Despite a change of venue, Spring Fever drew in approximately 7,000 concertgoers to the Humphrey Coliseum Saturday night, where country artist Steve Azar, rockers Ingram Hill, hip-hop star Yung Joc and jam band Blues Traveler took center stage.The event, a combination of the Down in the District and Old Main music festivals, was originally planned to be held at the Junction, but due to the possibility of inclement weather, organizers decided Thursday to move it indoors.
Campus Activities Board director Bobbie Lee Daniel said she thought the move was the right choice.
“We realized it was a good decision to move it inside based on the weather situation,” Daniel said.
However, some students voiced complaints about the venue change and atmosphere.
Micki Hagler, a freshman interior design major, said she enjoyed having multiple stages at Bulldog Bash in the fall and would have liked a similar setting.
“I think it would have been better if it were outside because it’s a better atmosphere,” Hagler said.
Freshman kinesiology major Kristen Howell said she too prefers an outdoor setting, but understood the reasoning involved with the change of venue.
“I would prefer it be outside just because I like to be outdoors, but given the weather circumstances, it was still fun having the same outdoor freedom inside,” Howell said.
Two music groups, Chase McGinnis and Foxchase Drive, performed outside the Hump while the main acts played inside. Several concertgoers stayed outside to listen to them.
“I think if it was warmer, it would have been good to have them all outside,” freshman graphic design major Carl Carbonell said. [Foxchase Drive] was fun, but it was freezing.”
Another issue faced with organizers was food vending. Due to the short notice of the location change, it was difficult to get vendors and concession stands open, so attendees were allowed to bring their own food and drinks to the event, Daniel said.
Music Makers director Brad Burton said the decision was necessary given the circumstances.
“We didn’t have any other options,” he said.
Several people brought coolers filled with alcoholic drinks to the Hump, but former Student Association President J.R. Love said there was no disruptive behavior going on at the event. Organizers said that no arrests were made and that no accidents occurred at Spring Fever.
Despite facing multiple issues, the organizers said they were optimistic about the outcome.
Burton said he was pleased with the number of attendees, but noted an outdoor event would likely have increased turnout.
“After the move, we were really hoping for about 7,000 [attendees],” he said. “I think if it had been outside, we could have easily reached 10,000. I think we created the atmosphere that was wanted [originally outside] inside,” Burton said.
Burton credited the turnout of the event to the variety of music.
“The main thing was we had a little something for everyone,” he said.
Though no accidents occurred, Ingram Hill bassist Daniel Dwight almost took a fall into the concert crowd.
During the band’s first song, Dwight stepped from the stage onto an adjacent box. The box, which was not connected to the stage, began to tip over and Dwight barely managed not to fall.
After the show, Dwight laughed about the incident, saying that just that morning he had woken up thinking about the fact that he had never fallen on stage with Ingram Hill.
“I knew it was coming soon,” Dwight said.
Ingram Hill lead singer Justin Moore said the band often plays on college campuses.
He said they enjoy playing at colleges because the student groups run the concerts and are quick to provide for the band’s needs.
“You get everything on your rider,” he said. “You feel like a rock star. It’s always nice in the production part of it because you get taken good care of.”
Moore said the band likes what they do because of the constant change.
“It’s a new thing every day. It’s hard to get bored,” Moore said.
Ingram Hill guitarist Phil Bogard noted one major change being the difference between playing at a college campus and playing at a club, noting alcohol as the main factor.