Our Story
The Basics
Founded in 2017 by Dan Reynolds, LOVELOUD is a catalyst to bring communities and families together to help ignite the vital conversation about what it means to unconditionally love our LGBTQ+ friends and family. LOVELOUD offers hope to people, letting them know they’re not alone and encouraging acceptance in the home and community. It all begins with talking, sharing and showing the realities of what LGBTQ+ individuals face daily.
LOVELOUD is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that produces a yearly charity concert that amplifies the voices of our LGBTQ+ friends and family and brings together a variety of communities through the power of music and the sharing of stories.
LOVELOUD’s mission is to Ignite the vital conversation about what it means to unconditionally love, understand, support, accept and celebrate our LGBTQ+ friends and family. When you go to a LOVELOUD show the goal is for you to be loved, seen, and to foster connection.
You can learn more about the origins of LOVELOUD by watching our Emmy nominated, Hollywood Film Award, and GLAAD Media Award winning HBO documentary Believer.
2017
LOVELOUD FESTIVAL
The first LOVELOUD Festival was held at Utah Valley University’s Brent Brown Ballpark with an attendance of 17,000. Emceed by Alex Boyé and Equality Utah’s Troy Williams, it featured performances from Imagine Dragons, Neon Trees, Krewella, Nicholas Petricca of Walk the Moon, and Joshua James. With speeches by NFL Hall of Fame Quarterback Steve Young, founding LOVELOUD board member Barb Young, brother of Latter-Day Saint Apostle Tom Christofferson, and many others.
2017 Video Recap
Press
2018
LOVELOUD FESTIVAL
The second LOVELOUD was held at the University of Utah’s Rice Eccles Stadium. and hosted an audience of 35,000+, and a online audience of over 7 million. The show included performances by Imagine Dragons, Zedd, Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park, Grace Vanderwaal, Parson James, VINCINT, Tyler Glenn of Neon Trees, Wrabel, and LGBTQ youth from SLC.
There were speeches by Tim Cook, Barb & Steve Young, Alfonso Ribeiro, Drew Scott, Gus Kenworthy, Julianne Hough, Carmen Carrera, Kalen Allen, and Lt. Governor of Utah Spencer Cox.
The profits from this show resulted in grant donations that were spread between local and national charities such as The Tegan and Sara Foundation, GLAAD, Equality Utah, Encircle, Mama Dragons and many more.
2018 Video Recap
In The News
2019
LOVELOUD FESTIVAL
The third LOVELOUD festival took place at the USANA Amphitheater in Salt Lake City, Utah. For this show there were 19,000 in attendance. Featured performances included Kesha, Martin Garrix, Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons, Tegan & Sara, Daya, Grouplove, K. Flay, PVRIS, AJR, Vincint, Tyler Glenn of Neon Trees, Charlie Bird and Laura Jane Grace. Speakers included Aja Volkman, Mahdia Lynn, Shamir, Matt Easton, Shannon Beveridge, Savannah Skyler, and was hosted by Kalen Allen.
LOVELOUD was able to award nearly $1 million grants to local and national charities some of which included The Trevor Project, The Human Rights Campaign, Genderbands, Equality Utah and dozens more.
2019 Video Recap
In The News
2022
LOVELOUD FESTIVAL
In 2022 the LOVELOUD festival made its long awaited return after a 2 year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. LOVELOUD’s fourth festival was held at the Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. There were 10,000 in attendance. Hosted by Kalen Allen the musical acts included Storyboards and Jakk Fynn, Silver Cup, Mat and Savanna, Parson, James, Neon Trees, morgxn, WILLOW, David Archuleta, local LGBTQ youth, Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons, and Anitta. Speeches by Devon Rouse, Rachel Slawson, and Lt. Gov. Henderson.
The profits of our comeback show resulted in $550,000 worth of grants awarded to local and national charities some of which included The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Gender Spectrum, Flourish Therapy, The Utah AIDS Foundation and several others.