Most students can relate to standing in Talbot Alley at the end of midterm week, tired, stressed and more than a little sweaty as the weather begins to warm.
This semester, however, KNSU Radio hopes to deliver a terrifyingly fun slasher-themed event to scare away the post-midterm slump with their newly revived “Alley After Dark.”
Originating in 2014, Alley After Dark is a free live rock event hosted by KNSU Radio in the alleyway between the Bollinger Student Union and Talbot Hall. While the concert once took place annually, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the event’s hiatus, that is, until this Friday, March 13.
While Alley After Dark’s revival has been in development for years, the stars aligned for this semester’s debut with the appearance of local alternative bands, live on-air performances and a once-in-a-blue-moon date.
“We started a program where artists perform live on air, and that kind of started the idea that, okay, we can host a live performance. Let’s bring this back,” said KNSU station manager Tank Nelson. “The fact that it worked out perfectly, that in the spring semester there was a Friday the 13th, we kind of have to do it.”
The concert will feature three local bands, Thibodaux’s Archona and New Orleans’ The Nancies and HiGH, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and performances at 7:30 p.m. Slasher- and horror-inspired attire is encouraged, with costume contests, trivia and scream-offs set to take place throughout the night.
While no future concerts are planned, Alley After Dark serves as an opportunity for KNSU to dip their toes into the event-hosting waters alongside their ongoing DJing and radio shows.
“When it’s just DJing, yes, we are a community, but it is kind of more of a personal experience; you’re getting out there and showing your creativity. When you’re coordinating with a live band, though, it’s a really cool collaboration where you can still have this culture of music,” Nelson said. “Hosting it with someone else is a really cool experience. It’s a really cool opportunity for the future of us, too.”
That shared musical culture is exactly what KNSU Radio aims to maintain not just on Friday night, but year-round. KNSU Radio welcomes any music-loving Colonels, whether their passion lies in DJing or podcasting, with open arms, no matter how scary they may look on Friday night.
“If you love music, you love podcasting, anything like that, KNSU is a really great place. We’re always accepting new DJs. We always love to grow our community,” Nelson said.
