Last week, the headliner of Old Main Music Festival (OMMF) was announced, raising excitement for the biggest event that Mississippi State’s Music Maker Productions puts on every spring semester.
This year’s artist is Briston Maroney, an indie rock artist who has over 2.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify and over 137 thousand followers on Instagram. Beyond that, his hit song “Freaking out on the Interstate” has over 216 million plays on Spotify and will most definitely echo across campus come Friday.
Aside from Maroney’s performance, OMMF will be chalked full of different vendors, acts and activities going on. With 25 art vendors, 6 acts on the local stage and opening acts Odie Leigh and Mississippi Shakedown, the event is looking to be the biggest yet.
Collins Fiscus, a junior mechanical engineering major and the director of public relations for Music Makers said that this year’s festival will be bigger and better than ever before.
“I would say in general, I am excited for how much bigger this year will be than OMMF ever has been before,” Fiscus said. “This year we have more food trucks, new activities, more local bands, a bigger headliner and a much larger art market than OMMF has seen in years past.”
Fiscus continued to talk about what new aspects will be brought to the festival.
“A couple of the new aspects are the fireworks show and alcohol vendors. This year, OMMF will end with a great fireworks show to round out the night,” Fiscus said. “Additionally, festival goers will be able to purchase alcohol at the event for the first time ever.”
Music Maker Productions is partnering with many different organizations and businesses to bring all this together, with each bringing great things to the table. Mississippi State’s Interfraternity Council (IFC) is hosting a cook-off among all fraternities, with benefits going towards Bully’s Pantry.
Beyond that, tomorrow there will be a kickoff party at Moe’s BBQ, featuring Jamo with local DJ group Checkmates performing. Starting the weekend early, the kickoff aims to set the tone for the rest of the weekend.
Sally Stafford, junior business administration and marketing major and student director of Music Maker Productions mirrored Fiscus’ points, but above all said that she loves everything OMMF has to offer.
“I love during the middle of the day when the local stage is in full swing, like the band is at the main stage loading in and people are in the art market doing the games and activities, usually about like 2 hours after it kicks off when people are beginning to settle into it,” Stafford said, “you feel the community there.”
Among the community sponsors for OMMF is the Del Rendon Foundation. The foundation itself was started in memory of Del Rendon to support and raise awareness for local and regional artists. It just so happens that the foundation’s biggest event is happening just the next day.
Rendon was a rock and blues musician from Starkville. After his sudden passing in 2005, the Del Rendon Foundation was created to promote and support local bands and artists around the area.
Every year, Dave’s Dark Horse Tavern puts on Delfest, an event that features many local musicians and artists all coming together to support the Del Rendon Foundation. Ultimately, it is an event that shows off the arts to raise money for a foundation that works to continue them.
Dave Hood, Starkville native and the “Dave” in Dave’s Dark Horse Tavern, said that seeing the different acts and artists each year remains extremely satisfying.
“One of my favorite parts of having a music venue in Starkville are the bands we all love and support,” Hood said. “The college bands show tons of ability with a contagious enthusiasm that infects the adult bands which brings out the best in everyone. The camaraderie amongst them certainly compliments the mission of Delfest and the Del Rendon Foundation.”
Hood finds himself very excited for this event every year, but he said he is always most excited about the participants of the event.
“The diverse line-up of talented musical acts complimented by all of the artists that will be on the patio makes this annual event celebrating Del’s life, music and art something super special!” Hood said.
The event will feature 15 artists and art groups and 15 bands and musical acts. It will start at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday with Andrew Rendon opening for Gert Arwood & the Centennials.
All things considered, this weekend will culminate an abundance of passion and care for the hard work and love that students and locals alike put into the arts they care so much for. Songs will echo throughout campus, art will be bought and sold, and through this, contagious smiles will spread through Starkville and beyond.
