Park City Song Summit returned to the stunning mountain setting of downtown Park City, Utah, bringing together music, food, wellness and community for an experience that feels decidedly different from the typical music festival. Rather than focusing solely on stages, crowds and headliners, Song Summit was created around a deeper purpose: connecting people through music while supporting artists, the music industry and underserved communities.
That philosophy was especially evident on Day One, Thursday, August 27, when the festival kicked off with an intimate Tennessee-inspired dinner hosted by celebrity chef and TV personality Andrew Zimmern and Tennessee native singer-songwriter Sierra Hull before moving into an evening of live music at the Marquis Theater.
Founders Ben and Paige Anderson have described Song Summit as an “unfestival,” built around the idea of leading with love rather than spreadsheets. Their goal is to bring food, music and wellness together while creating meaningful opportunities for musicians and fostering community and connection.
Thursday night offered a perfect introduction to that mission.
Nashville in the Mountains
The evening began with the Song Summit Supper Club: Nashville in the Mountains, hosted by Chef Andrew Zimmern and Sierra Hull at Le Depot Brasserie. The dinner brought a distinctly Tennessee flavor to the mountains of Utah, pairing Southern-inspired dishes with live music and a Dolly Parton playlist tribute.
As guests arrived, The Theoretical Blonde band performed outside the restaurant, creating a lively soundtrack for cocktails and appetizers before dinner. The atmosphere was relaxed and intimate, allowing guests, musicians and festival participants to mingle rather than simply move from one scheduled event to another.
The evening’s signature cocktail, the Music Row Revival, continued the Nashville theme. Made with ginger-sorghum black tea syrup, Uncle Nearest Whiskey, lemon and peach bitters, the cocktail offered a creative combination of Southern flavors and Tennessee whiskey. A cocktail version of the cocktail was one of the best alcohol free drinks we have had all year.
A Tennessee-Inspired Feast
Zimmern and Hull guided guests through a menu inspired by the flavors of Tennessee and the South. Dinner began with pimento cheese johnnycakes with country ham, followed by smoked trout with green tomato chow chow and skillet cornbread with Tennessee honey butter.
The main course featured stuffed smothered quail with squash succotash and Benton’s bacon, bringing together several classic Southern ingredients in a dish that felt right at home at a dinner celebrating Tennessee’s culinary traditions.
Dessert kept things nostalgic with banana pudding, a quintessential Southern favorite and fitting conclusion to the meal. The food wasn’t simply a pre-concert dinner. It was part of the storytelling. Much like music, Southern food carries memories, family traditions and regional identity, making the Supper Club an ideal way to launch Song Summit’s first night.
The Dolly Parton playlist tribute added another layer to the evening, celebrating one of Tennessee’s most influential musical figures while reinforcing the connection between the state’s music and culinary traditions.
Building Something Beyond a Festival
During the dinner, Song Summit founders Ben and Paige Anderson spoke about their vision for the event and why they wanted to create something different.
Their goal is not simply to build another profitable music festival. Instead, Song Summit is designed to bring together food, music and wellness, while supporting musicians and the broader music industry and shining a light on communities that are often underserved.
That philosophy—“lead with love, not spreadsheets”—has become an important part of the Song Summit identity.
The emphasis on community and connection was tangible throughout the evening. Rather than feeling like an event where artists perform and audiences watch, Song Summit creates opportunities for people to share a meal, meet one another and experience music in a more intimate setting.
A Second Line Through Park City
After dinner, the evening shifted from the table to the stage.
Guests followed the Theoretical Blonde band in a second line procession from Le Depot Brasserie through downtown Park City to the Marquis Theater. The New Orleans-inspired tradition turned the walk between venues into part of the entertainment, with music leading guests through the streets toward the night’s concerts.
It was another example of how Song Summit approaches a festival differently. The transition between dinner and music wasn’t simply transportation—it became a shared experience.
Steve Poltz Opens the Night
At 9 p.m., singer-songwriter Steve Poltz opened the evening at the Marquis Theater.
Known for his storytelling as much as his songwriting, Poltz shared the story behind one of his biggest hits, “You Were Meant For Me.” He explained that the song was written with Jewel during a trip to Mexico, giving the audience a glimpse into the personal experiences and unexpected moments that can become the foundation for a memorable song.
Poltz’s set also featured a special appearance by Sierra Hull, who joined him onstage for a jam session. The collaboration highlighted the improvisational spirit that makes intimate music events so memorable: two musicians sharing a stage, responding to one another and creating something unique in the moment.
Sierra Hull Takes the Stage
At 10:30 p.m., Sierra Hull took over the stage, bringing her distinctive bluegrass sound to the Marquis Theater.
A Tennessee native and accomplished mandolin player, Hull has become one of the most respected young artists in bluegrass and roots music. Her set demonstrated the musicianship and energy that have made her a standout performer while fitting naturally into Song Summit’s blend of musical discovery and intimate performances.
Her set included:
- “Boom”
- “Last Minute”
- “How Long”
- “Compass”
- “Envy”
- “Beautifully”
- “The Movements”
- “Spitfire Wings”
- “Bombshell”
- “Blues Stay Away”
Hull closed her set with a rousing rendition of Collective Soul’s “Shine,” giving the audience a familiar rock anthem filtered through the energy and musicianship of the evening.
More Than Music
The first day of Park City Song Summit demonstrated exactly what makes the event different. Thursday wasn’t simply about seeing a series of performers. It was about sitting around a table, sharing Tennessee-inspired food, hearing stories, discovering music and walking together through downtown Park City to another venue.
From Andrew Zimmern’s Southern-inspired menu and Sierra Hull’s bluegrass to Steve Poltz’s songwriting stories and the founders’ commitment to community, Day One delivered on the festival’s promise to create an “unfestival.”
In the beautiful mountain setting of Park City, Song Summit is proving that music festivals can be about more than who is playing onstage. They can also be about why everyone gathered in the first place: food, music, wellness, connection and community.