Music, community to collide at ktru’s annual Outdoor Show
ktru’s 33rd annual musical festival, “Outdoor Show,” will take over the Central Quad on Saturday for a day of music, art and community. Organized by Rice’s student-run radio station, the event will feature local vendors, craft stations, student DJs and eight musical acts — concluding with indie-pop headliner band Laundry Day.
Basma Bedawi, an Outdoor Show director, said the show remains free of charge and continues ktru’s long-standing tradition of highlighting Houston’s music scene for both Rice students and the wider community.
“We want to bring Houston’s local music to campus and keep the show open to everyone,” said Bedawi, a Hanszen College senior. “If you don’t know it’s happening, you’ll probably hear it anyway because we’re in the middle of campus.”
This year’s lineup opens with music group F — winners of ktru’s Battle of the Bands last semester — followed by sets from artists Reia, Valen the Valentine, Pinkie Promise, Alan Warhol and ORION 224 before Laundry Day headlines. Between sets, student DJs will spin to maintain the festival atmosphere.
“We tried to bring in a wide variety of genres — rap, R&B, indie rock and more,” Bedawi said. “We’re excited to show Rice students just how vibrant the Houston music scene can be.”
Chloe Diehl, an Outdoor Show board member, said that the vision of the festival combines electronic influences with a gritty, DIY spirit.
“We wanted to nod to the European electronic and house music revival while blending it with the do-it-yourself motto of ktru,” said Diehl, a Lovett College sophomore. “Think of Berghain in Berlin or a KAYTRANADA set mixed with eclectic collages. We want to give off diva but not brat, scrappy but clean, edgy yet bright.”
According to Diehl, ORION 224 is one act to watch for local flavor.
"The band, ORION 224, started out in my high school, Lamar," Diehl said.
“We really want to highlight bands that might not be on everyone’s radar yet,” Bedawi said.
Beyond music, Bedawi said this year’s Outdoor Show will introduce a bigger craft area, including clay figurine-making and collage stations. Food trucks Foreign Policy and Doke Cone will arrive later in the afternoon, and Voodoo Doughnut plans to hand out free donuts, according to Bedawi.
Archi Market, a vendor market organized by architecture students, will bring about 35 vendors to Central Quad from 2 to 4 p.m., according to the market’s logistics coordinator Alba Galarza. Galarza said that they are welcoming both student and off-campus sellers.
“It’s a nice way to see what Rice students produce outside academics,” said Galarza, a Lovett college sophomore. “We also have a non-Rice vendor coming back who sold macaroons last time, which was a great new experience.”
According to Bedawi, the future location of the Outdoor Show remains uncertain in light of the planned construction of the new student center in the Central Quad, where the festival traditionally takes place. Bedawi said the ktru board is still working out how future shows will adapt.
“Next year’s venue could change,” Bedawi said. “But for now, we’re excited to have one more year out in the open on Central Quad.”
Diehl said she hopes students will clear the day and take in all the Outdoor Show has to offer — from the music to the offbeat vendors.
“It’s such a special event on campus,” Bedawi said. “Bring a blanket and friends, settle down in Central Quad and enjoy yourself. That’s what the Outdoor Show is really about.”
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