Lynyrd Skynyrd Bring Southern Rock Hits to the Utah State Fair
September 23, 2026
Southern rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd rolled into Salt Lake City Wednesday, September 16th, bringing decades of rock history to the Utah State Fair with special guest Mark Mackay opening the night at the Days of ’47 Arena.
For Mackay, the performance marked his second Utah appearance in just two weeks, and one that came together at the last minute.
Mackay told us that he received the call just a day before the show asking if he could make it to Salt Lake City. He and his band didn't hesitate, hopping on a plane and making their way to Utah to open for one of Southern rock's most iconic bands.
Despite the short notice, there was nothing thrown together about Mackay's performance. He and his band delivered a set that mixed his own music with familiar covers. Mackay also told the Utah crowd that he hopes to return later this fall for his Christmas concert, potentially giving fans another opportunity to see him before the end of the year.
After Mackay warmed up the arena, it was time for Lynyrd Skynyrd.
More than five decades after the band's debut album helped establish its place in rock history, the music of Lynyrd Skynyrd still has little trouble getting a crowd on its feet. From the moment the band took the stage, the Days of ’47 Arena turned into a celebration of Southern rock.
The set reached across the band's catalog, but some of the night's biggest moments came when the opening notes of songs generations of fans have grown up with filled the arena.
"Tuesday's Gone" slowed things down before "Simple Man" became one of the night's biggest sing-alongs. With thousands of voices joining in, the song showed why it has remained one of Lynyrd Skynyrd's most enduring tracks.
The band kept the classics coming with "Gimme Three Steps" and "Call Me the Breeze" before the unmistakable opening of "Sweet Home Alabama" once again had the crowd singing along before the lights dimmed and the band walked off the stage.
Fans got to their feet calling for one more song before the band returned for "Free Bird," closing the night with the song that has become synonymous with Lynyrd Skynyrd. What begins as one of rock's most recognizable ballads eventually erupted into its legendary guitar-driven finale, giving the Utah State Fair crowd one last opportunity to rock along.
More than 50 years after Lynyrd Skynyrd first helped define the Southern rock sound, songs like "Simple Man," "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Free Bird" continue to connect with audiences who know seemingly every word.
On Wednesday night in Salt Lake City, those songs once again did exactly what they've done for generations, get a crowd singing, standing and rocking together.
