Perhaps the biggest OSL event of the year, SloughFest, returns to Augustana on May 4 with an exciting new lineup. This time around, the OSL promises to deliver another full and worthwhile experience with rapper Bryce Vine as the headliner. They will also sell merchandise such as shirts, water bottles and fanny packs, as well as food and refreshments.
If you’ve attended previous SloughFests, you know the musical talent is the real centerpiece of the event.
Each year, the OSL manages to land an interesting mix of big name and local performers, and SloughFest 2019 delivers on that precedent.
This year’s lineup consists of Codeko, Sleepwell, Caroline Grace, Kiraly Payne, Holly Woods, Young Mans, Swiss Mistress and Bryce Vine, of course.
Bryce Vine, best known for his 2018 hit single, “Drew Barrymore,” comes to Augustana from his hometown of New York City, New York. Vine started his music career in 2011 as a contestant on The Glee Project. Since then, he has enjoyed success as a rapper and singer of hip hop and indie pop music and released numerous popular albums and singles.
“I’m really glad that Bryce Vine is playing,” Austin Sperry, a senior at Augustana said, “and I’m surprised Augie’s gotten a headliner like that coming around.”
Seniors like Sperry have seen enough SloughFests in the past to know what to expect from the event. Generally, the students of Augustana College look forward to this time of year and hold SloughFest in high regard.
“They always have some sort of inflatable thing that everyone likes to have a lot of fun on, and it’s just a great way to bring the community together,” Sperry said about his experience with SloughFest.
As much as upperclassman understand and enjoy the SloughFest tradition, however, newer students have had some trouble finding out about the event beforehand.
“Potentially,” first-year Maddie Schaefar said when asked if she planned on attending SloughFest. First-years like Schaefar haven’t had much exposure to SloughFest, and their access to information like who will be performing has been limited to a few OSL emails.
“I think there was an email,” Schaefar said on the subject, “I remembered the guy, but I can’t think of his name now.”
As a student body, some students love and appreciate the work OSL puts into bring us SloughFest every year.
In the future, students can work to keep the newer students informed so that they carry on the sense of community and annual fun it brings to campus.
