LionFish + Giant Pumpkins x MLK Day = Oh My!

Friday, Jan. 16: Punk Rock Farmer Friday always kicks off with homegrown music, live in The Big Room. Tonight, LionFish. Plus, True Tales of the Agrihood ©™® with Clint Nash and the 2026 International Growers Convention coming in March to SLC. Plus, Skywatcher Leo T.

Get More Local, More Vocal with Tonight's Guests

Tonight's homegrown music: LionFish

Based in SLC, LionFish was formed in 2008 by Derrek Wright. After several years in the wilderness (Portland), the band returned to SLC in 2019. Its members include Derrek Wright ( Lead Vocals, Guitars), Georgi Petrov (Guitars, Lap Steel & Vocals), Anthony Perry (Drums & Vocals), Douglas Wright (Bass & Vocals) and Ken Kruckenberg (Keyboards).

• MUSIC: lionfishband.com/music
• VIDEOS: lionfishband.com/videos
• SUBSCRIBE: lionfishband.com/#newsletter
• GIGS: LionFish live at Brewski's in Ogden on Jan. 24 | Pat's BBQ in SLC Jan. 31

Rallies & Resources Spotlight (full list here): 

• Jan. 17: KRCL RadioACTive and Threadwork Collective Present: Governance Isn't Politics — It's Power | 11a-1p @ 1974 Bookstore SLC, 351 W 400 S, Unit B, SLC. "Join RadioACTive's Lara Jones and Lianna Manibog of The Threadwork Collective for a community conversation on governance and power. Step up to the mic with your questions and comments during this meetup, which they will record for a later broadcast. BONUS: 1974 Bookstore Owner Annie Pagett says food truck Girls Who Smash and Bedlam Coffee will be there, too." FREE event, but the burgers and coffee are on you!

• Jan. 17-24: MLK Week at the UoU | various locations and events. "This year's theme — The Time is ALWAYS Right to do What is Right — reminds us that justice, compassion, and moral courage are not bound by convenience; they demand action now. MLK Week 2026 centers on what it means to 'choose what's right' through service, education, art, and community collaboration." For the full schedule, click here. #MLKWeek2026 #DoWhatIsRight #UofU

• Jan. 19: GreenLatinos MLK Day event celebrates ski bus drivers, riders and canyon transit | 8-9 AM @ Holladay Park & Ride, 6200 S Wasatch Blvd, Holladay. RadioACTive talks with Olivia Juarez of GreenLatinos to learn more. "In observance of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, GreenLatinos is serving baked goods and hot treats to Big Cottonwood Canyon ski bus drivers and ski bus riders. The event is intended to thank bus operators for providing an essential, high-demand service, to recognize riders for choosing public transit, and to encourage public participation on the final day by submitting comments on the Utah Department of Transportation Big Cottonwood Canyon Environmental Assessment. The public comment period closes Monday, January 19."

  • Volunteer with GreenLatinos for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service! Helping hands are needed to donate baked goods, hot drinks, and distribute them to bus riders and drivers in appreciation for public transit to public land. Sign up: https://forms.gle/N1XUKypURsUesszM8

  • This MLK Day of Service for Parks and Public Land event also takes place in the context of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s announcement, dissolving Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Juneteenth, Great American Outdoors Act Day, and National Public Lands Day as free-fee days at national parks and federal recreational lands.

• Jan. 19: MLK March & Rally | 2-4 PM @ University of Utah Campus, Union Ballroom, 200 S Central Campus Dr, SLC. "The march begins at 2 p.m. in the Olpin Student Union Ballroom. Following the rally, the community is invited to enjoy a performance by the renowned Ailey II Dance Company at Kingsbury Hall at 4:30 p.m. Information on how to purchase tickets for the latter event can be found here."

#ManyCulturesOneSky with Skywatcher Leo T

Veteran journalist Skywatcher Leo T shares his love of the night sky, space news, and cultural stories of the stars. To share your skylore or ask questions, follow SkyWatcher Leo T on Facebook.

• Tonight: Jupiter roars, Artemis launches to the moon soon! Voyager records! Leo says: "Yes, right now, Jupiter is at its closest for the year and is showing its size in the East, hanging with Castor and Pollux! Many other wonders in the sky to check out! Artemis II Moon Rocket gets ready to launch soon, with people onboard, and we go out 14 billion miles from home to join the Voyager spacecraft and listen to its gold-plated record of Earth sounds, sent to anyone out there in the Cosmic void."

Aldine's Urban Farm Report: The Giant Pumpkin Growers Are Coming

While Al is on the road this week, he arranged for Clint Nash of the Utah Giant Pumpkin Growers to visit the show. As president of the organization, Clint decided to see if he could get the GPC International Grower's Convention to come here and talk about growing giant pumpkins. Nothing to lose in asking, right?! Well, they're headed to Utah in March. Tune in to find out how to get involved.

• Mar. 6-8: GPC International Grower's Convention in SLC. Early bird registration ends Jan. 31. To register, click here. Registration is now open for the 2026 International Growers Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah! Join us from Friday, March 6th, through Sunday, March 8th, for an unforgettable weekend of learning, networking, and celebration. Full registration includes:

  • Three-day admission to all convention events

  • Buffet lunch and dinner on Saturday

  • A commemorative convention T-shirt

  Bringing a non-grower guest? We also offer a special lunch-and-dinner-only package for companions who want to enjoy the meals and festivities without attending the full program.

  Connect with fellow growers, learn from expert speakers, and be part of one of the biggest events of the year. Saturday night features the annual GPC Awards Ceremony, honoring the outstanding achievements of top growers and celebrating the induction of two new GPC Hall of Famers.

  Note: A late registration fee will apply after February 1.

BONUS: KRCL History with Aldine, the Punk Rock Farmer

Last year, RadioACTive hosted rising journalists of the University of Utah in partnership with Amplified Utah. One of the assignments we gave them was to interview DJs about their history with Listeners' Community Radio of Utah, your beloved KRCL 90.9fm. Student journalist Preston Langlois chose Aldine, who tells him about growing up on a farm in upstate New York, his early days with music and radio, and his journey to a ski bum job at Snowbird. Wouldn't you know, while folding laundry at the ski resort, someone turned on KRCL. Enjoy!

How You Like Us Now?

• Share your thoughts, suggestions and observations by calling the RadioACTive hotline: ‪(385) 800-1889. Or, send a voice memo to radioactive@krcl.org. Tell us your name and neighborhood, and leave a short message that we may air on the show. 

• The views, opinions and statements expressed on RadioACTive are solely those of the respective speakers and do not represent or reflect the views, opinions or positions of Listeners' Community Radio of Utah, nor its hosts, sponsors, or partners.

Tonight's RadioACTive Team:

• Executive Producer, Host: Lara Jones
• Producer: Connor Estes
• Audio/Video Team: Sullivan Petchanpheng, Griffin Hall, Connor Estes, Maggie Brunner
• Intern: Maggie Brunner