POCATELLO — The Idaho State University music program is hosting a student-led festival at the quad this Friday, featuring a wide range of musical acts.

The free ROAR Music Festival will run from 2 to 10 p.m. at the ISU Quad.

Performances will include a variety of genres, including pop, rock, country, metal, hip-hop, classical and jazz.

The festival will highlight the breadth of musical talent within ISU’s Music Program and feature students from a variety of musical backgrounds. Many of those participating are multi-instrumentalists who perform in ensembles both within and beyond their academic work.

Kacey Kennedy, operations manager for City Creek Records, said the commercial music program holds an annual showcase at the end of each semester that allows students to hear what everyone has been working on.

“This semester, specifically, we wanted to move it to the quad so we can invite fellow students on campus to check out our program and to see what all of our students are capable of outside of class time,” she said.

“It’s really cool that we can show off multiple genres, because we have such a variety of students with great musical backgrounds from all types of specialties,” Kennedy continued. “We have our jazz instrumentalists and jazz combos, but then we also have people who specialize in drum sets and electronic music. Although we’re all in the same program, learning the same content in our classes, we really apply it to how we see the world and see ourselves in our own music.”

ISU Professor of Music Jon Armstrong gave Kennedy the opportunity to serve as executive producer for the show, something she has not taken for granted.

“With this role, I really stepped into being the biggest fan for all of my fellow classmates,” Kennedy said. “Supporting other people is the best thing you can do for music and to really continue music in our communities — to bring a better attitude to some of the hard stuff that we face in our communities and in the world. Being able to support other people in music is something that I’m really passionate about.”

Twelve bands will perform during the festival, ranging from solo acts to eight-person bands, each performing for around 30 minutes. Everyone in the music program will participate in some capacity — as a performer, stagehand or in another role.

Announced performers include hip-hop and funk band LOOT, Boise-based indie sleaze revival solo artist Cesar Ruiz, EDM artist Zach Quigley, singer-songwriter Tyson Peck, emo goth band Anglerfish and indie folk performer Carsten Kottraba.

Other announced acts include Khorvai, a two-piece doom metal project; Druids, Heathens & Saints, a four-piece mountain folk rock band; Skylark, a jazz, funk and soul-infused band; and The Ben Graham Group, a five-piece progressive fusion metal band based in Boise.

Additional performers will be announced on the official ISU City Creek Records Instagram account, @citycreekrecords_isu.

The ROAR Music Festival, created and organized by students, is designed to showcase not only musical performances but also the collaboration, leadership and technical skills students develop through the program.

“This is going to be such a fun time,” Kennedy said. “I want all community members to at least come to a part of it, because it’s going from 2 to 10. There’s going to be something for everyone. I think we’ll surprise a lot of people if they do show up, because we have a lot of talent here in Pocatello, and I think that’s something that everyone should be able to see firsthand.”

The ROAR Music Festival is sponsored by Azoombalala and City Creek Records.