Student Association officials confirmed on Tuesday reports that the Canadian alternative rock band Our Lady Peace will take top billing at Spring Fest on April 21.
Also confirmed is pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph, whose talent fee cost SA $35,000. With $40,000 spent on Our Lady Peace, SA President Dela Yador said there is about $35,000 left to book a third performer for the line-up.
After rappers Snoop Dogg and Kanye West headlined the last Fall and Spring Fests, respectively, this year's rock lineup is one that SA officials hope will be well received.
"We were looking for something different," Yador said.
Although Our Lady Peace has been around for 14 years and has released seven albums, some students don't consider them a band worthy of the headlining position.
"I went last year and it was awesome," said senior nursing major Greg Sagnan, who probably won't go to Spring Fest this year because "I don't like most of those kinds of bands."
According to Yador, the later-than-usual announcement of this year's lineup was because of difficulties in finalizing groups for the concert, including scheduling around a busy calendar of events at Alumni Arena.
"We only got one day, initially," Yador said about the options for scheduling. "When you get Alumni Arena for a certain time, that's it."
Scheduled with Our Lady Peace is Robert Randolph of Robert Randolph and the Family Band. Randolph, who also is a lesser-known artist to some UB students, has previously performed with the jazz trio Medeski, Martin and Wood.
"I've heard of him before, but I've never heard his music," said sophomore chemistry major Konstantin Fishilevich.
Not knowing Randolph or Our Lady Peace very well, however, isn't going to keep Fishilevich from going to the show.
"I'll still check them out," Fishilevich said. "I always like being exposed to new bands."
Although traditionally SA fests alternate between rap/hip-hop and rock shows, Sagnan said he would rather SA just look for whatever best talent is available for the open dates and consider integrated shows.
"I wish they would just get whoever's good, instead of the black people going to this one and the white people going to that one," Sagnan said.
An estimated 4,500 to 5,000 tickets will go on sale for general admission at $30 a piece, and 4,500 tickets will be available free for UB students.
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
