Several musical genres including country, R&B and rock will be visible at Students on Target’s annual “Groovin on the Grounds” music festival on the Parade Ground.
Puddle of Mudd will headline the March 24 Groovin’ show, which is produced to support alcohol awareness. Battle of the Bands winner A Soup Named Stew, rising country star Josh Turner and R&B crooner Lyfe Jennings will also perform.
According to SOT’s Web site, the organization promotes “responsible choices regarding alcohol,” and the Groovin’ slogan is “A good time not wasted.”
But Puddle of Mudd had a notable alcohol-related incident in 2004.
According to a Feb. 23, 2004, MTV News article, Puddle of Mudd lead singer Wes Scantlin appeared intoxicated at a Toledo, Ohio, concert, and Toledo police arrested him after the show for disorderly conduct-intoxication.
According to the article, a “stumbling, hostile” Scantlin told the crowd he was too intoxicated to play before “shouting insults and profanity at the audience.”
Jay Moore, SOT concert co-chair, said the incident does not conflict with SOT’s alcohol awareness message.
“People make mistakes,” Moore said. “When they play here, they’ll be sober.”
David Gunn, SOT adviser, said Puddle of Mudd brings “name recognition” as a multi-platinum act.
Gunn said the Groovin’ contract outlines specific rules all performers must follow, such as requiring all performances be “void of alcohol and other illicit substances.”
Gunn and Moore said the organization is pleased with the show’s diversity and multi-genre lineup.
Turner, whose song “Your Man” is No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks chart, is a musician with rising popularity, Gunn said
Moore said the committee originally searched for a rap or R&B headliner but could not find one within the committee’s $100,000 total talent budget.
Moore said he visited the Black Student Union for input, which led to booking Jennings, who has opened for Nelly and performed at NBA All-Star events.
 
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