With music festivals cropping up all over the country this spring and summer, UNF is bringing one to our campus April 12.
The event was originally set to be held in the Coxwell Amphitheater, but the location was moved to the UNF Arena due to Friday’s weather forecast, which predicts thunderstorms.
Brent Fine, director of Osprey Productions, said OP had originally planned to have a traditional mainstage event in early March, but had a hard time finding available bands due to the large amounts of music festivals happening around the country. So they decided to push back the date and change it to a festival style with several different bands.
While the event comes out to about the same price as other OP concerts, it makes things a little bit more difficult logistically. In the original plan for the outdoor set up, sets would alternate between the stages, with five minute gaps between bands.
However, with the move to the Arena, all the acts will perform on the same stage, so the stage set up will have to be changed quickly between the artists. The Jacksonville indie band Seven Springs, which won its spot in the festival through OP’s Battle of the Bands event March 2, had to be cut from its opening spot in order to create more time for stage transitions.
Fine said OP works with an agent in New York to book artists, looking at what’s new and what’s up and coming. But it ultimately comes down to who’s available.
Student opinions on the event vary.
Matthew Studiale, a coastal biology sophomore, said he likes festivals, as they give attendees more time to socialize and are popular with college students.
On the other hand, Alana Elrod, a nursing junior, said she would prefer a concert of one more recent artist versus a bunch of smaller artists.
“I have no idea who [the artists] are,” she said, “so I really don’t care to go.”
Here’s a brief rundown of the artists performing at the event:
New Bloom
4:00 p.m.
From: Los Angeles, Calif.
Genre: Alt Indie Pop
The name is fitting, as New Bloom only formed in the beginning of 2013. Like Seven Springs, New Bloom is a five-piece band with a female lead vocalist, but this group hails from the West Coast.
The Static
5:00 p.m.
From: Washington, D.C.
Genre: Rock
On The Static’s facebook page, the band describes itself as “glam-powered rock ‘n’ roll party machine!” Need we say more?
Air Dubai
6:00 p.m.
From: Denver, Colo.
Genre: Alternative/Hip-Hop
Beginning as a hip hop duo in 2008, Air Dubai has developed into a six member band known for energetic live performances. The group has released three albums and three EPs.
Chris Webby
6:55 p.m.
From: Norwalk, Conn.
Genre: Rap/Hip-Hop
The 24-year-old rapper Chris Webby has already worked with artists such as Bun B, Mac Miller and Freeway. Webby has released seven mixtapes since 2009, even without being signed to a label.
The Ready Set
7:55 p.m.
From: Fort Wayne, Ind.
Genre: Pop/Electronica
The Ready Set is the stage name of Jordan Mark Witzigreuter. The Ready Set has released three full albums and four EPs. Pete Wentz, the bassist from Fall Out Boy, signed The Ready Set to his label, Decaydance Records, in 2009.
DJ Hesta Prynn
8:55 p.m.
From: New York
Genre: Dark Dancefloor Tracks
Julie Potash, known as Hesta Prynn, started in music as part of the hip-hop group Northern State and then branched out on her own when the band broke up. She now travels the country as a DJ and a pop music ghostwriter and has played with artists such as Jay-Z, Andrew WK and Kelis.
Boys Like Girls
10:00 p.m.
From: Boston, Mass.
Genre: Pop Punk/Alternative
You probably sang along to Boys Like Girls’ song “The Great Escape” back in the summer of 2007. The band, which has been around since 2005, released its third album in December after taking a hiatus in 2011 so the members could work on side projects.
Email Dargan Thompson at features@unfspinnaker.com
Ozzie’s Spring Ticket will take place in the UNF Arena April 12. Gates will open at 3 p.m. and the show runs from 4 – 11 p.m.
Admission is free with an Osprey1 Card and $15 if you want to bring a non-Osprey friend.
There will be free parking available at 1:30 in Lot 15 or Garage 38
Things to leave at home: video cameras, backpacks, bikes, drugs, weapons, laser pointers, lawn chairs, pets, coolers, skateboards and umbrellas
