Rockfest 2002 was host to a variety of local music on Friday as six East Lansing-based musical acts performed by the rock on Farm Lane.
Performers included Melissa Talmage, The Key, the Spartan Dischords, Know Lyfe, Check Your Shoes and A Ways Away.
Folk singer Melissa Talmage, the first performer at the show, writes her own songs and has been performing since January.
“I’ve only had three other gigs before, but this had to be my favorite since we played outside and the sound was great,” the vocal music education senior said.
“It was a professional atmosphere.
“I’m hoping to launch a good community of student musicians to play together.”
The music started at 6 p.m. and the crowd increased as each new act began.
By the time Check Your Shoes took the stage at 8:30 p.m., audience members had doubled in number.
Talmage said campus exposure is needed to help get the word out about local musical acts in the East Lansing community.
Medical technology freshman Dana Griffin received a flyer about Rockfest when someone was passing them out in Holden Hall.
“It sounded cool so I decided to check it out,” Griffin said. “It’s a nice, laid-back and friendly atmosphere.
“The musicians are really good.”
The Key, an original disc jockey who describes his music as ambient and electronic, performed after Talmage.
That set was followed by the music of the Spartan Dischords, a 12-member a capella group formed by MSU Men’s Glee Club members.
“Someone from my floor is in the Dischords, which is why I came,” history freshman Leanne Smith said.
“But I plan on staying to check out all the other bands, too.”
Lansing resident Andy Rosko also came to the show because he knows a performer in the Spartan Dischords.
“I’m going to stick around for all the bands because it’s a chance to hear some good music,” he said.
Jason Demmon, a jazz studies and music education senior, organized the event, which was sponsored by the Men’s Glee Club.
He said he had been planning the event for about two months.
“I wanted it to appeal to a wide audience, so I found different types of musicians.”
Demmon is also a member of Check Your Shoes, a seven-members band comprised of MSU students.
He said the local music and new artists available to students at no cost were essential to the reason behind Rockfest.
“I wanted to make it free because there needs to be more free local music in Lansing,” he said.
“People need to see and experience the music that’s out there today.”
Check Your Shoes has been together for four months, ever since group members met at MSU.
Demmon said he wanted to recruit bands similar to his that have not been playing for very long.
“I found music that has been fairly underexposed, and bands that haven’t played much in East Lansing,” he said.
Demmon said most of the advertising for Rockfest was done by word of mouth, which was how Abbey Lilly-Lacca learned of the event.
“I heard about it from one of my friends,” the Lansing resident said.
“I’ve been here since it began and plan on staying until it’s over.
“It’s fun to hear music I’ve never heard before.”
Benita Mehta
