Rain or shine, students turn out for Wild Bison Festival
Rain might have pushed the Wild Bison Festival inside, but it didn’t dampen the music.
On Saturday, Oct. 3, more than 15 music artists played at a free event on Lipscomb’s campus. The festival was supposed to happen outside in Bison Square, but the rainy weather forced the artists to move inside to Bennett Student Center.
The all-day festival was hosted by The Arcadian Wild band and Lipscomb’s College of Entertainment and the Arts (CEA). After it became clear that rain was in the forecast, the CEA quickly set up two indoor stages: one in the first-floor student lounge, and one in Shamblin Theater.
Many artists playing in the student lounge were current Lipscomb students, like Caroline Tebbs, Noelle Lidyoff and Jay Tyndall. Music filled the Stu throughout the day, and the lounge was full of the artists’ peers who came to support them.
Speakers also carried the live music into Bison Square. At one point in the day, students in the square line danced to Jay Tyndall’s set.
Shamblin Theater hosted more of the headliners. Many of the bands performing the main stage were Lipscomb alumni, like the indie-rock band Pomegranate. Around 7 p.m., members of the band “The Arcadian Wild” took the stage to a full house.
The acoustic string band formed at Lipscomb in 2013 after a choir class, and has released four albums. Along with making music, The Arcadian Wild collaborates with the CEA to host Wild Bison. The band was extremely involved in the event, showing up at 7 a.m. to hang banners and greet artists. They even bought many of the musicians lunch.
“It is such a blessing and a gift to be here and to celebrate the amazing things that are happening in this community,” band member Lincoln Mick told the crowd.
Although The Arcadian Wild hosts the Wild Bison Festival, CEA students make it possible. From running sound and setting up equipment, to advertising and selling merch, music students could be seen working hard from sunup to well after sunset.
Claire Vespestad, a music industry studies major, started helping artists unload at 8 a.m. She organized and sold merch for audience members.
And since her station was at the Stu’s front desk, Vespestad had a front-row seat to many of the performances.
“The day has been so fun, filled with a whole bunch of different artists with a variety of genres. It’s been so fun to see everyone collaborate and support each other,” Vespestad said.
Although Wild Bison spotlights musicians and songwriters, the CEA also showcased creative talent of all kinds. The 1891 Fashion Truck parked in the square during the day, and audiences had the opportunity to shop Lipscomb student fashion.
Other highlights included a magic show, a CEA roundtable discussion and a “Pickin’ a Parton” party. What started as a few students playing Dolly Parton songs turned into an impromptu concert in the Stu. Students and faculty brought their guitars and fiddles, and sang along to songs like “Wagon Wheel.”
The day of music ended with headliner Fulton Lee. A self-proclaimed “Bubblegum Funk” artist from Virginia, Lee has over 2.3 million followers on Instagram and almost 70 million streams on Spotify.
Lee created music on the spot with one other guitarist. He involved the crowd, sampling random audience members for sounds and words, and even inviting a student onto the stage to learn a song and sing along with him.
Lee played mostly original songs, but the whole crowd sang along when he covered “You’re Still the One” by Shania Twain.
Feature photo by Isaac Leedham.
