The Carolina Union Activities Board and WXYC are still working hard to entertain students — even during the summer.
The two groups will be hosting a free concert in the Olde Campus Upper Quad for UNC summer school students at 8 p.m. on Friday. Psychedelic-folk artist Daniel Bachman and Raleigh-based punk band Whatever Brains will be playing the show.
Kate Garand, CUAB’s graduate assistant, said the diversity of artists was intentional.
“We thought it would be nice to have a wide range of artists, so that if you didn’t like Daniel Bachman or you didn’t like Whatever Brains you could either see one or both,” she said.
Rich Ivey, frontman of Whatever Brains, is not fazed by the idea of playing with an artist of a completely different genre.
“Whatever Brains toured with a solo flamenco guitar player a few years ago, and it was a fun juxtaposition every night,” he said.
Garand said the outdoor concert will have a relaxed atmosphere.
“The feeling that we’re going for is kind of an outdoor concert where people would bring their lawn chairs, picnic blankets and food, and just hang out,” Garand said.
Members from both bands said they are excited about playing a show outdoors.
“It’s going to be a really nice ‘blanket and chairs’ kind of vibe instead of stinky beer and dingy floors,” Bachman said.
Ivey said he does not remember Whatever Brains ever playing at an outdoor show.
“We’re used to clearing out rooms when we play,” Ivey said. “It might be even more fun to clear out the quad.?”
Bachman said he is particularly excited about playing in Chapel Hill because he has always been a fan of the music scene.
“I have a lot of friends in Carrboro and Chapel Hill,” he said. “I’m going to try to spend as much time in the area as I can.”
This is not the first time that CUAB and WXYC have partnered for an event, but Caroline Pate, WXYC’s promotions manager, is thankful for CUAB’s partnership.
“Sometimes it feels like if student organizations were a high school, WXYC would be the weird loner kid and CUAB would be prom king,” Pate said. “So we’re excited that they’ve shown some support to us.”
Both Garand and Pate agree that it is important to have events for students during the summer.
“We wanted to show the students that we know some of them are still here and we wanted to do something for them,” Pate said.
“We’ve done free food, we’ve done movies, and we wanted to cover the music side of things,” Garand said.
“Bring your blankets and bring your lawn chairs. It’s going to be really fun.”
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