert, but a community event. At Grillfest, we blend the vibe of a boutique food festival with a music festival by building in shared meals, like a lunch hour and dinner break, so attendees and artists connect not just over music, but over the entire day together. It’s inspired by the spirit of Mad With Power, and it helps foster that ‘family reunion’ atmosphere that made the original iteration of Grillfest so special.”

What makes Grillfest stand out compared to other metal festivals in the U.S.?

“Grillfest stands out because it’s built entirely around the fan experience, including ending at a reasonable hour. The original Grillfest started in our backyard, where we had to shut things down by 10 pm due to the local noise curfew. At first, it felt like a limitation, but it turned out people loved it. No one wants to wait until midnight for the headliner or stumble home at 2 am. When we decided to reignite Grillfest, we wanted to keep that element intact. Grillfest 2025 is a laid-back, energizing experience that won’t leave you wrecked the next day.”

GrillFest 2025 festival logo

How do you go about curating a lineup that delivers a powerful, cohesive atmosphere?

“We curate the Grillfest lineup to match two distinct vibes: Friday is the warm-up, and Saturday is the main event.

“Friday night is designed to feel like a laid-back cocktail party — doors open at 5 pm, and we’re done by 10 pm. A lot of attendees are travelling from out of state, so we want to ease them into the weekend with a more social atmosphere and a lineup of melodic, rock-leaning bands.

“Saturday, on the other hand, is the big, indulgent main course. We’re partnering with the City of Midvale and the Midvale Main Business Alliance to shut down a full block for food trucks, local business pop-ups, and a stacked lineup of heavier bands. It’s a full sensory experience, music, food, and community, and nobody’s leaving hungry, bored, or thirsty.”

Are there specific themes, visuals, or aesthetics you aim for when designing the look and feel of Grillfest?

“It’s all in the name, baby—Grillfest. Our BBQ provider this year is Slopeside Smoke Shack, and we’ll have gelato and coffee courtesy of Cuppa Love. The aesthetic is smoky, savoury, and laid back, just like the festival itself.”

What are some behind-the-scenes challenges that most festivalgoers would be surprised to learn about?

“The original Grillfest was a DIY backyard barbecue—low stakes, high vibes.

“Reviving it on a larger scale has been a dream of mine for years, and bringing it to life has come with a whole new set of challenges: permits, partnerships, logistics, sponsorships, and a dozen moving parts behind the scenes. One of my big priorities is securing sponsors (click HERE to learn more), not just to help cover costs, but to make sure Grillfest stays sustainable and fan-focused, no matter what.”

How far in advance do you typically start planning each year’s Grillfest lineup and production?

“One thing I love about the U.S. metal community is how supportive and enthusiastic the bands are.

“Grillfest 2025 is working with a humble budget, but we’ve still been able to build a killer lineup full of artists who believe in the vision and want to be part of something special. That’s not to say bands aren’t getting paid, I believe in taking care of everyone involved, but I’ve been genuinely humbled by the positivity and flexibility I’ve encountered. In fact, I’ve already had bands reaching out to play next year’s Grillfest! Right now, my focus is on making 2025 the best it can possibly be. If we succeed, then the goal is to start planning each new lineup over a year in advance, just like the big guys do—ideally announcing the next year’s headliners during the festival itself.”

GrillFest 2025 festival admat

Do you try to foster connections between bands during the festival, or does it tend to be a whirlwind?

“As a performer myself, one of my favourite parts of any festival is the networking.

“Now that I’m organizing a festival of my own, that hasn’t changed. I really look forward to mingling, helping bands connect with each other, and building relationships that can be mutually beneficial—whether they pay off right away or sometime down the line. Grillfest is meant to feel like a family reunion, and I hope that sense of camaraderie extends to the bands as much as the fans.”

What kind of feedback or reactions from the audience helped you know the event was a success?

“We’ll be sending out a post-festival survey through our newsletter and socials to gather feedback from everyone involved: attendees, bands, staff, and volunteers.

“Everyone experiences the event from a different angle, and I know I’ll miss things from my own perspective. I’m genuinely excited to hear what people loved and what we can improve, so we can make next year’s Grillfest even better.”

Would you still attend metal festivals as a fan if you weren’t organizing one?

“Oh, a hundred percent. Concerts are a hoot, but there’s something magnetic about the energy and camaraderie of festivals that keeps me coming back year after year.”