WMUC Fest
WMUC Fest is a free concert celebrating the adventurous sounds emerging from the University of Maryland campus and the surrounding region. Presented in partnership with WMUC 90.5 FM, the annual event brings local, independent, and alternative music into NextNOW Fest, with programming selected by the students and music enthusiasts behind UMD’s longtime college radio station. The festival is open to students and the general public.
The lineup features the politically charged Providence band Downtown Boys, Baltimore-based alternative artist Father Sokka performing with their live band T.A.T., and Maryland grunge-pop-rock group Safeword.
When: Friday, September 11, 2026
Showtimes: The event is listed at 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM. Festival doors open at 5:45 PM.
Tickets: Free
Admission: General admission
Venue: Kogod Theatre at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
Lineup: Downtown Boys; Father Sokka + T.A.T.; and Safeword
Downtown Boys: The five-piece band combines music with political and organizing work. Its members include vocalist Victoria Marie, guitarist and vocalist Joey La Neve DeFrancesco, saxophonist and synthesist Joe DeGeorge, bassist Mary Jane Regalado, and drummer Joey Doubek. The band’s work draws on its members’ experiences with labor organizing and difficult workplace conditions, and its latest album, *Public Luxury* on Sub Pop Records, continues its urgent, politically focused sound.
Father Sokka + T.A.T.: Washington, D.C.-born and Baltimore-based artist Father Sokka blends punk and rock intensity with the lyrical approach of rap. Their live performances with T.A.T. are described as forceful, personal, and emotionally high-energy.
Safeword: This Maryland band, active primarily around Baltimore, draws from the local punk scene to create loud, angst-filled pop rock. Their influences and comparisons include Devics, The Backseat Lovers, Slow Pulp, and Forest.
Festival: WMUC Fest is part of NextNOW Fest, The Clarice’s multi-day celebration of innovative performances and experiences by artists from the University of Maryland and across the country. NextNOW Fest is also part of UMD’s Arts for All initiative and partners with Terps After Dark. The festival is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council, with additional support from Terps After Dark, Arts for All, and UMD Student Entertainment Events.
Livestream: No livestream is listed.
Registration: The event page provides a “Register for NextNOW Fest” option.
Accessibility: The Clarice offers wheelchair-accessible seating, size-inclusive seating, large-print programs, assisted-listening devices, adult and child sensory packs, and quiet spaces upon request. ASL interpretation, audio description, and captioning are available for selected events or by request at least six weeks in advance.