Last year’s Park City Song Summit was the stuff dreams are made of,” says Ben Anderson, the event’s founder, fondly recalling the four days in fall 2022 that kicked off the highly anticipated event and featured more than 60 artists, including Andrew Bird, Father John Misty, Jason Isbell, Katie Pruitt, and Park City’s own Wyatt Pike. “Our artists, speakers, and attendees all walked away with lasting stories and songs to remember our inaugural event.” 

The Song Summit returns this September 7–9 at Canyons Village with a larger lineup featuring performances by Bob Weir and Wolf Bros, Joy Oladokun, and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, plus intimate seminars and wellness experiences. Additional standouts range from singer-songwriters Anders Osborne, Adia Victoria, and Steve Poltz to R&B maven Celisse and hit country songwriters Jeffrey Steele and Earl Bud Lee to soulful St. Paul and The Broken Bones frontman Paul Janeway.

A retired trial attorney and past president of Mountain Town Music, Anderson has spent much of his life performing, promoting, and simply enjoying music. But with Park City Song Summit, he was inspired to create a multi-day music and wellness event featuring live performances and conversations that dive deeper into the music than most festivals.

Offering an intimate window into the creative process, Park City Song Summit hosts Summit Labs, during which musicians engage in conversations with each other and moderators in front of a small audience. This year’s Summit Labs include Chuck D, Grandmaster Flash, and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels discussing the 50th anniversary of hip-hop; a tribute to Stevie Wonder; a new Nashville Unplugged songwriters’ stage; the tangled roots of Latinx and Black music; the Havana Funk Experience, featuring jazz/funk music students from New Orleans and Havana, Cuba. Another aspect that distinguishes the Park City Song Summit from other music festivals—and perhaps the heart of its creation in the first place—is the event’s emphasis on mental health, wellness, and recovery. After struggling with his own challenges with addiction, Anderson sought the help he needed and has been in recovery for more than 15 years. 

“Creating and providing funding to grow Park City Song Summit was in part [due to] my love for song but to an even larger degree was to provide awareness and resources for those who may also be challenged by trauma, substance abuse, and mental health issues,” he explains. “Our Labs are meant to be a safe space for artists and audiences alike to be inspired by others who have faced these challenges and to explore the ever-relevant issues of inclusivity, opportunity, and equality. We also provide wellness workshops regarding how artists and their crew can stay healthy—mind, body, and spirit—while coping with the challenges of touring.”

“Park City Song Summit was in part [due to] my love for song but to an even larger degree was to provide awareness and resources for those who may also be challenged by trauma, substance abuse, and mental health issues”

—Ben Anderson, Park City Song Summit

This year, daily wellness activities include meditation sessions, yoga, guided hikes with therapists, afternoon re-centering, and other health-minded activities. A portion of proceeds from ticket sales benefits the event’s 501c3, More Than Music Foundation, while also benefiting organizations such as Stand Together Music, The Phoenix, Amber Health, and the Huntsman Mental Health Institute. For Anderson, wellness, impact, and inclusivity continue to be the backbone of Park City Song Summit’s mission and programming. 

“We look forward to gathering again this fall; my team and I will be diligently working to bring music fans and the music industry an event that gives … gives to our community, gives to our artists, gives to our charitable partners, and ultimately gives a whole lotta love.” 
Find tickets and more information at parkcitysongsummit.com 

HIGHLIGHTS OF PARK CITY SONG SUMMIT 2023

• Live Shows
• Summit Labs: discussions about the art of music and songwriting
• Songwriter Rounds: immersive experiences where audiences hear the story behind their favorite songs from award-winning songwriters
• Wellness Activities