The student-led radio station at NMSU, KRUX 91.5 FM, is currently hosting the annual KRUXfest event. KRUXfest in the past was a two- to three-day celebration marked by live music performances, merchandise giveaways and social events for the student body. However, this year the KRUX team has turned the festival up a notch.
KRUXfest 2023 is a three-day festival with 24 live, mostly local bands and artists performing throughout the days of the event. While bands are performing, concert goers can pick a spot on the lawn to watch and dance to the show, or go take a stroll through the added Krux Market. The market is made up of local businesses to sell their art, jewelry and other goods.
Daquiri Torres, general manager at KRUX, says they opened their call for bands early this year, and received over 60 entrees. From there they found out which bands were comprised of students and gave them priority.
“KRUXfest is an opportunity to bring free concerts to students, but at the same time we have a lot of student bands on campus and it allows us to give them a voice the same way we have students and their own shows on the station. We want to let them share their music,” Torres said.
If you thought adding a market and three times the number of bands was all the KRUX kids had in store, think twice. On day two, the station resumed live band activities while simultaneously holding a car show for the public and fans. The car show brought people from all over the city of Las Cruces.
Fans of all grades showed out to the outdoor stage behind Corbett Center Student Union for night one, as the opening acts riled up the crowd. The performing lineup was a genre mashup of student bands varying from high school to college. Talk about highlighting local developing talent.
Day two was headlined by KRUX station frequent performers, Slums of Harvard, who recently headlined the Birthday Bash event KRUX 91.5 FM held in the fall. You can view the interview KRUX radio had with Slums of Harvard on the KRUX 91.5 FM YouTube channel.
Follow KRUX 91.5 FM on Instagram to view a guide for KRUXfest 2023 day three. Fans are also encouraged to tune in and check out KRUX online.
The last day of KRUXfest is today. Nine more bands are slated to play at NMSU’s Intramural Field this afternoon beginning with Stoney Blue Fish at 4 p.m. Headlining this evening is well-known thrash metal band, Ghoul, which is expected to meet the energy of this year’s crowd. More shirt and merchandise giveaways will be had, and another night of live music is ahead as well. Event organizers encourage music fans to get out and enjoy this event as the semester draws to a close.
