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MMF to bring fun and diversity
Better Than Ezra set as headlining band
Many people will gather for the 17th annual UPB-sponsored Mississippi Music Fest Sunday. Rain or shine, people from all over will come to enjoy music, food, games and other community-unifying activities for people of all ages.
With a seven-band lineup, with Better Than Ezra serving as headliner, and a new children's area that will include drummers, jugglers, gymnastics, magicians and others, this event is set to be the most exciting and diverse edition of them all.
"I think we have a lot more student interest than we did last year, which is very exciting," said UPB adviser Kim Bruemmer. "It'll help the event be more successful."
Vendors from around the community, both advertising and volunteering, will have booths set up for food, arts and crafts, information and others.
Fortunately, this event survived the moratorium � a freeze on state accounts � that was announced last month. Funding for MMF is made possible through a categorical waiver which runs through June 30. Basically, anything paid for by student fees can and will take place. Speaking in terms of special events that are campus-sponsored, the remainder of the semester should be a success.
In order to have the good time that everyone anticipates, the music is what is most imperative to the festival. Members of UPB and people from MMF sponsor KCLD sat down and reviewed many CDs and talked about who and what they needed in order for the event to be successful, as well as which were financially pragmatic. After hours and hours of hashing out who was wanted and needed, they came up with a list of the bands that are coming to this year's Mississippi Music Festival.
Better Than Ezra is the headliner, and will play at 6:15 p.m. on the main stage. For more than 10 years they have been making music, and are now on tour for their fourth release, "Closer." The most recognizable of their songs are "Good," "Rosalia," "King of New Orleans" and their newest single, "Extra Ordinary."
Iffy is set to open for Better Than Ezra, and just as much anticipation is swarming around them and their performance at 5 p.m. on the main stage. Iffy has gained much awareness and publicity from playing shows all over the country and mainly the midwest, since they are a Minneapolis-based band. This alternative/reggae-pop band's latest release, "Biota Bondo," has gained recognition from critics and reviewers everywhere, including Los Angeles Times, City Pages and Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Playing the upper stage is a variety of local stars and newbies. Aurora Court Project kicks off the music at 11 a.m., Blue Jupiter plays at noon, Emilia Dahlin at 1:15 p.m., Dred I Dread at 2:30 p.m., and Wookie Foot at 3:45 p.m.
The children's stage begins its acts at 11 a.m. as well, with cultural dancers as the opening act. At noon there will be Jugglers Against Oppression; drumming/story telling begins at 12:45 p.m.; gymnastics/dance will be at 1:30 p.m.; drumming/story telling again at 2:30 p.m., and finally, magician Brian Richards will be onstage at 3:15 p.m..
The only daunting issues surrounding this event are underage drinking and glass bottles. There will be police officers and security enforcing the no-glass bottles rule as well as underage consumption of alcohol
Either way, it should be a joyful experience for all. Much excitement is stirring about the event, as well as hope for good weather.
"Pray to God that it's going to be a beautiful day," said Bianca Rhodes, UPB's Literary Arts Committee coordinator.
If Sunday should be a rainy or snowy day, the festival will then be moved from Riverside Park to Halenbeck Fieldhouse. This ensures that everyone will be able to enjoy the festival, regardless of the arbitrary weather that Minnesota experiences.
"To have a good time is essentially (why MMF was) created," Bruemmer said.
Britt Johnsen can be reached at: [email protected]
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