By Gaby Nieraeth
On Thursday, April 17th, community members gathered for the third annual KRTUfest, hosted at The Carver Community Cultural Center (Instagram: @thecarversa). The space offered a festival-like atmosphere where attendees browsed local art vendors, grabbed yummy bites from a food truck, and danced along to groovy music coming from an outdoor DJ booth, as well as live performances inside the Little Carver Theater.
As doors opened, JJ Lopez, respected DJ and KRTU General Manager, known for his seamless blending of Soul, Funk, Disco, and House, welcomed the crowd with an all-vinyl set that perfectly set the tone for KRTUfest. His narrative and explorational set, JJ’s Balearic Beat, pulled influence from the sounds of the 1980s UK Rave Culture, its evolution in the Mediterranean, and Lopez’s own early rave experiences. As the sun slowly sank, concert-goers created an impromptu dance floor, filling the space with rhythm and funky dance moves.
Inside the Little Carver Theater, live performances began with Sundazia (Instagram: @sundazia), a group made up entirely of Trinity University students. Led by KRTU Intern and on-air host Will Sharp, the group opened the night with jazzy covers of popular songs, as well as experimental original tracks. The Slydes (Instagram: @the.slydes) brought a burst of high-energy alternative rock. With crisp guitar tones, upbeat tempos, and raw vocals, the group hyped up the crowd and had attendees jamming. Following The Slydes, Soma Jerome (Instagram: @somajerome) took the stage with a catchy psychedelic indie rock set. The group even played a surprise reggae-inspired track that had the crowd bobbing their heads along in rhythm.
Closing off the night was Collective Dreams (Instagram: @collectivedreams), whose instrumental-heavy set offered a hypnotic, immersive experience, and featured Live and Local host Albert Salinas. The crowd was entranced by sweeping ambient sounds, accompanied by mesmerizing visuals. Towards the end of their set, the group passed out maracas and shakers, inviting attendees to join their performance.
KRTUfest 2025 was more than just a concert, but rather a celebration of community, connection, and culture. From raw vocals to psychedelic guitars, the night captured the distinct and vibrant essence of San Antonio’s Indie music culture. See you on the dance floor in 2026.
