KTRU Outdoor Show raps and strums its way to Rice's heart

By Natalie Koonce     3/13/13 7:00pm

On Saturday, March 9, 2013, an unusual combination of families, students dressed in their hipster best and a man in a head-to-toe bunny costume invaded Rice University's central quad.

The occasion was KTRU Rice Radio's 22nd annual Outdoor Show, a music festival put on by Rice University's student radio station. This year, the show boasted a lineup of local and national artists including B L A C K I E, Delicate Steve, Buxton, Cloud Nothings and XXYYXX.

According to KTRU Concerts Director Sal Tijerina, organizing the show required almost a year's worth of planning.

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"The process involves an incredible amount of planning," Tijerina, a Lovett College sophomore said. "I research artists, speak with agents, secure logistics for the show with the productions team, ... acquire sponsors, front marketing campaigns, invite food trucks, get artwork, ... create a website, ... and, of course, run the show."

A row of student organizations, most of them selling food to fundraise for various events, lined one side of the quad; on the other, a packed beer garden attracted spectators over 21. Behind the stage, food trucks offered burgers, specialty peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and hot dogs to hungry concertgoers.  

"Turnout was so great that we ran out of beer an hour and a half before we expected to, and each food truck sold out all of their inventory," Tijerina said.

Buxton guitarist and vocalist Austin Sepulvado said he enjoyed the outdoor show. 

"[KTRU] asked us to play the festival, and we've never been able to make it before, so we're excited to be here," Sepulvado said. "The show is fantastic."

"The KTRU Outdoor Show is one of the best Rice traditions," Tijerina said. "It's events like this that really bring the community together."

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