The jamming rock-blues sounds of Blues Traveler will headline West Virginia Universitys FallFest 2001 concert Monday, Aug. 20, on the Mountainlair Plaza. The annual back-to-school extravaganza for students has become a popular tradition following the first day of fall semester classes.
Blues Traveler is just one of four performing groups booked for the evening. Also featured: Distorted Penguins, Nine Days and Mos Def. The concert is set to begin at 7 p.m. and is free to students with valid ID.
FallFest 2001 will also feature a film fest, two comedy clubs, a dance party and more.
“This years back-to-school event is truly special,”said Kristie Stewart of Arts and Entertainment.”From blues, rock, hip hop, soul and a popular local band that plays rock with horns, weve got it all this year.”
Blues Traveler
The four original members of Blues Traveler started jamming in 1988 while in high school under the name”Blues Band.”Leading the group is Jersey-bred John Popper on vocals, harmonica and guitar. After playing small clubs and frat houses, the band was”discovered”and signed to a recording contract with A&M Records.
The bands first album,”Blues Traveler,”contained”But Anyway.”Their next releases,”Travelers and Thieves”and”Save His Soul,”both earned gold. Their album,”Four,”became one of the top-selling records of the year in 1994, and their single”Run Around”stayed on the Billboard Top 10 throughout the summer of 1995 and earned the band its first Grammy. Other albums receiving platinum status are”Live From the Fall”and”Straight on Till Morning.”
The group added a new bassist in 1999 following the death of Bobby Sheehan, and a fifth member, keyboardist Ben Wilson. The energized Blues Traveler just completed a new album,”Bridge.”
p. Mos Def
p. Hip hop rap artist Mos Def first cut a record in 1994 with”My Kung Fu.”After signing with Rawkus in 1996, the Brooklyn native had an instant hit,”Universal Magnetic,”a single whose jazz-nuance, impelled beat and endless fountain of rhymes would catapult Mos as an underground favorite. His collaboration with Talib Kweli has produced other hits such as”Fortified Live,”“Black Star”and”Black on Both Sides.”
*Nine Days
Nine Days songwriters John Hampson and Brian Desveaux write strong, solid tunes about everyday trials and triumphs. They are best known for their 550 Music label debut,”The Maddening Crowd.”Theyve been called a”good jam band with the hook-filled melodies and hard-rocking, on-point delivery of the best alternative bands.”
Distorted Penguins
Distorted Penguins, one of the regions most popular local bands, combines pop, rock and horns to create an energetic and fast paced style of music. Their second album,”Magic,”is getting a lot of air time on college radio stations throughout the United States. Pioneers of todays internet technology, the group has been a featured artist on MP3 .com with songs such as”Anarchy Waltz,”“Sexi Lexi,”“About You”and”Falling Rock.”
Dance Party, Film Fest, Comedy Club
* A Dance Party featuring *DJ Skribble begins at 10 p.m. in the Mountainlair Ballrooms. Skribble is one of Americas most visible disk jockeys, spinning next to Carson Daly on MTV s”Total Request Live”or on MTV s”Spring Break.”
In addition, a Comedy Club in Hatfields will feature two comedians at 10 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.
A Film Festival will feature the following releases: Double Jeopardy, 2 p.m.; Charlies Angels, 7 p.m.; Erin Brockovich, 9 p.m.; and Swordfish, 11:30 p.m.
This is FallFests seventh year; past acts have included Live, Fuel and Sugar Ray, among others. Approximately 12,000-14,000 students attend the outdoor concert and related events. For more information, visit http://www.events.wvu.edu/FallFest/index.htm , or call 304-293-8228.
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Students: Bring your IDs to FallFest 2001
p. With just a few days left before West Virginia Universitys Aug. 20 back-to-school extravaganza known as FallFest, student leaders and University officials want to remind students of a few details.
p. EVENT INFORMATION :
- The four-band concert gets under way at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 20, and ends around 1 a.m. Performers, in order of appearance, include: Distorted Penguins, Nine Days, Mos Def and Blues Traveler.
- All events are free to WVU students with valid Mountaineer Card. Guest tickets (1 per WVU student with valid ID) may be obtained at the tent in front of the Mountainlair. Guests must enter the Mountainlair front door gate and be accompanied by a student with valid WVU ID .
- Entrance to the concert for others is through the front doors of the Mountainlair or five Plaza entrances. Gates open at 6:15 p.m.
- Two Comedy Clubs will be held in Hatfields, 10 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.
- A Film Festival will be held in the Gluck Theater featuring: Double Jeopardy, 2 p.m.; Charlies Angels, 7 p.m.; Erin Brockovich, 9 p.m.; and Swordfish, 11:30 p.m.
- A dance party with DJ Skribble gets under way at 10 p.m. in the Lair Ballrooms.
- Free soft drinks will be available on the Plaza; food available for purchase.
- Beer available for purchase to those of legal age.
- An EMS station will be set up on Maiden Lane.
- NO cameras, coolers, hard containers, laser pointers, audio or video recorders, bottles, cans or pets permitted
- WVU buses will run until 2 a.m.
- Free parking available in the upper level of Mountainlair Parking Garage after 7 p.m.
* PARKING RESTRICTIONS * :
- West Prospect Street NO PARKING Sunday (8/19) 8 a.m. to Tuesday (8/21) 6 a.m. * North High Street NO PARKING Sunday (8/19) 8 a.m. to Tuesday (8/21) 6 a.m.
- Maiden Lane NO PARKING Monday (8/20) 5 p.m. to Tuesday (8/21) 6 a.m.
* TRAFFIC GUIDELINES :
- Maiden Lane CLOSED Monday (8/20) 5 p.m. to Tuesday (8/21) 6 a.m.
- North High Street NORTH BOUND TRAFFIC ONLY Monday (8/20) 5 p.m. to Tuesday (8/21) 6 a.m.