By Maximillian Gold

REXBURG—Sandwiched between the former Rexburg Standard Journal building and Pinnacle Point apartments, smells wafted from food trucks, young people chatted excitedly, and the melodious sounds of the Rexburg music scene filled the evening air.

Fall Fest, a three hour live music event, kicked off the Fall 2021 BYU-Idaho semester with a bang in a vacant lot Thursday evening.

Organized by Rexburg Life, a local group run by students dedicated to promoting what’s happening in town, Fall Fest was host to several local music groups such as Textur Love, Alec Whitely, Cinders and more.

“We want people to know that Rexburg is cool,” says Aydan Rennaker, a BYU-Idaho student and one of the chief organizers of Fall Fest. “You shouldn’t have to go all the way to Idaho Falls just to do something fun.” 

Alec Whitely, a 19-year-old St. Anthony man, who makes what he calls “hyper pop” music, says that he loved performing at Fall Fest and is looking for people to work with on similar projects.

“I would compare my music probably to Kid Laroi and Charl XCX,” says Whitely, sporting a boyish, yet fiercely passionate grin.  “I wish I had more time to play, but there will be other opportunities to shine. Find me on Instagram!”

Rennaker says that his goal is to turn the empty lot Fall Fest was hosted in as a hotspot for recurring nightly events. According to Rennaker, various investors and local business groups are involved with making this happen.

“This abandoned shack sitting right here we want to transform into a music venue that hosts nightly music events” says Rennaker, excitedly. “I want to put an ice rink in the parking lot in the winter time. A food truck court in the summer.”

Rennaker believes in Rexburg’s potential as a place college students can be proud to live in.

“People always say we have nothing to do here. I see that and I am looking to change that,” Rennaker said.