Written By: Elizabeth Dean ‘16
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Eli Shadrach '14 recording at the WWRM studio in the Student Center.
Photo courtesy of Phuong Tran
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Coachella, Counterpoint, Sasquatch!, Lollapalooza, Warped,
Voodoo, Firefly, South by Southwest…
While some of us might have those music festival names on
our summer to-do list, classes are keeping students firmly in Lynchburg for
another while yet. There is hope, however, closer to home (or dorm, I suppose)
and sooner than summer in the form of WWRMStock.
Beg pardon, you say? Randolph’s campus radio, the WWRM, has
a tradition of holding a music festival in the spring. This festival brings in talented
musicians and provides students a welcome diversion from the monotony of
coursework.
Many sophomores and firsties haven’t heard of WWRMStock due
to the fact that the festival did not take place last year. The gap year was
caused by a few major transitions in the WWRM’s management. First, the previous
advisor, philosophy professor Dr. David Schwartz, handed the position over to IT
programmer Chris Cohen. Second, upon completion of the new Student Center, the
WWRM moved into the spacious, glass-encased studio on the second floor. This
new location, overlooking the Gravely-Hampson Commons was a major upgrade from
the small, hot room the station had been based in before. However, the event
and the station fell somewhat to the wayside in the midst of all these
transitions. Add to that station manager Crispen Stanbach ’13 and deejays such
as Wyatt Phipps ’13 graduating and the WWRM was just a bit lost for a time.
Under the direction of Prof. Cohen and the new student head
of the WWRM, Eli Shadrach ’14, the station is again becoming a notable presence
on campus. The WWRM is providing an outlet for the Mythcasters podcasts in
cooperation with Classics Department and students. The station’s comeback
event, however, will be bringing back WWRMStock.
The festival is still in the planning stages, but Prof.
Cohen sat down and told me the details the so far.
The WWRM staff has been talking with the Macon Activities
Council (MAC) and Nick Spicer, Coordinator of Student Activities about an
exciting possibility that has come to fruition. They are going to hold the
festival in conjunction with the Outdoor Fest of MAC’s Summer Sendoff. In this way, WWRMStock will
be providing the music for the Outdoor Fest and getting to use a great space for the
event. WWRMStock and Outdoor Fest are set to happen April 27th
from 11-3pm.
While they are still working out the details of who will
play, the talent for WWRMStock will be local. Cohen has been working with
Speakertree Records in Downtown Lynchburg to get in touch with possible bands.
The man behind the counter even did a little self-promoting for his band when
giving suggestions for artists. And there are even a few Randolph students who
might be taking the stage, said Cohen.
The time available to Summer Sendoff and WWRMStock is constrained
by the Spring Concert for the Chamber Orchestra and Chorale, which begins right
at 3pm on April 27th. With four hours to work with, bands are being
asked to play half-hour sets. “If we’re efficient with time for setup and tear
down for each act,” Cohen said, “we could expect 4-6 bands to perform.”
The Sundial Blog will post the names of the bands as soon as
they are announced.
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