KUTX Rock the Park series returned for its 16th season at Mueller Lake Park Amphitheater this past Friday with family-friendly vibes, local music and an atmosphere that draws in people of all ages.

Created around 10 years ago, the event was founded by Assistant Program Director Jacquie Fuller after she noticed the lack of events made for citizens in the middle-aged demographic and wanted to create an event for anyone to attend. 

“It gives parents, caregivers and their kids a chance to bond over music,” Fuller said. “It exposes the next generation to Austin music and furthers our mission of connecting Austinites with their music scene, in particular a demographic that doesn’t have the easiest time doing that.” 

Featuring artists meant for young kids, the event ends with an artist picked from a KUTX playlist, to support local Austin artists and give attendees Austin’s live music experience. 

Live music booker Deidre Gott partners with Fuller to book the artists for live events. Fuller said she focuses on local artists, sometimes expanding to other Texas cities. 

“As a parent, and someone who works in the music industry, it’s important to expose children to a wide variety of music because I think that exposure makes us better humans,” Fuller said. 

The event not only affects audiences, but also the musicians. Local indie-pop band Dorio performed at the event this past Friday. Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Rachel Rascoe said because of the local representation KUTX prioritizes, performing at these events allows the band to engage with community members. 

“For local musicians, getting your music played on KUTX is the coolest thing ever,” Rascoe said. “It’s not something that would be happening if you lived in another city that didn’t have a station that plays and focuses on local music.” 

Artists also meet other local bands while performing for an intimate audience, letting bands understand different perspectives on their music or performances. Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Chad Doriocourt said during these performances he prioritizes understanding the audiences’ reaction to different parts of a song, serving as “research” for their music. 

“It benefits you,” Doriocourt said. “We record everything and write everything pretty much ourselves, for the most part. … For the extra 10% of the stuff that we need recorded on our songs, it’s good to know other musicians that can provide something that we can’t necessarily provide. … It’s fun to meet other musicians that can help you envision your songs in a different way, whether that’s in a live setting or recording setting.” 

The Rock the Park event aims to create a friendly environment for both the audience and musicians. Fuller said KUTX wants to represent musicians while providing a space for family, friends and students to come out and listen to good Austin music. 

“KUTX exists to support the Austin music economy,” Fuller said. “The first step in supporting that economy is to connect Austinites with the music, to get them to fall in love with their local scene.”