Festival of Heroes rocks WKU
By NATALIE JORDAN, The Daily News, njordan@bgdailynews.com
With
a backdrop of colorful stage lights, several bands took to the stage
Friday in E.A. Diddle Arena - some strumming guitars, but all belting
lyrics that made the crowd sway or throw their hands up in excitement.
Western
Kentucky University rocked out, hosting a two-day musical event with a
slew of artists. But it was more than just for students' enjoyment - it
was for a cause. The event, deemed the Festival of Heroes, brought
together more than 15 artists - some local, some internationally known
- from a range of genres to benefit St. Jude Children's Research
Hospital in Nashville.
“Two of our board members, Jordan Pauly
and Matt Meely, went to a CAB sponsored event called After Dark, and
they showed a video from St. Jude,” said Kristina Dyer, public
relations director for WKU's Camps Activities Board. “They decided they
wanted to do something to raise awareness for the cause and money for
the hospital.”
While Thursday didn't generate as many people as
CAB hoped for, Dyer said, it did prepare them for what was to come
Friday, which she said was a different ballgame.
“It's pretty cool to have such big names on campus,” said Emily Gillespie, 21, of Roanoke, Va.
Friday's
lineup included Gravity Hill, Grits, Jason Mraz, John Reuben, Thousand
Foot Krutch, Lupe Fiasco and the Redding Brothers.
The three
brothers, Gabriel, Micah and Josiah, declared their sound rock and roll
- more specifically, acoustic and electric rock. After meeting some of
CAB's members at a conference, they decided doing the concert would be
“a good thing to be a part of.”
“They introduced us to St.
Jude,” Josiah Redding said. “What they're doing here is unique, and
definitely a worthy cause to get involved in.”
Having all the different bands provided for a “cool” experience, Micah Redding said.
That
sentiment was echoed by the members of The Basement Upstairs, who were
first to perform Friday afternoon. The five-member band with a
“feel-good” sound is from Frankfort.
“We love to perform,” said one of the band members, who goes by the name of Hybrid.
The
festival was the first of its kind for Western, and one CAB plans to
make annual. In addition to collecting donations for St. Jude, there
was also a breast cancer awareness booth, which was introduced by
actress Marcia Wallace, who emceed the event.
Wallace - who once
enjoyed fame on “The Bob Newhart Show” and who now provides the voice
of Bart's teacher on “The Simpsons” - is a 20-year breast cancer
survivor.
“Sure, now you feel invincible,” she said. “But if you start now to check, it becomes as routine as your general hygiene.”
During
each set change, Wallace let everybody know about St. Jude, and
promotional videos about the hospital and its functions were shown,
Dyer said.
“Hopefully this will motivate everybody who comes out to ask for donations or donate themselves.”
St.
Jude uses cutting-edge therapies and medicines to help children with
life-threatening cancers, as well as those with HIV infections and
other catastrophic diseases.
“I remember when I was in
elementary school, we used to have fundraisers for St. Jude,” said
Nathan Graham, a member of The Basement Upstairs who's known as
Phorensicz. “They're working to find a cure for cancer. Cancer effects
everybody at some point and time.
“This is a good cause, and we never turn down a good cause.”
The
event, Gillespie said, calls attention to a cause students normally do
not think about, and having well-known artists perform makes students
more aware of what is going on.
For junior English major Chelsea
Beville, 20, of Bowling Green, being at the concert hit home. Not only
were three bands that she liked playing the festival, she came out to
show support to her friend who went to St. Jude, and to honor a cousin
who died of brain cancer.
“I think this was a really good idea,”
she said. “It brings awareness to the students and it gave them
something to do on a Friday night.”
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