[Originally published on the Tennessee Journalist on April 30, 2016]

UT students were invited to celebrate the last day of classes on Friday, April 29 at the 2016 Volapalooza festival in World’s Fair Park.

They announced their lineup to mostly positive reviews at February’s Vol Night Long and have been promoting this year’s lineup as their “biggest yet.”

Even those who had never heard of the artists before said they were able to find enjoyment in the lineup.This year’s festival included music from Portugal. The Man, Moon Taxi and Niykee Heaton among others.

“I wasn’t too familiar with any of the bands before Volapalooza, so really I came tonight with open ears to hear what these people were all about,” Alana Cooper, a sophomore at UT, said. “My favorite act was definitely Moon Taxi.”

This year’s Volapalooza also featured some lesser-known acts, including some local artists. Roots of a Rebellion, a Nashville band and this year’s winners of the Road to Roo contest, were the first group to kick off the night with their blend of reggae and rock.

“I really liked Roots of a Rebellion,” sophomore Mika Carr said. “I thought they had great audience engagement.”

 

Guests could dance to live music by the artists or take part in the silent headphone disco. Everyone listened to different songs in their headphones and were encouraged to dance along.Volapalooza also featured food trucks from various local vendors, as well as activities such as airbrushed tattoos and a station to make bracelets. Attendees were also encouraged to take photos with the Iron Throne from HBO’s “Game of Thrones.”

“The silent disco was pretty awesome,” Carr said. “It was a different community. We all kind of came together and danced and didn’t care if we couldn’t dance.”

Students felt that event was a good way to celebrate the last day of classes before final’s week.

“I really liked the atmosphere and set up and having food trucks, activities and things to do,” Cooper said. “The awesome weather complemented the laid back attitude of the whole evening.”

For more information about Volapalooza, visit their Facebook and Twitter pages.

Photos by Taylor Owens

Edited by Nathan Odom

[Originally published on the Tennessee Journalist on April 10, 2016]

Knoxville’s Rhythm N’ Blooms Festival continued on Saturday night with headliners The Mavericks and MUTEMATH.

Both bands performed on the Cripple Creek Stage, an outdoor venue created specifically for the festival in the parking lot across from Barley’s Taproom and Pizzeria. The venue also featured local food trucks such as Savory and Sweet and Tootsie Truck. Yee-Haw Brewing Company provided alcoholic beverages for the event.

The Mavericks took the stage first and performed their blend of western swing, Latin and rockabilly for the crowd. Despite the temperatures in the low-to-mid 40s hundreds of fans filled the space and danced along to the music in the outdoor venue.

Knoxville natives Dawn McKinney and Brittany Stanford were among those who made it to the Old City for the weekend. They took their second trip to Rhythm N’ Blooms this year and attended the shows for both The Mavericks and MUTEMATH among others.

They said they are supporters of local and indie music. Both enjoyed getting to hear all that the festival had to offer.

“The Mavericks aren’t really our style, but they’re fun,” McKinney said. “My favorite act tonight was The Lone Bellow.”

MUTEMATH took the stage after The Mavericks and helped to showcase the diversity of the festival with their alternative music contrasting the Americana of The Mavericks. After Rhythm N’ Blooms, the band will be preparing for a summer tour with Twenty One Pilots.

Overall, McKinney and Stanford were impressed with the variety of the music and the organization of the festival in general.

“I feel like everything runs really smoothly,” McKinney said. “Getting your tickets and getting in and out and everything is really seamless.”

Stanford believes Rhythm N’ Blooms adds something special to Knoxville’s music scene.

“I love it,” Stanford added. “I wish they would do more things like it more often.

“We love our scruffy little city,” McKinney added.

For more information about Rythmn N’ Blooms Festival, visit their official website.

Featured image by Taylor Owens

Edited by Jessica Carr