This Thursday, Feb. 27, three hip-hop artists will be performing in the Reid Campus Center Ballroom for the Whitman Events Board big spring concert. In the past, ballroom performers have included Macklemore, Kitten and St. Vincent (although she technically played on the sidelawn). This semester, there will be not one, not two, but three artists playing one big show: headliner Sol, who actually opened for Macklemore when he played at Whitman a couple of years ago, Sam Lachow and Skizzy Mars.
Sophomores and WEB Music Directors Olivia Hagel and Katrina Allick both worked to bring all three of these artists to campus. Often bringing bands to Whitman is the luck of the draw and depends on multiple factors. WEB must find artists who are available at a certain time, who are within their budget and who appeal to Whitman students. They also often seek to bring bands or artists to campus that they think are on the rise, just like they did with Macklemore.
Sol was one of many musicians favored by students on a survey filled out earlier this year, and after a good amount of positive feedback on bringing a hip-hop artist to campus, Hagel and Allick decided to opt for a performance by Sol. Hagel sorted through hundreds of artists who could compliment Sol’s sound well, and she found Sam Lachow, who has opened for Sol before. For a third artist, Hagel eventually came across Skizzy Mars. She believes he will complement both other artists’ sound, as well as offer his own unique vibe.
The artists are also connected to Whitman College. Allick reported that Lachow attended high school with a number of Whitman TKE fraternity members. Allick and Hagel both sought to bring artists from the Pacific Northwest to campus, so it’s no surprise that Sol and Lachow are both from Seattle.
Allick explained in an email interview that students should take advantage of free shows, since there is often more talent present than one might think.
“This should be an amazing show, but as are all of the shows here. Hopefully students realize that whether the artist is popular or not, they should take advantage of the events here on campus because these are all artists we specifically hand pick and truly believe will blow up,” said Allick.
Hagel also expressed her desire for students to use the concert as a time to have fun and de-stress a little.
“I really just want students to have a good time at the concert. Everybody is so busy with school and extracurriculars, so we want students to have some fun listening to good music and hanging out with good people for the night,” said Hagel.
The show is this Thursday, Feb. 27, at 8 p.m. in Reid Ballroom. Tickets are free and will be available for students with IDs at the door unless they are sold out before the concert begins.
