Students on Target, a subcommittee of Student Government, will host Groovin’ on the Grounds Friday on the Parade Ground.
Events begin with a festival at 1:30 p.m. put on by campus organizations. Activities before the concert include interactive games, booths, competitions, volleyball and concessions, said Kyle Wilkinson, an ISDS junior and concert director.
Wilkinson said the biggest part of Groovin’ on the Grounds is the concert, which starts around 4:30 p.m. Among the bands scheduled to perform are: The Crew, a ska band opening for the concert because they won last semester’s Battle of the Bands; Vapor, a Weezer sound-alike; and Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr. and the Zydeco Twisters, a New Orleans cajun favorite.
Headlining the concert are the Gin Blossoms and Nappy Roots, playing around 10 p.m.
Wilkinson said the event is free to all students, and funding for the concert came primarily from SG’s Programs Support Initiative Funds, a fee voted on by students in Spring 2000 to give finances to six different areas on campus, including Homecoming, Groovin’ on the Grounds and other student organizations.
Finances for the festival came from fund raising and sponsorships from departments on campus, Wilkinson said.
“We try to get big names for the concert, but it’s hard to find people in our price range,” Wilkinson said. “When 50 [Cent] came out he was about $5,000 or $6,000, and then two weeks later it was $15,000.”
He said SG is looking to set up a more stable financial plan to bring Groovin’ on the Grounds to a higher level and make it better every year.
Wilkinson said the event has changed over the years, evolving from an off-campus event in 1994 to what it is today. He said the event was moved to campus so more students could attend.