Though Whitman offers Coffeehouse for entertainment, this Saturday students will have the opportunity to watch performances from several popular student bands in the same show. Phi Delta Theta is running their second annual Battle of the Bands at 7 p.m. in the Reid Ballroom to raise money for a local non-profit organization.  

The lineup features five student bands in competition for first place: The Breezes, Danger Mermaid, Bartalk, the Peeled Tangerines and Floyd Webber Project. The night will also feature a guest performance from Orange Fight, the popular band comprised of Whitman faculty members Michelle Janning, Keith Farrington, Mathew Prull, John Cotts, and Neal Christopherson.  

The competing bands play different genres of music, to create a varied, eclectic show. Wes Price, senior and guitarist of Danger Mermaid is looking forward to the show. He says “It’s a fun way to bring everyone together, because there aren’t really any other events like this.” He also adds that the lineup is “a real testament to the musical culture here at Whitman.”

While the event will undoubtedly appeal to students who are looking forward to hearing some live music, Battle of the Bands is also a philanthropic event. In addition to tickets, t-shirts designed by Phi junior Brooks Volkman will be sold. All proceeds from the sales will go to Blue Mountain Heart to Heart, an organization concerned with HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness.  

Matt Morris-Rosenfield, senior, is the head of the Battle of the Bands committee. He explained that “one of the larger efforts of the Blue Mountain Heart to Heart is to educate and help decrease the spread of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C. They do a needle exchange, and give out clean needles –– which is the first step in helping.”

The money raised will be immensely helpful to the organization, as “the needle exchange runs largely on donations since tax and funding cuts have left them with very little,” said Morris-Rosenfield.   If enough money is raised, Blue Mountain Heart to Heart will also use funds for educational programs about HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.  

“Battle of the Bands will always be an event that will choose a local organization to give money to for help,” he said. Last year, Phi Delta Theta was able to donate $1,100 to the Walla Walla Community Center for Youth from Battle of the Bands proceeds. The fraternity is hoping to it will continue to be a popular event.

“Hopefully it will gain enough acclaim, so that it will keep getting bigger and bigger, so that we can keep giving back to the community,” said Morris-Rosenfield.

Morris-Rosenfield views Battle of the Bands not just as a charitable event, but as an opportunity to foster unity within the campus.  

 “We as a fraternity, wanted to start an annual event that would involve the entire campus. We want to include faculty members in this because we want it to be an all Whitman event,” he said.

He adds that he hopes faculty involvement will lead to stability of this event in following years.  

“As of right now, our contact with Blue Mountain Heart to Heart is Professor Galindo of the Spanish department,” he said.

Tickets will be available in Reid and Jewett this Friday during lunch for $5, or for $8 on the opening of the show in Friday. Donations are welcome.