Utah Stories

Irish Rock Band Finds Home In SLC Music Scene

A look at a band that grew with SLC’s music scene since the beginning. Video interview with Keith Roberts, lead singer of The Young Dubliners. by Jonny Glines Celtic Rock band the Young Dubliners sell out concerts, play national television gigs such as The Jimmy Kimmel Show and they are about to embark on a…

|


A look at a band that grew with SLC’s music scene since the beginning. Video interview with Keith Roberts, lead singer of The Young Dubliners.

by Jonny Glines

Irish Band Young Dubliners

Celtic Rock band the Young Dubliners sell out concerts, play national television gigs such as The Jimmy Kimmel Show and they are about to embark on a world tour this summer. But like every great band, these Irish lads had to get their start somewhere. If you ask them, Salt Lake City was a part of that “somewhere.”

The Young Dubliners have performed in Salt Lake City more 50 times since their first gig at the Zephyr Club in 1995. They have recently released their 8th album Saints and Sinners, which they showcased in their live SLC performance at the Depot, Saturday. Lead singer Keith Roberts said Salt Lake City has always been a second home for the band, and the staff at the Zephyr club was like a second family. Since the closure of the Zephyr club, Roberts said the band had a tough time finding a new venue in their home away from home. Roberts said the Zephyr was responsible for bringing new bands into a market that starved for live music.

We sat down with Keith Roberts and Zephyr Club founder Otto Meleti to talk about the success of the Young Dubliners, the Salt Lake City music scene and how both of them go hand in hand with each other.



Join our newsletter.
Stay informed.

Related Articles


  • Utah Farmers Markets You May Not Know About

    Support your local farmers & artisans The Wasatch Front and beyond is home to many and varied farmers markets. There is the old and venerable Downtown Farmers Market at Pioneer Park, Wheeler Sunday Market, and Liberty Park Farmers Market. Not to mention all the markets popping up in cities from Brigham City to Moab. Here…


  • The Story of Rosa’s Cafe from Ogden, Utah

    Faced with a devastating loss, one Ogden Restaurant owner persisted.


  • Kizik Makes Waves in Utah with a “Hands Free” Shoe

    Kizik is one of Utah’s fastest-growing companies. Kizik is one of Utah’s fastest-growing companies. Choosing to enter the extremely competitive shoe market didn’t intimidate Mike Pratt, an experienced investor. Pratt’s challenge to his team of engineers was to invent a “hands-free” shoe — no tying required.


  • The Legacy of Johnson Farms

    “Progress” threatens the 100 year legacy of Johnson Farms in Cache Valley. But the family is determined, switching from a dairy farm to more profitable produce farming.