FML 2 returns to Salt Lake City

More than 600 emo and indie music fans gathered at Kilby Court Alleyway on Sept. 5 for a charity music festival that raised money for Utah organizations while protesting Sen. Mike Lee.

FML 2 Fest, formerly known as F–k Mike Lee Fest, returned to Salt Lake City after an almost 2.5-year hiatus.

“If you can name a festival anything, why don’t you use it to say something that needs to be said,” said Jacob West, creator of the first festival and the lead singer and guitarist for the band Summer 2000. 

The festival drew more than 600 people this year, compared with roughly 200 attendees at the inaugural event, according to Sam Hurtado, the organizer of this year’s festival. 

Under new leadership from S&S Presents, an independent music promotion company, the festival was renamed FML 2 for this year’s event.

“Calling it FML 2 was the only way to do it at Kilby Court,” West said. “We can all still verbally call it ‘F–k Mike Lee.’” 

All ticket sales from the show went toward supporting local organizations, including Equality Utah, Planned Parenthood Association of Utah, FRIENDS of Great Salt Lake, Utah Wildlife Foundation and Utah Immigrant Advocacy Coalition. 

“Pretty much every charity we have is directly benefiting against policies that Mike Lee puts in place, whether it’s the Great Salt Lake or Planned Parenthood, so they’re like an indirect response to things like that,” Hurtado said.

Event attendees and performers said they opposed Lee’s positions on environmental conservation, reproductive rights and LGBTQ+ protections. Discussion surrounding data centers and the Great Salt Lake were pertinent points of concern for many. 

“I’m a wildlife ecology major,” said Elliott Lucherini, lead singer and guitarist for World Record, a Logan-based band. “He is selling off our land — our valuable state land — that we need to keep pure and precious.”

Others highlighted the relationship between how supporting local artists can help support the community.

Lola Probasco

Various musicians and viewers at FML 2 at Kilby Court Alleyway on Sept. 5.

“I think it builds a sense of community, and if we want to change anything about the politics we see then we have to build that community,” said Weston Bowles, studying a double major in data analytics and political science at Utah State University.

While the festival’s political message was central to many attendees, not everyone came specifically to protest Lee. Some said they were drawn primarily by the emo scene and music lineup but appreciated the opportunity to support local organizations.

“People who are in emo right now aren’t in it for the money,” said attendee Brady Griffiths. “They’re in it because they love their community and they want to see things get better for people who have it more difficult.”

Thirteen bands performed throughout the festival, alternating between indoor and outdoor stages to keep music playing from 3-10 p.m.

“All these bands are playing for free,” Hurtado said.

Luke Bamford, lead guitarist for SLC band ROTTENBOY, said events like FML 2 are important because they can introduce young people to political issues.

“So many people here are like, ‘Oh, these are cool bands I’d love to see,’” Bamford said. “Maybe they’re not into politics. Maybe they’re 16. Maybe they show up to hear the bands and they learn, and that gets them into politics in a way that’s beneficial for the state.” 

The Ritornello Form, a Nevada-based band, also performed. They said despite coming from another state, their group can sympathize with the cause. 

“A majority of Nevada is right-wing,” said Charles Wade, bassist for the Ritornello Form. “It’s cool that we can share this experience and play this fest with people that have the same opinion on political issues.”

Many attendees spoke on how the emo music scene often tends to overlap with activism.

“It’s inherently political,” said attendee Eve Whipple. “It’s just like a good way for people to get out anything they’re feeling and their emotions, and usually that involves a lot of worldly issues that relate to politics.”

“Emo’s emotional — people that get emotional about causes like this,” said Josiah Jackson, a member of Summer 2000. “It’s emotional work to make change. Nothing has ever happened without people getting upset.” 

While West was not involved in organizing this year, he said the message and mission of the festival remains the same.  

“I was like, why don’t we bring this punk element back to emo,” West said. “We can make a stance, do something for a good cause, donate to charities that are doing good work for and protecting the rights of people in Utah.”