By Izzy Schellenger || Staff Writer
On Saturday, April 9, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., the College Entertainment Committee (the CEC) hosted F&M’s annual Spring Arts, a day that consists of music, free food, and, in this case, snow. Because of Saturday’s unusually wintry weather, Spring Arts was held under a heated tent on Hartman Green while different food vendors were stationed outside around the tent. Students got to indulge in food from popular Lancaster restaurants including Soul Burrito, Rocky’s BBQ, Sven’s Café, Lancaster BRGR, Good Life Ice Cream, Taco Camino, and Savory’s Funnel Cakes. In addition, the first 100 students to arrive received a complimentary Spring Arts mason jar.
Students could stay warm underneath the tent while listening to the musical acts that the CEC booked for the event. First to perform was Busty and the Bass, a Montreal-based band that consists of nine members with a range of musical talents, including two trumpet players, a trombonist, guitarists, percussion, and a pianist. Having formed after their first week together at Montreal’s McGill University, they quickly gained popularity, and in 2014, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation named them “Canada’s Top University Band.” Busty and the Bass describe themselves as a “powerful electrosoul/hip-hop collective” that combines new and old sounds, such as hip-hop lyrics and a brass ensemble.
Following Busty and the Bass was Skylar Spence, a producer, vocalist, and DJ from Baltimore, MD. His music has been described as “future pop” and “disco pop,” and his album Prom King debuted in September 2015. Formally known as Saint Pepsi, his project began in 2012, and he released his first album in May 2013. Stereogum called Skylar Spence the “band to watch” in 2013.
The headliner of Spring Arts was Angel Haze, an American rapper and singer who identifies as pansexual and agender. Haze signed with the record label Republic Records, which lead to their release of Haze’s first album, Dirty Gold, in 2013. In 2014, Haze was nominated for the BET award for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist and the MTV Video Music Award for Best Video with a Social Message. Haze’s songs include powerful messages, such as their song “Cleaning Out My Closet,” which is about their experience being raped as a child. Their performance at Spring Arts included going into the audience and rapping while surrounded by supportive, cheering students.
When asked how she thought that Spring Arts went, Zoe Kay, a CEC committee member, said, “Generally speaking, we [the CEC] thought the snow was actually a good thing because it forced us to use the tent, which we probably never would have thought of. We really loved the tent and loved the feeling it created. It felt more like a music festival. In terms of planning, it didn’t change much. We were just worried it would affect the turnout, but based on the lines [for the food trucks] and the crowd in the tent, it didn’t really seem like a huge hindrance.”
Despite the cold weather, students still gathered on Hartman Green for this annual tradition of music, food, and fun.
Sophomore Izzy Schellenger is a staff writer. Her email is ischelle@fandm.edu.