Ferris Fest 2013

Entertainment Unlimited prepares for upcoming concert series

Hope for some sunshine, head outside and be prepared for an afternoon of concert festivities.

This year Entertainment Unlimited (EU) will host Ferris Fest in the north quad on April 27. The show starts at noon and is free to the public.

The line-up consists of Midwest Skies, The Crane Wives, The Rouge, YelaWolf and Motion City Soundtrack.

“As Ferris Fest has shown in the past, they’ve provided a diverse lineup to suit the different tastes in music students have,” Ryan Kaiponen, Ferris sophomore in pre-pharmacy, said.

YelaWolf, born Michael Wayne Atha, hails from the South. With many experiences under his belt and a rough upbringing, his music reflects his eclectic influences that range from classic rock to Outkast.

According to the LA Times, “YelaWolf is as safe a bet for stardom as anyone out right now—the rare rapper capable of earning respect from both Kid Rock and Kid Cudi fans.” 

The last performance of the afternoon will be Motion City Soundtrack. Busting onto the scene over a decade ago with their pop hit “The Future Freaks Me Out,” the band has since released five albums. Mixing upbeat music with heavier lyrical themes, the band finds a way to appeal to a wide audience.

“Last year was a lot of fun outside with friends, and I actually listen to Motion City Soundtrack,” Steve Ohman, Ferris junior in criminal justice, said. “They’re a mainstream family friendly band with some good upbeat music.”

Novelties will include an ice cream bar, caricatures, photo booth, photo dog tags, massages and an Adrenaline Rush Obstacle Course.

It was estimated that 1,500 students attended the year previously. Melissa Hanson, EU president, hopes to see an even larger attendance due to the great overall response from students.

Hanson also mentioned that EU loves to see the Big Rapids community coming out to Ferris Fest as well.

“Ferris Fest is our chance to put on a big, exciting, memorable event for students. One of our goals of Ferris Fest is to have something that everybody can enjoy,” Hanson, Ferris senior in accountancy/finance, said. “If one artist or performer isn’t your favorite, hopefully the next one will be.”