UNC Mirror

Issue date: 4/28/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Jade DeGood Patrick Meese, the lead singer of the band Meese, performed a few songs from their new album for students and community members at their concert during Springfest. There were several bands that performed on Nottingham Field on Saturday.

Although early morning weather had the University Program Council worried, Springfest proceeded forward and proved to be yet another step in the earth-friendly campus initiative.

Eight bands, encompassing everything from hip-hop to gospel, took the stage at Nottingham Field on Saturday, allowing students to take a much needed break before finals and help the environment at the same time.

Nottingham Field was lined with recycle bins, and the bands performed on a solar-powered stage. Also, one dollar from every ticket sale was donated to the American Forests Organization to help plant trees.

Ken Tronco, UPC Arts and Entertainment Coordinator, said he hoped that there would be a large turnout.

"We hope to have at least 1,000 in attendance," Tronco said. "That would be 1,000 trees."

UPC may not have met its goal, but the headlining bands, Barcelona and Meese, attracted a crowd of students.

Jessy Jones, vice president of UPC, said the weather could be partly to blame for the low attendance, especially throughout the early afternoon.

"The weather has been a little harder to deal with today," Jones said. "Not that many people want to be at an outdoor concert."

Traditionally, there are fewer students in attendance during the earlier performance, but UPC volunteers said they hope next year, the event will be packed with students all day long.

Springfest also featured tables from the cultural centers, a beer garden and the chance for students to get involved with a traditional event at UNC through volunteering.

UPC had 188 volunteers help with Springfest, and junior theatre major Duncan Northern was one of many who showed up in the early morning cold to help make the event possible.

"I wanted to come see the band and help out," Northern said. "You have a lot better time if you get out and do things on campus, and it's great that the campus provides opportunities like this."

Continued...

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