Provo-based indie/folk band The National Parks, who will perform at Lollapalooza later this year, headline the St. George Art Festival, St. George, Utah, March 29, 2024 | Photo by Cami Cox, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — As part of last weekend’s events at the St. George Art Festival, up-and-coming Provo-based band The National Parks headlined the Art Festival’s mainstage in front of a packed crowd Friday night. The concert staging area near Town Square Park was alive and energized as packed bodies danced, jumped and sang along to this homegrown indie/folk foursome.

“We just love Southern Utah and the atmosphere down here. It’s amazing,” said Brady Parks, guitarist and vocalist for the four-piece band.

The National Parks is comprised of Parks; his wife, Megan Parks, who plays violin in the band and delivered an energetic and physically vigorous performance despite being seven months pregnant; Sydney Macfarlane on keyboard and vocals; and Cam Brannelly on drums.

Macfarlane said the band has been together for about eight years, and they’ve previously performed at the St. George Art Festival, though it’s been many years. The group also founded the Superbloom Music Festival, which took place in Hurricane in 2021 and 2022. Coming back to St. George has been like coming home for the band in many ways.

“It’s still kind of like a hometown show in a certain sense, still being in Utah,” Brannelly said, “so it’s always fun to play in your hometown.”

“The Utah crowds are just so different,” Macfarlane added. “Like, we’ve played all over the country, and I think it’s not just because we’re from here, but there is a different energy, I think, that Utah people bring. We always look forward to it.”

The St. George crowd seemed eager to live up to this reputation on Friday night, screaming and cheering and dancing throughout the show and encoring the band after they left the stage following their final number.

“One of the best up-and-coming bands I’ve heard in a long time!” said Chase Rennert, of Enoch, who attended Friday night’s concert.

Amber Empey, of Cedar City, is a big fan of The National Parks and was eager to travel to St. George when she heard they were performing.

“I’ve seen them live three times now, and every time, they never disappoint,” Empey said. “They’re just so lively and fun and energetic and just really get the crowd going. They just really know how to put on a good show. The music’s fun. They’re good entertainers.”

The National Parks, who have developed a loyal following both in Utah and outside the state, are currently winding down their “8th Wonder” tour, promoting a new album of the same name, which is their fifth album, in a tour that has spanned the country.

Having traveled the nation and played big festivals multiple times, The National Parks continue an upward trajectory. The group is looking forward to a huge milestone on the horizon: playing the famed Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago for the first time this August.

“We just hope that Lollapalooza can just be another one of those epic festival shows and help keep the momentum going,” Brady Parks said.

“It’s a cool opportunity that we’ve always wanted to do,” Brannelly said. “You know, hopefully, yeah, it helps propel even further ahead and gets our name out there even more.”

Performing at Lollapalooza is historically a hallmark indicating a band has arrived in the mainstream. Even if The National Parks rocket into the bigtime, they’re quick to affirm that they’ll be faithful to the home crowds who first gave them love as a band.

“We love Utah forever,” Megan Parks said.

Click here for additional information about The National Parks, their music and their “8th Wonder” tour.

Photo Gallery