UTEP’s Student Engagement & Leadership Center and the Student Government Association hosted Minerfest at the Don Haskins Center, April 29.  

Comedian Jourdain Fisher opened the show, followed by El Paso’s own The Swell Kids, and Brian Todd Collins, also known as “Kid Ink.”  The show hosted almost 300 people and was streamed online.  

Luis Márquez, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering who works at the ticket center said that the show was a good welcome back for students. 

“I had not attended an event like this for a year, and I do not regret having had to help at the Don Haskins and at the same time witness these artists that UTEP brought,” Márquez said. 

Kid Ink engaged attendees by joining them in the floor seats. There, he grabbed some of their cell phones and recorded himself with attendees in selfie mode and gave out high-fives. 

Signed Minerfest T-shirts were tossed into the audience to fans that were closer to Kid Ink. He also signed the shirt that he was wearing and gave it as a gift too.  

Kid Ink’s performance was almost an hour long and included some of his most famous songs like “Show Me,” and “Promise.” He also performed some songs from his most recent album “ALIVE.” 

The rapper mentioned that he was very grateful to the people who came to see him perform since this was his first show in more than a year, and that he was thrilled to be singing live again. 

Overall, the students who attended this event and witnessed the event’s headliner were given a taste of what future Minerfest events could look like.   

Heriberto Perez may be reached at [email protected].