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(05/03/22 4:15pm)
Bloomington, IN - I sat down with another one of WIUX’s Music Market headliners, Westhead. Westhead is an indie-folk band, located in Chicago, Illinois and Bloomington, Indiana. I sat down with band members Max DiFrisco, Avery McGuire, WIUX’s own Jimmy Diskin, Braeden Janes, and Reeder Vyain. As always, I opened with the question that is rooted in the very fibers of Music Market:What does the Bloomington music scene mean to you?DiFrisco: Post Covid, it means so much more to bring a level of music back into the community. I feel like everyone needs it, and it’s that much more impactful. Every show means so much more on an emotional level. The Midwest is underrepresented on a national stage, what does being from the Midwest mean to you guys?DiFrisco: I was a part of the Chicago scene as a teenager, and had a lot of great gigs. It was very supportive, but I could tell there was a weird ceiling for Midwest bands. Like, ok great, you reach this level and now, you want to move to New York? Or L.A.? Which I do find very weird. But, I love being a part of that scene, and the Bloomington scene now. What I love about the college scene is that everyone just wants to make stuff, which is awesome. Which is inherently a Midwest thing: everyone wants to help everyone. In the Midwest, there is a prevalent feeling of being at home, and that is a hard thing to come by. McGuire: I feel like I’m proud of the Midwest, I’ve seen a lot of stuff come out of the Midwest, and we are underrated. I’ve seen a lot of talent from here in Indianapolis and Chicago, and I think it comes from the “underwhelmingness” of the Midwest. It shocks people when they play good stuff and there’s this awesome underdog feeling.To keep up with all things Westhead, follow them on Instagram, Bandcamp, and search Westhead on every streaming service! Visit HERE for more information.
(04/19/22 4:49pm)
Bloomington, IN - WIUX’s Music Market, like any music festival, isn’t complete without its headliners.
Today’s spotlight is on ForeDaze, a Bloomington-based alternative-indie band. Members Marty Abaddi, Carsen Outwater, Alex Cappelli, and Ethan Williams sat down with WIUX after their set to speak their mind on all things music, Bloomington, and their inspirations behind their sound.
When asked what the Bloomington art scene meant to her, Marty Abaddi says “The scene provides a fun and a creative space for me, and my bandmates, to express ourselves. There is a lot of opportunities for us to do so, and we are really grateful for the booming music scene. It’s awesome.”
“I agree”, says Alex Cappelli. “It’s been a really nice creative outlet. It’s cool to not be together as a band for that long, and already play shows live and get to know other bands. It's been nice to connect with other people who love music.”
Their songs “In Between”, “Wendy’s on Second Street”, and a cover of the Pixies “Where Is My Mind?” opened the festival with a fresh air of alternative rock with a twist. Paying homage to the indie-rock of decades past, ForeDaze had an equal mix of a classic and new take on alternative music that captivated the crowd. Their originals had emotional lyricism paired with impressive instrumentals, creating an angsty yet easy to listen to sound.
When asked about their sound, drummer Carsen Outwater says “Inspiration-wise, definitely heavily influenced by 90s punk rock. In terms of drummers, Travis Barker is where I draw my musical inspiration from. These guys call me a boomer, but I love 90s music, specifically grunge and alternative.”
Adding onto that, guitarist Ethan Williams says “As a guitarist, I am still relatively new to the instrument. But, my biggest influences are Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age and Jack White for the ‘improvey live sound’.”
Although ForeDaze does not currently have any music released, this band is one to watch out for in the Bloomington music scene. Their confident stage presence, incredible instrumentation, and cool style indicate nothing but a bright future for themselves.
Make sure to follow them on Instagram @foredazeband for updates and show announcements.
(03/31/22 1:26am)
Bloomington, IN - A year ago, President’s Hall’s main purpose was a COVID-19 testing site. Students would aimlessly shuffle in, spit in a vile, and go about their day. A grand hall, filled with paintings and great acoustics was silent except for the mundane music of the pandemic. But, if there is one thing to take away from the weirdest year on IU’s record, it is the resilience of the Bloomington art scene.
Flash forward to March 26th, 2022, WIUX’s Music Market proved just that. It was a celebration of not just resilience, but local artists and students coming together. Concerts, whether it’s a stadium or a house show, are an unparalleled medium that connects a community. After a rough year of empty venues, Music Market celebrated an era of change and new beginnings.
“Music Market was created out of blood, sweat, and tears,” said Anya Heminger, WIUX’s outgoing Director of Special Events and the driving force behind Music Market. “But, mostly sweat and tears.”
With amazing sets by Bloomington’s own 6 Foot Blonde, Foredaze, and Westhead, the event emphasized the importance and magic of the Bloomington music scene.
“Bloomington is so rich in art and music and there is so much support in the community for others who wish to express their creative side,” Anya notes. “It was incredibly important to me, to allow smaller artists a chance to sink their teeth into the arts scene, outside their own town or city.”
In addition to Bloomington artists, other voices across the Midwest like Post-Sex Nachos, Namen Namen, and Jackie Hayes headlined.
“We are here to support our community, and allow our community to support us,” they say. “It has always been really important to me, as someone who has lived in Indiana my whole life, because local artists are what build our industry.”
As a testament to their vision, Music Market’s student-run production was made possible by the support of the WIUX community.
“WIUX is made up of people that feel like family to me,” says Heminger. “If you know someone is a part of WIUX, you know they are someone you can talk to because they will have at least one similar interest to you- being part of a community that supports student media and the arts.”
Although IU’s student’s adoration for sports is often publicized, Music Market displayed student devotion to music and art is alive, well, and thriving. In addition to music, a variety of vendors deepened the involvement of the community, displaying just a piece of what Bloomington has to offer.
Vendors such as Carol Ahmann, a weaver and felter from Forsythia Farm in Bloomington, eagerly chatted with patrons. Her lush and soft fibers from her own Alpacas and French Angora rabbits were just as colorful as the music, exemplifying the diversity and eclecticism of the Bloomington art scene.
When asked what the Bloomington art scene meant to her, Ahmann smiles, “I have a daughter who is in the BFA program here. I think I might have rubbed off on her because she is in fiber arts specifically. It makes what I do fun, we can feed off of each other.”
A small nook in the Midwest to many, Bloomington is beloved for its rich culture by more. An event born out of frustration, hardship, and adverse events, WIUX’s Music Market 2022 proved that good things always come to those who wait.
(03/11/22 3:02am)
Indianapolis, IN– With a trip to the NCAA tournament on the line, the Hoosiers were able to make a furious comeback and win after being down as many as 17 points in the second half Thursday afternoon. Indiana defeated Michigan 74-69 in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse. A historic run fueled the Hoosiers for their biggest comeback in Indiana postseason history. Indiana came into today projected by almost everyone as firmly on the bubble. However, even with that in mind, the Hoosiers came out flat leading to a 41-28 deficit going into halftime. Although there were many times this season when Indiana was unable to finish games, that was not the case today. “This is probably the biggest win for our program in such a long, long time,” coach Mike Woodson said. “I've got to give my staff and the guys in that locker room that wear that uniform a lot of credit, man, because this team, they just won't quit.” The Hoosiers came out with more energy in the second half, but Michigan kept hitting big shots to prevent a big run. When it looked like all hope was lost and the Hoosiers would miss the NCAA tournament for the 6th straight year, they came back from 17 points with 12:52 remaining in the second half courtesy of a huge 28-4 run that spanned from 11:09 to 1:42 in the second half. “I just feel like we locked in,” Xavier Johnson said. “With the last 12 minutes, Coach said we've got to get a stop. It's all about getting stops. We're scoring, we just can't get a stop.” The Hoosiers held the Wolverines to just 28 points in the second half. Michigan also only had 9 points in the last 12 minutes of the game. A big reason? In the first half Wolverines center Hunter Dickinson was dominating while Hoosiers center Trayce Jackson-Davis struggled. But in the second half, it was the opposite as Jackson-Davis scored 19 points in the second half and ended with 25 points for the game. As for Dickinson he only attempted 3 shots and scored only 2 points for the half. “Basically for me just struggling, even this game in the first half, not having it go my way, you can't get too down on yourself, you've got to keep playing,” Jackson-Davis said. “And then my guys were always picking me up.” Not only was Jackson-Davis a force on the offensive end, but he protected the rim in the second half including 4 blocks. For the Hoosiers, the comeback started on the defensive end, and they were able to force 10 second half turnovers from Michigan. However, another key part for the Hoosiers was staying out of foul trouble. Both guards for Indiana Rob Phinisee and Xavier Johnson were in foul trouble in the first half and most of the second half. But head coach Mike Woodson trusted Johnson to play most of the second half, and it paid off, as he scored 9 points and 7 assists. He also had the team high for 3 pointers made with three. “Well, I like to think he's grown as a player,” Woodson said. “From the time we started to where he is today, he's put a lot of work, you know, on the court and off the court in terms of watching film and just learning. I'm not the easiest to deal with and him being the point guard is probably the toughest position for me as a coach.” Indiana’s next opponent will be Illinois in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament. The Illini are ranked as the number 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. The game is set to tip at 11:30 AM. The game can be heard on WIUX 99.1 FM and online HERE with Griffin Epstein and Zak Ibrahim on the call from the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.