The Associated Students of the University of Utah (ASUU) will be hosting their first annual Wasatch Music Festival on April 21 at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. The event will feature American Authors and Cold War Kids.
Formerly known as the “Grand Kerfuffle,” the Wasatch Music Festival began as a remodeling of the annual ASUU spring concert, which has undergone multiple transformations throughout its history at the U.
Planned fully by students, the concert features artists selected by a student task board, to provide an energetic and carefully crafted music event.
For these events, the Campus Events Board creates a list of potential artists they believe fellow students would be interested in hearing, and a survey is then sent out to assess general popularity and desire.
”Last year a student survey was sent out and a majority of students wanted more Indie, Rock and Alternative bands, so the genre of artists and music was centered based on that feedback,” said Jacquelyn Ledford, a programming advisor for the event.
Following a collection of student surveys, the concert has since modified its music choice into a more alternative genre in comparison to the typical Hip Hop and R&B headliners previously featured, resulting in headliner American Authors and Cold War Kids.
American Authors, a New York based pop-rock band, is known best for their successful single, “Best Day of My Life.” They have toured with One Republic and received multiple music awards.
Cold War Kids is an Indie Rock group originating from Southern California that has released a number of successful albums. Their popular hits, such as “Miracle Mile” and “First” have reached the top of the Billboard Alternative Charts.
In addition to music, ASUU will also conduct several promotions and giveaways leading up to the concert. One of those prizes, provided by specialty music seller Fender, will be a brand new American Professional Stratocaster guitar in Antique Olive. More details are available on ASUU’s Facebook page.
The event will provide a lively atmosphere for students. “This is a fun way to de-stress before finals,” Ledford said.
The Huntsman Center will accommodate both floor and stadium seating, with a max capacity of over 8,000 attendees. All tickets will be general admission, apart from VIP tickets only available through giveaway contests. Seating will be first-come-first-served, including the limited amount of space on the floor.
The Wasatch Music Festival will take place on April 21 with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. in the Jon M. Huntsman Center. Tickets are available online, free for students and $20 for the public.
For more information about the Wasatch Music festival, visit: asuu.utah.edu/news/wmf.