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MMF, weather disappoints many
 Media Credit: Michael Martin/Managing Editor Joe Anderson, an SCSU fifth-year graphic design major, chats with Better than Ezra�s Kevin Griffin during the band�s concert in the Halenbeck Fieldhouse as part of the Mississippi Music Fest. Anderson was invited on-stage to play with the band for one song. MMF was forced inside due to the bad weather this weekend.
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 Media Credit: Michael Martin/Managing Editor Max Priebe, 2, gets a boost while scaling the climbing wall Sunday afternoon at the Mississippi Music Fest. The event was moved to the Halenbeck Fieldhouse because of the cold weather.
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 Media Credit: Michael Martin/Managing Editor Pee Wee Dred of Dred I Dread performs Sunday during MMF.
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With approximately about 12,000 fewer people than usual, Sunday's Mississippi Music Fest disappointed many.
Starting at 11a.m., people gathered for music starting with Aurora Court Project, and vendors that varied from food to activist groups to jewelry retailers.
But the location was what was not expected. In the morning, UPB had to make the decision of whether they wanted the concert at the usual Riverside Park, or the last resort, Halenbeck Hall.
At a temperature too chilly for most, and for music equipment, and with surprising snow on the ground from a blustery night of precipitation the night preceding, it was inevitable where the concert was going to end up.
Halenbeck Hall was where few gathered to listen to the opening band, Aurora Court Project, who recently won the SCSU's Battle of the Bands.
Vendors yawned in boredom, slowly preparing their food, setting up T-shirt piles and making sure sunglasses, jewelry, bumper stickers and other merchandise were in their correct places.
And that was the point where one could really see how much potential this festival had if only everything had gone according to plan.
"Outdoor concerts just kick a**," said audience member Jeremy Simon. "There's just no two ways about it."
The event was not a flop, though.
"It was a really good turnout considering the weather and the location," said MMF coordinator Kristi Michelson.
"Everyone had a lot of energy considering they were stuck in Halenbeck Hall," Simon said.
Energy, indeed. There were a surprising number of people who blew bubbles, danced, and chatted away as chipper as if there were grills running, a sun shining and the infamous river present that the title of the festival cites.
But it just wasn't enough for some people. Only an estimated 2,000 people showed up for the festival, as compared with most years, where at least 15,000 gather for the occasion.
This fact was detrimental to both the community, as well as the vendors' and sponsors' finances.
"We're losing tons of money," said Jenny McDowell, a representative for Sumo Mocktails, which were alcohol-free beverages served by D.B. Searle's. "We made 500 cups; (by 4:30) we've only sold 20."
However, there's nothing anyone can do about the weather, and about the overall disappointment there was about the much-anticipated annual occasion. In its entirety, there were many positive aspects to the festival.
CAMP, the Children's Art and Music Park, was an overall success. Between dancers, a magician, and arts and crafts like make-your-own picture frame and facepainting, children and parents delightfully filled one of Halenbeck Hall's backrooms with consistency throughout the afternoon.
The most credible event that took place in the children's area was the African drumming, led by Fred Yiran. Dominating the stage from 12:45-1:30, this Cameroon native fascinated people of all ages with a drumming performance, followed by an all-inclusive participant-based drumming performance. Kids, parents and staff members were urged to come onstage and play drums, shakers, xylophones and various other instruments.
The vendors didn't do as well as anticipated, but they did create positivity in the mostly-glum atmosphere. The accessory booths, for instance, did relatively well. People poured in from all over the venue to try on rings, admire ethnic statuettes, and debate over whether they wanted a hemp necklace or a colorful sarong.
The food booths did alright. As one should expect, not as many mouths watered over fresh lemonade or the smell of burgers and mini-doughnuts, due to the fact that the festival could not be outdoors.
The booths that raised awareness were important, as well. NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, had a booth set up with bumper stickers, T-shirts and other available information and merchandise. Students for a Free Tibet were there, selling books, purses and jewelry and offered other merchandise and information.
Of course, no outdoors-oriented festival would be the same without fund-raising booths that sold root beer floats, as well as booths selling sunglasses. Such bittersweet irony was the sight of the bored faces on the people running such booths as those.
Most importantly, the music was the reason most people showed up.
Aurora Court Project played a good set of mellow, Dave Matthews-inspired music that excited everyone about the festival. The Tech Senior High-based band sarcastically played an ironic Christmas tune that definitely got a reaction out of many.
Next were a capella group Blue Jupiter, who entertained all with cheery vocals that calmed a grumpy crowd stuck indoors.
The next artist that performed was an Ani Difranco-inspired folk artist who won many cheers from a calm audience that desperately needed an uplift in spirits. Just a lone lady with her guitar, Emilia Dahlin energized a crowd that increased in size, little by little, as she told stories to the audience after each powerfully sung song.
Dred I Dread played next, and there was not much of a difference between the bored and the entertained. Through this ho-hum reggae set, people stirred with anticipation for the bigger-named acts to come.
Wookie Foot was the first of the big-name acts to play. Officially classified as world beat, the set began with energizing songs and ended with energized people, both on and off the stage.
The lights lowered, and some vendors had cleared out, due to the lack of business. Some people left, but others crowded around the stage for Iffy to play, and later Better Than Ezra.
But all that buildup was not for much. Both acts did not appear to appease what it had wanted to, and the sound and lighting were a bit awkward. Though the crowd did continue to grow as soon as Iffy started and until Better Than Ezra ended, they didn't gather for the highest-quality event.
"I just want to thank everyone for coming," Michelson said. "We hope we can put on a large show outside next year. We'll do everything we can."
Britt Johnsen can be reached at: [email protected]
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