Whether you’re a fan of more chill and softer music or a fan of heavier metal, the Nite Lite Music Festival had bands for everybody last Friday.
On March 27, the Midnight Sun Collective, a booking and sound collective based out of Glassboro, hosted its first-ever Nite Lite festival. The event welcomed a number of bands, over 50 vendors, and food trucks from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The idea came from the founders of Midnight Sun Collective, Alexander Quinn and Liz Baginski, who had similar ideas of a music festival for their senior capstone project. Quinn described how they have different aesthetics and music tastes, which drove the theme of lite to nite.
Many noted how his event was good for the community, and allowed a diversity of people to be able to come together and enjoy a common interest in music. The festival was open to anybody who wanted to come, welcoming students, parents, siblings, and more to the open space outside of Bunce Hall.
“There are a lot of creative souls in this area that do not get a chance to showcase their art to certain groups of people, and we really feel like diversifying the music scene and the art scene brings a lot of more people in. If you come to nightlife, it’s probably because there’s something for you,” said Quinn, a 22-year-old music tech and business senior, as well as cofounder of the Midnight Sun Collective.
Events such as these allow those in the art and music community to be recognized, whether it was the bands performing on stage, or the vendors selling their art all along the yard. Rowan has always been a place where local bands and artists are welcome, and this festival highlights that mission that Rowan clubs and organizations are always in support of.
“I think it’s important for young people, like college students, to have access to resources to plan their own shows … The school I went to, there was a lot of funds allocated for students to do things like this, which I think was really inspiring for me and a lot of people around me,” said Jackson Kaye, a guitarist for Eve Claret, one of the bands that performed at the festival.
Alyssa McCarthy, who came with a group of friends, highlighted how welcoming the event was and how it allowed attendees to meet people with whom they shared common interests. She talked about how events like these feel comfortable and welcoming because you know you’re going to be greeted by people you will share similarities with.
“I really like the diversity of this event. It feels very welcoming with all the flags and all the people standing up for it. It’s really nice to have a place on campus where you feel safe. I think it’s very important…It’s really good having a place to go to where you know where your community is at,” said McCarthy, a 19-year-old psych major.
Jennifer Jones-Hannan, who created Gemini Sisters, where she sells press-on nails that she created herself. She came out to the event in order to reach a diverse clientele, from those starting off with nails to those who are more experienced. She talked about how she believes it’s important to support capstone projects like the festival in order to support the next generation.
“Everyone has just been so genuine, so authentic, and it’s just been a great experience. I actually feel like I’m gonna write a message to the organizers and just thank them for the great experience,” said Jennifer Jones-Hannan, owner of Gemini Sister, a vendor for nail art at the festival.
Midnight Sun Collective is looking forward to trying to host events beyond the festival to bring the community together, and hope that festivals from them continue on after Quinn and Baginski graduate.
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