Past the vice presidential debate being held at Longwood University, Oktoberfest is sure to be among the biggest events held at the school. The annual weekend celebration is a culmination of the fall semester that merges student activity, class wars and live music as a treat for students.
Along with color wars, amongst the biggest draws to Oktoberfest is the live music provided. Past years have seen acts such as Travis Porter and Post Malone grace the stage. This year’s lineup includes The Maine, Baby Bash, Raelynn, The Last Bison and Major and the Monbacks.
Historically, Mortor Board has done a good job of including diverse acts for students and concert goers alike, and this year's lineup is no different. Headlining acts The Maine and Baby Bash are starkly different but speak to the increasingly diverse taste in all types of music.
Although the acts may not be amongst the most popular on today’s music charts, traditionally Longwood has done a good job of either bringing in acts that serve as nostalgic reminders for past years or breaking in new artists such as Taylor Swift, The Fray and J. Cole.
Baby Bash had two hits in the aughts, the gold certified “Suga Suga” and the double platinum certified single “Cyclone.” The urban hip-hop and R&B performer will likely have the biggest audience due to the hit songs he created in the past decade.
Although not critically acclaimed or a relevant act in today’s scene, Bash may have the loudest crowd reaction amongst all acts when “Cyclone” is performed.
The Maine, the main headline (pun intended), are an alternative post-punk band that appeals to a large student demographic. Typically acts that headline Oktoberfest and Spring Weekend fit the alternative rock or punk-rock mold.
The relatively mid-level popularity band is most noted for its single “Into your arms” from their debut album “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop.” Although not as popular as Bash, the band has found moderate success with the college aged demographic while charting on Billboard with the majority of their albums.
The Last Bison, Raelynn and Major and the Monbacks round out the crop. The Last Bison are a native Virginian indie-folk band originally from the tidewater area. The homegrown presence appeals to a indie music crowd as the genre has grown to be a festival favorite.
Raelynn is a strong vocalist that competed on The Voice and may provide a commercial presence for the relatively indie/mid-level acts.
Major and the Monbacks, probably the least well-known act on the lineup, are another alt-rock band that play as a vibrant up-tempo old school band. Songs such as “I Do” are reminiscent of 1950s cuts and may be a favorite among Longwood students.
Oktoberfest takes place Oct. 21-23, a couple weeks after fall break and the debate, and hopefully, it will be a fun culmination for fall 2016.
