The Last Dinner Party were the biggest dogs at 2026’s Kilby Block Party, bringing their theatrical swagger and baroque-rock drama to the Salt Lake City music festival headlined by Turnstile, The xx, and Lorde.

Stream: “Big Dog” – The Last Dinner Party

The Last Dinner Party are theatrical in the most complimentary sense of the word. 

The London-based band curated the perfect baroque royalty-esque aesthetic for Prelude to Ecstasy, doubling down with their costumes, album cover and music video. For their latest album From the Pyre, though, The Last Dinner Party took it one step further.

The group described the new record as “a little darker, more raw and more earthy – it takes place looking out at a sublime landscape rather than seated at an opulent table.” That’s definitely apparent with the group’s live YouTube covers, where they’ve traded intricate costumes for more modern looks and edgier, crunchier guitars.

Through it all, though, is their signature layered harmonies and heartfelt lyrics that touch on pain, anger and despair mingled with defiance and satisfaction. Even if the narratives are character-driven, each track feels super personal and relatable, though somewhat less grandiose than the first album.

“Take me back, take me back,
let us walk by the shore.
By the hand, by the hair,
I don’t care anymore.
With the world at your feet,
leave footprints on my back
I’ll be first, I’ll be last,
don’t want to need to go back.”

– “Second Best,” The Last Dinner Party

But during their Kilby Block Party performance, it all made sense.

But during their Kilby Block Party performance, it all made sense.

The gang waltzed onto the stage, lead singer Abigail Morris skipping in last with a studded leather belt spelling out “we can be heroes” across her waist.

They started with “Agnus Dei” and “Count the Ways” from From the Pyre, effortlessly transitioning into “Caesar on a TV Screen.” It didn’t feel clunky at all – if anything, they felt more cohesive and well-rehearsed.

There was some light choreo, like when four members playing guitar turned and faced each other in pairs. Mostly, it was Morris holding it all down, skipping, running and jumping across the stage and even sneaking down into the pit to get closer to fans.

All the while, I was trying to place what her vocal tone sounded like. It’s definitely Marina Diamandis-adjacent, but the way she adds so much energy while on stage makes it fresh.

As a more rock-heavy release, The Last Dinner Party also dropped the single “Big Dog” this year, which they played live for the first time at the Salt Lake City festival.

“Thank you for welcoming her into the world,” Morris said of the track.

I would be remiss not to mention the missing member bassist Georgia Davies, who left the tour early on due to an injury. Davies aside, the other performers each had a moment to shine, like  Emily Roberts’ guitar solo, Aurora Nishevci’s ethereal vocals on “I Hold Your Anger” and tag-teamed singing from Lizzie Mayland and Abigail Morris during “Sinner.”

“This one’s for the gays and the theys,” Mayland said with a laugh before launching into “Sinner.”

An obvious highlight was “Nothing Matters,” one of the group’s most popular songs. The whole crowd was charged up, especially when the sun finally broke through the clouds. Some people even got on one another’s shoulders to get a better look.

“And you can hold me like he held her / And I will f*** you like nothing matters,” the chorus playfully repeats.

Overall, the Last Dinner Party brought BDE to the festival and their newest era – that’s Big Dog Energy to you.

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Stream: “Big Dog” – The Last Dinner Party

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 © Roger Ho

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