Copyright Salt Lake City Deseret News
Luke Grimes, the actor known for his role as Kayce Dutton on “Yellowstone,” is returning to Utah for a rare intimate concert outside of Park City — for which all proceeds will go toward a local nonprofit. Grimes, who released his self-titled debut album in early 2024, starred in all five seasons of “Yellowstone” as the former Navy Seal and son of John Dutton (Kevin Costner), which was filmed in Utah during its first three seasons. This weekend, the actor-musician will come back to Utah for a roughly 220-guest concert at The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection for an hour-long set, which will include light storytelling and crowd interactions from Grimes. All profits made from the concert will go directly to Saving Gracie Foundation, a Utah-based nonprofit animal rescue and sanctuary with a focus on saving neglected, abused and abandoned horses. Grimes, who will reprise his role as Kayce Dutton in the upcoming “Yellowstone” spinoff, “Y: Marshals,” was selected to headline the concert because he “channels the spirit of the American West.” “His role in ‘Yellowstone’ has become synonymous with the West itself,” said Joe Ogdie, general manager of The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection. “It became a natural fit when we were looking for a musician. So we went out to him, and asked if he would be interested, and lucky enough, he was.” Ogdie added that the Wasatch Mountains “make the perfect backdrop for Luke Grimes.” “We live in one of the best places in the world. We’ve got great access to nature that is literally out our back doors,” he added. “Our history of ranching and the connection of just outdoors and people that live that mountain lifestyle, there’s no better place to do it ... looking up at the Wasatch Range.” Grimes grew up in Ohio playing music in church and listening to his father’s country music albums. After playing drums in an Americana band for a couple years, the musician launched a solo act with country music inspired by personal stories of love and loss. For his set at Blue Sky, Grimes will be accompanied by a bass guitar player, a drummer and a guitarist. “It’s very much a very intimate kind of concert,” said Ogdie. “It’s set in our old riding barn that we’ve refurbished into our kind of ballroom, if you may. ... It’s set with the horses all around it.” Blue Sky Lodge is located just of outside Park City, in Wanship, on 4,000 acres. The property boasts 25 miles of mountain biking and hiking trails along the Wasatch Range, as well as other luxury outdoor experiences such as meditation classes, helicopter adventures and experiential yoga. Last year, the resort started searching for new ways to involve the community and enhance the guest experience. The solution was to host an annual concert series with artists who fit the “ultra luxury ranch style experience.” Grimes will perform at Blue Sky on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m. Tickets are available through the resort’s website. Saving Gracie Foundation Proceeds raised during Grimes’ concert will be donated to support the Saving Gracie Foundation — a nonprofit launched in 2015 by Barb Phillips, the owner of the Lodge at Blue Sky. Phillips started tending to horses living in insecure circumstances after learning a breeding family located just south of Blue Sky’s property had gotten into a tight position with their horses. In an effort to help, she began feeding one of the horses, Gracie, from across the fence line. She eventually acquired the horse Gracie, who became the face of the foundation and is “healthy and vibrant and still on property,” said Ogdie. The Saving Gracie Foundation has rescued dozens of horses since. “We make sure that we take care of these horses that are being neglected — or in some situations — our wild horses that end up getting round up and sent off to a kill pen, and she rescues them from there to make sure that they can live their best lives and be in the Spirit of the West," Ogdie said. “We’re always looking for additional help in making sure that Barb (Phillips) can continue her mission with making sure that every horse has the dignity that it deserves in the way that it lives.” Ogdie added that Grimes’ concert will help provide some of those extra funds the foundation requires to continue “finding ways to help the horses.” ‘Yellowstone’ spinoff to be filmed in Utah A CBS “Yellowstone” spinoff series, “Y: Marshals,” starring Grimes, was approved for state film incentives by the Utah Board of Tourism Development, the Utah Film Commission announced in June. The production received funding from the Utah Film Incentive, and began filming in Summit County this fall. “Y: Marshals” was created by Taylor Sheridan, the brains behind the original “Yellowstone” franchise. It will follow Grimes’ character Kayce Dutton after he leaves Yellowstone Ranch to join an elite group of U.S. Marshals in Montana.
