Poppy Is Bringing Chaos, Glitter, and Riffs to Downtown El Paso

If your playlist has ever jumped from bubblegum pop to blast beats without warning, congratulations, you’re already in Poppy’s world. The tiny, platinum-haired powerhouse is headed to El Paso for KLAQ Rocks the Park, and she’s the wildcard that could turn Southwest University Park into a neon-lit metal lair.

Before Poppy was melting faces onstage, she was melting brains on YouTube with cryptic, uncanny videos that felt like performance art from another planet. Then came the music: sugary pop laced with corporate occult vibes, hooks that stick like glue, and visuals that walk the line between cute and unsettling. Eventually she leaned into heavier sounds, and it turns out Poppy with down-tuned guitars is a perfect match. One track might punch like industrial metal, the next might glide like a pop single, and somewhere in between she’s whispering sweet nothings that feel like a summoning ritual. It’s weird, theatrical, and impossible to look away from.

That theatrical streak is what makes her live shows special. Expect sharp choreography, razor-edged riffs, and a stage design that flips a baseball stadium into an art installation with teeth. The Chihuahuas’ home turf has hosted big moments, but it has never seen this particular brand of candy-coated chaos. Bring earplugs. Bring curiosity. Bring a friend who thinks they “don’t like metal” and watch them convert by the second chorus.

Here’s the show rundown. KLAQ Rocks the Park hits Southwest University Park on Saturday, October 4, 2025. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., the show starts at 6:30 p.m., and VIP guests get early entrance at 5:00 p.m. VIPs also score a private acoustic performance and intimate Q&A with Dead Poet Society at 5:45 p.m. The lineup stacks hard hitters across the night with Scott Stapp headlining, plus Dead Poet Society and Hooked Like Helen opening the party. Poppy is the artistic curveball that makes the bill feel fresh.

Tickets are available at the Southwest University Park website or the Durango box office. The event is presented by Speaking Rock and revives the spirit of KLAQ’s beloved Street Fest, while marking the ballpark’s first concert since 2023. If you like your riffs heavy and your aesthetics high-concept, this is the night to show up.