The Neon Duck, the newest venue to the Cedar City music scene, hosts live events for all ages. Joe Saxton, owner of the space, held the first show in March of 2025 from his garage.
“Largely, the reason that exists is because me and my old roommate Antonio Zelaya were scrolling on Facebook marketplace and this neon duck sign came up,” said Saxton. “We bought the neon duck and some other signs, contacted bands, worked with a sound guy and I just kept doing it.”
Zelaya helped with the initial design and Saxton became the sole proprietor after the first show.
“Trying to organize it all by myself is very tricky,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of bands reaching out to play, and I’ve gotten decent at pairing the bands together and deciding the set times, but I try to limit the shows to three or four bands. It’s more rewarding to find that middle ground.”
Saxton is currently a student, a residential caregiver, and a rhythm guitarist in a band called Her Last Breath, which has performed at the Neon Duck and toured across multiple states.
“Balancing this role with school is also quite a challenge,” he said. “However, I’ve worked with the bands to set up shows that also account for my schedule.”
Early into production, Saxton’s sound technician moved cities, which posed some barriers with obtaining the necessary equipment for Neon Duck shows. He relies on the support of friends and volunteers, but admits that resources can be a challenge to acquire while making the music accessible.
He aims to keep costs low and continue providing opportunities to host artists, with connection and community being the driving force for this decision.
“I’m from Ogden, Utah which has more of an underground music scene,” he said. “There are so many venues there and I met one of my best friends by going to shows. When I came to Cedar, there were very few venues, so I wanted to give people another place to share their music, create that same sense of community and express themselves freely.”
He recounts one of his fondest memories spent with Appleseed, a band from Las Vegas, who performed at his venue. Over 100 people came to watch their set. After the show, he spoke to the members and let them interact with his cat, Pallet Hubert Cumberdale. “I felt like I belonged somewhere,” he said. His conversations with the band and their eventual success gave him a sense of pride for what he built.
“I want to have it continue being somewhere where anyone can set up a show. I want people to connect,” said Saxton. “Go to shows. Support your local scene regardless of who’s playing.”
Tonight, April 17, at 7 p.m., Rick’s Culture Shock will be headlining with their EP release set followed by Slug Fuzz and Quiet Oaks.
The venue is located at 142 N 1000 W, 0.5 mile from Southern Utah University’s campus.
For more information about upcoming shows, visit the Neon Duck’s Instagram page.
Author: Melodi Brook
Photographer: Brooklyn Beard
Editor: Brooklyn Beard
