Mild Bison: the journey of collaboration and music

This year, for the first time, a student-led music event on campus called Mild Bison took place at Lipscomb. Wild Bison, the outside festival that took place in March 2024 and featured alumni artists and students in the School of Music at Lipscomb, is coming back in October 2025. While the students and performers wait for the second outdoors festival, Red Dog Production, which is part of the College of Entertainment and Arts at Lipscomb (CEA), created Mild Bison. 

Isaac Horn and Lincoln Mick from The Arcadian Wild kick off the Writers’ Round

The Arcadian Wild, whose two original members are Lipscomb alumni, hosted the event. They are the ones who started the Wild Bison festival, wanting to gather the Lipscomb community around music. Lincoln Mick (‘14, Bible and Ministry major), who plays mandolin in the band, said that he was excited to see the development of the music program at Lipscomb. He said, “At the time I was a student here, there wasn’t really a commercial or a songwriting program, and it was classically geared. The faculty were and are amazing, and I learned so much from them; they invested so much in me and I’m so grateful. But it’s been really sweet to watch other things flourish since I’ve been gone.”

Alex and Gracie Fincher from River and Rail play at Mild Bison

Among the performers were also River and Rail, another band that came out of Lipscomb. Alex and Gracie Fincher performed original songs and played the guitars, accompanied by bass and keys. Gracie Fincher said that she had a special time at the event. “I loved that each band had a nice, succinct package of music, and then it was 20 minutes of one artist and then 20 minutes of a completely different style of artistry,” said Fincher. 

The band Dasher performs at the festival

The Red Dog Production is a Live Music practicum at Lipscomb. Through it, students  learn how to run and host events, getting hands-on practice and experience. Abby Whitman, a sophomore Music Industry Studies major, mainly runs communication and booking of artists and was part of the group that organized Mild Bison. She said, “The event is co-hosted by Red Dog so that the students can take some ownership of promoting it, connecting with artists and putting on live shows.” 

Rusty Harmon, adjunct professor in the School of Music at Lipscomb, said that Mild Bison could become a tradition in the future. “Obviously we don’t have the same elements of it being a festival, like being outdoors and food trucks and other entertainment, but there’s still a focus on the kind of acts that the Arcadian Wild would like to see and be a part of their festival,” said Harmon.

Rhys Weyrauch performs original songs

A significant part of the event was the performances of the Lipscomb School of Music seniors. Whitman said, “For Mild Bison specifically, we have a senior showcase to highlight the seniors that are graduating this year that wouldn’t have had a chance to perform if we had just pushed Wild Bison back to October.” The seniors who performed were Gabrielle Irene, Annie Lee Rose, Logan Bennett, Treye Hall and Rhys Weyrauch. 

Treye Hall plays at the senior showcase

Mick and Fincher both mentioned the emotions they felt performing at Lipscomb. “Mild Bison was a blast because we’re around peers that we knew from going to college,” said Fincher. “And we also get to meet so many of the other musicians that are in college now that we didn’t get to meet and develop those relationships, hear the play, and see what the Music program’s doing after we’ve left. So special.” 

Mick and Horn reveal an unpublished original

Mick said that live performances were unique for him because of being with people, and Wild Bison helped him and The Arcadian Wild reconnect with the community at Lipscomb. “Our hope is that it continues to grow and it can be something that everyone can come together and collaborate on because there wasn’t really anything quite like this here,” said Mick. “I feel like it’s not all up to us. It definitely depends on whether it resonates with people and if we get to keep doing it.”

Check the Red Dog Production Instagram for the newest updates on music events at Lipscomb.