Features

By Bea Perez On Nov. 21, 2025, Alison’s Halo performed at Tucson’s La Rosa. The word that best describes this concert experience is whimsical. From the moment I entered La Rosa, the night felt thoughtfully put together and welcoming. Security was friendly and noninvasive, which made the venue feel relaxed rather than restrictive. Inside, the space was filled with merch vendors, soft rock playing in the background and a stage illuminated by low blue lighting. Before the first band even stepped onstage, the atmosphere already felt intimate, cozy and slightly surreal.  The opening act, Animal Shin, a fairly new band from the Phoenix area, immediately captured the crowd's attention. Their emo-shoegaze sound created a euphoric and emotional atmosphere that resonated with list...

By Illianna Valenzuela Tucson Festival of Books 2026. Photo by The University of Arizona Press. The Tucson Festival of Books returned to the University of Arizona on March 14 and–15, 2026, bringing tens of thousands of readers to campus. Now in its 17th year, the free event drew about 135,000 attendees and featured more than 300 authors, turning the university mall into a busy, book-filled space.  Since its start in 2009, the festival has grown into one of the largest literary events in the country, centered on promoting literacy and access to books. One of the biggest highlights was R. L. Stine, best known for the Goosebumps series. His session, "Journey to the House of Shivers," filled quickly on Sunday afternoon, with students and longtime fans eager to hear from th...

By Natalia Serrano Inside Zia Records on RSD, April 18, 2026. Photo by Natalia Serrano. Record Store Day (RSD) is a celebration for physical media collectors that has been held twice a year for since 2008, once in April and once for Black Friday in November. Records, CDs, figurines and almost anything for a collector can be included in these events.  Most, if not all, of the hype from RSD is for the specialty pressings and new releases for varying genres, from experimental bands like Xmal Deutschland to large artists like Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars. Local companies celebrating RSD provide a page-long list of new releases for fans to look through and anticipate.  The event began in order to support independent record stores as opposed to larger providers like Tar...

By Quinn Smalley “They are among us, cruising us at the bar...” Official trailer for “In The Valley: A Cosmic Queer Abduction Film.” The vast and endless void of outer space has always fascinated humans. The possibility of not being alone ravishes us, and our imaginations try to break down the blurring mosaic hiding the visage of our intergalactic neighbors, if there are any.  The short film “In The Valley: A Cosmic Queer Abduction Film” asks, “what if the aliens were gay as fuck?” Jorgie Goico plays Josh, a shy but tenacious patron of the bar. Screenshot from “In The Valley: A Cosmic Queer Abduction Film.” We hear about alien abductions stories, all of them strange, hard to follow and completely unbelievable. That’s what my 28 minute trip with “In the Valley...