By Morgan Hunter
Contributing Writer
While Springfest officially opened its gates at 6 p.m., many students lined up early on the Residential Quad to sign their waivers and claim their food vouchers, a must for enjoying all of the extra activities, including inflatables and even a zipline. Lines extended well into the field as students awaited their turn for an array of food trucks. For those wanting something to commemorate their time, they were able to design an airbrushed tote bag. In the background of all the fun, WOO91 curated the perfect playlist to make sure everyone was in the festival mood.
At 7 p.m., the student opener took the stage to a roaring crowd that was eager to see the band that took home the gold at this year’s Bonnawoo competition. Someone Else Said So is made up of Elise Jones ’24 on vocals, Adam Romano ’24 and Colin Schrein ’25 on guitar, Felipe Jarrín ’24 on bass and Henry Mattison ’27 on drums. From high-energy covers of crowd favorites to the debut of a brand new song from the mind of Romano entitled “Soon,” students packed around the barricade hanging on to every note. “We were a bit worried that nobody knew we were playing, but the people that showed up were super fun,” commented Jones. Romano agreed that the presence of the crowd enhanced the experience. “The energy of live performance and playing rock music is unmatched,” he shared.
The second opener, Friday Pilots Club, was up next, putting on a show that kept the party going. Boasting 1.1 million monthly listeners on Spotify, Friday Pilots Club is an alternative rock band from Chicago, Illinois. Those up near the action and others scattered across the lawn on blankets enjoyed a mix of indie tunes and intense bass lines. Eventually, they closed out with their most popular track, “End of It,” but not before dedicating a song to Mattison, the crowd-favorite drummer from Someone Else Said So.
Following closely was the long-awaited headliner, Durand Bernarr, a singer, songwriter and producer native to Cleveland, Ohio. Bernarr had an electric stage presence and kept up banter with the crowd during his set, describing himself as an “experience” and “the cookout with your favorite cousin on your daddy’s side.” The audience hung on every word as they danced the night away. Bernarr ended the night by asking everyone to turn to their neighbors and tell each other they are proud of them, adding, “when you start being kind to yourselves, that will exude out into the world.”
It is always sad whenever another Springfest comes to an end, but it also gives us all a chance to celebrate the hard work and attention that goes into planning these evenings. WAC President Ellen McAllister ’24 and Music Director Jack Freer ’26 have been two of the driving administrative forces. Freer, when asked about his role, shared, “It’s been a wonderful bridge when meeting new people, as the programming we run has gotten my face out there a bit more than it would be otherwise!”
Springfest 2024 is certainly one for the history books, as the largest and most attended Springfest yet; however, it is also a sad goodbye to longtime president McAllister, who has poured everything into every single event these past three years. In reflection, she urged Wooster students to “please keep going to WAC events and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try something new!”