The Student Association and the University Union Activities Board have announced that chart-toppers 3 Doors Down will headline Fall Fest 2001, accompanied by Everclear, Nickel Back and Seven Channels.
3 Doors Down are best known for their hits "Kryptonite," "Loser" and "Duck and Run," from their multi-platinum album "The Better Life." The band's new single, "Be Like That," was featured on the soundtrack for the recent hit movie "American Pie 2."
Everclear, the most well known of the opening acts, first achieved commercial success with "Santa Monica," off their 1995 album "Sparkle and Fade."
"We're expecting a good turn out," said SA President Christian Oliver.
"This should be a big event."
Returning students can anticipate significant changes and improvements to this year's Fest, which SA expects to be more successful than its predecessors.
"The past three [Fests] have been all hip-hop," said Keith Hessian, music coordinator for UUAB. "We were aiming for just big name alternative bands and that was what it turned out to be."
"Even people who like hip-hop better will like this show," said SA Vice President Josh Korman. Spring Fest 2002 will, however, be a hip-hop show, he said.
"We've also been working on the little things too, such as setting and an act between set changes," Korman said.
Fest organizers sought to create a festival-style environment as opposed to previous years' concert format. Weather permitting, the Fest area at Baird Point will look "less like a field and more like a park," said Hessian.
"We're opening the area up and incorporating the pillars into the scenery," Hessian said. "Even if you don't like the music, you can still go, lay out a blanket and have a good time."
"It's more than just a concert," he added.
In order to prevent the sunset from obstructing concertgoers' views, the stage was moved at 35-degrees clockwise.
"At other Fall Fests there was a good hour that you couldn't see the stage," Korman said. "Now the sunset will look awesome."
Stephanie Straw, a senior political science major, was enthusiastic about the new layout.
"I was hoping for a Fall Fest that looked like a festival with more open spaces and little stands," said Straw. "Perhaps they could have a smaller stage where the local bands can play."
Benjamin Rosenberg, a junior computer science major, was concerned about the sound quality of this year's show.
"I'm hoping the sound techs do a good job," said Rosenberg. "I want to be able to hear everyone's voice and instruments and that it's not so loud that I can't hear anything."
Hessian said that sound quality should be improved due to earlier consultation with Indigo Productions, the company that provides the stage for the Fests and sound equipment for bands who do not travel with it.
"We've been incorporating [Indigo Productions] into our planning sessions as opposed to just telling them what we want," he said.
SA was able to book larger-scale entertainment acts because of the fiscal boost given to the organization by this year's increase in the mandatory student activities fee, as well as a broader selection of reservation dates for Alumni Arena, which will host the show in the event of inclement weather.
"We couldn't have done it without the increased fee and without dates from Alumni Arena," said Oliver. "Bob Arkeilpane [director of the Division of Athletics] really extended himself and we were able to follow through with getting the dates for Alumni Arena."
Hessian explained that availability was ultimately the deciding factor in selecting performers.
"You can't just say 'we want this band,'" said Hessian. "It's not a matter of money, but dates."
SA also has several other activities planned for the evening. At the conclusion of the Fest, SA will attempt to launch the first of a monthly series of "bar parties." At least once a month, SA will host an event at a downtown bar or nightclub and provide busses to transport students to the event.
Korman said SA has not yet determined if the bar parties will be restricted to students 21 and over, or if students 18 and over will be allowed to participate provided they do not consume alcohol. He explained that SA would be working closely with bar managers to ensure that identification is thoroughly checked for the sake of the students' safety and to ensure legality.
The student government has consulted with independent legal services that have supplied information on liability issues.
"We're working really hard on ironing out the details," Korman said. "This is a new enterprise for us and we really looked into the legalities."
Following approval from the Alcohol Review Board, there will also be a beer tent at Fall Fest 2001 for attendees who are of legal age. The Faculty Student Association will provide food and non-alcoholic beverages.
In addition, Korman noted that SA is planning several supplemental musical events throughout the year. This October, Source Magazine's "Fashion Nation Show" will visit UB, featuring a performance by hip-hop artist Mob Deep. The Source will scope out UB students and select several picks to model hip-hop fashions.
Next semester, SA will attempt to balance out the hip-hop-oriented Spring Fest with a renowned classic rock artist and a famous comic.
"Fall Fest is just the beginning," said Korman. "We want to bring in as many big shows as we can to get as many students involved as possible."
