KURE, as it’s known today, is the Iowa State campus radio station. But the station has had a long, 50-year history, and nine of central Iowa’s most dynamic acts will help KURE celebrate the station’s golden anniversary Saturday at the Maintenance Shop.

“We wanted to get a good variety of stuff,” KURE music director Andrew Seitz said. “And one of the things that [the main show organizer] stuck to was that the people he booked, all their music is in the studio so people can play it.”

The variety of music the station plays is reflected by the bands that will be performing at the anniversary show. Music styles ranging from the pop sounds of Pookey Bleum to the punk/rockabilly flow of the Horrowshow hoods.

Throw in some ska from Mediocre Superheroes, some punk from Grubbie Ernie, the funk/rap of Mr. Plow, the hardcore 38th Parallel and top it off with the garage/surf rock of the Chezwicks, and you have a whole boat load of variety.

“We wanted a big variety because the more variety of music, the more people we hoped would show up,” Christina Kitson, public relations director for KURE, said.

Since all the bands playing at the show are often played on KURE, the bands are happy to give a little back to the station. Grubby Ernie drummer Joel Nott has found that KURE has helped them out by playing their songs.

“I know they play our stuff,” Nott said. “That’s gotta help, somewhat.”

Nott is also excited to play due to the assortment in music styles on display.

“It’s always good to have a variety of different bands,” he adds.

Seitz, who has been with the station since its reinstatement in 1996, remembers reading an article of how KURE first started.

“In ’49 some kids, I think in Friley Hall, took a little radio and hooked up to the wall, and it broadcast throughout the building, and it started there,” Seitz said.

“And then it developed into an actual station, most of the time being in closets and stuff. We still kind of are, and the name has changed over the years; different weird stuff happened.”

KMRA, KMRI, KISU, KPGY and KUSR are all former names for the station, but as KURE hopefully continues into another 50 years, one thing has always been the same, the station has always been student and volunteer run. No one is getting paid.

Though KURE hasn’t been widely involved with local music and M-Shop events, plans for future events between the two university entertainment outlets are definitely being considered.

“I’d love to start doing more stuff with the shop,” Seitz said. “And hopefully, we already have a pretty close relationship with the shop, I’d love to do every month or two months have kind of a KURE show going on where we can put our name on it and we can say ‘hey this band is cool’ and maybe got some national acts in.”

With 50 years under their belt, the people at KURE hope to continue gaining listeners as they get more involved with the local music scene. Seitz hopes this weekend’s show will stir up some interest in the station and local music.

“Hopefully people will show up, support student radio,” Seitz said. “We’re going to have give away stuff, and we’re going to have our T-shirts on sale.”