As the world was prepared to come to an end in 2012, Ohio University students and Athens residents alike were ready to ring in the end in style. From the annual Nelsonville Music Festival to two installments of Number Fest, the year was packed with cultural highlights.
8th Annual Nelsonville Music Festival
Approximately 5,500 music-lovers flocked to Robbins Crossing at Hocking College for the eighth annual Nelsonville Music Festival from May 18–20. With headliners including Iron & Wine, Andrew Bird and M. Ward, the weekend proved a tamer one than 2011’s, when The Flaming Lips headlined.
“The Flaming Lips were a big band, and we knew we couldn’t outdo them this year,” festival organizer Tim Peacock said. “There was not one act drawing people to the festival, and I think that’s good for the overall festival because that’s what they came for — the festival, not just one act.”
Performers and attendees alike sung high praise of the weekend, with Bird going as far as to call the festival “better than Coachella, that’s for sure,” and M. Ward, who closed out the weekend, echoed those sentiments.
“We’ve heard people talking, saying this is the best Nelsonville there’s ever been,” he said. “And we’ve heard people talking, saying this is the best Nelsonville there’ll ever be, so it’s really a pleasure to be here.”
A teaser of the lineup for the 2013 festival was announced early last month at a “Halfway to Nelsonville” party at the Rollerbowl. This year’s festival, set to start May 30, will include big names such as Wilco and John Prine.
Andrew Bird performs at the 8th annual Nelsonville Music Festival on Saturday. (Gwen Titley | File)
Spring Convo Concert: The Return of Wiz
Wiz Khalifa made his return to Athens on May 18 for the now-annual Spring Convo Concert. With opener Sean Kingston, the second annual concert made a bigger splash than 2011’s B.o.B. show; the 2012 installment sold 2,000 more tickets than the first time around.
Wiz Khalifa performs at the 2012 Spring Convo Concert. At least seven students were removed from the self-proclaimed marijuana smoker’s show for doing just that: smoking marijuana. (Brien Vincent | File)
9Fest
That May 18–20 weekend proved a busy one for Athens festgoers, as the weekend also featured 9Fest.
Electronica and rap dominated the Number Fest, which was scheduled to be the last spring installment. Chip Tha Ripper, Timeflies and 12th Planet headlined the day, which organizer Dominic Petrozzi said was “the biggest and best ever.”
DJ E-V greets the crowd at 9Fest. (Brien Vincent | File)
Bailee Moore
The day also marked the start of junior Bailee Moore's ascension to stardom. After breaking onto the scene with her “White Girls Raps Fast” video on YouTube, Moore stepped onto the big stage for the first time at 9Fest. Since then, she’s released a new EP and performed at Cincinnati's Fountain Square. As we move into 2013, the local rapper’s career is sure to be one to keep an eye on.
OU junior and rapper Bailee Moore stands in front of a mural wall on Mill Street. (Sam Owens | File)
10Fest
As OU moved to semesters, Number Fest organizers decided it was time for a change, too, moving 10Fest to the fall. Despite only having a few months to plan, the day went off almost without a hitch.
Just hours before the festival, there was a last-minute change in lineup when headliner Juicy J dropped out after receiving an invitation to play at the BET Awards in Atlanta. Curren$y, a rapper who hails from New Orleans, stepped in to replace him.
Outside the lineup, the festival proved a tamer installment than previous years, with arrest numbers lower than usual.
Although the Number Fest was set to move to the fall, Dominic Petrozzi, the fest’s organizer, announced at 10Fest that 11Fest would actually be in the spring.
“Let everyone know we’ll see ’em again in April,” Petrozzi said. “Number Fest 11th Edition is coming Spring 2013. Bigger names, bigger plans.”
Fest-goers slide down a giant wet tarp into an American flag while the crowd pours beverages on them. (Austin Bachand | File)
Halloween 2012
Following 10Fest and Homecoming, Athens kept the party rolling last fall with the annual Athens Halloween Block Party. Though the party was tamer than previous years, students, residents and visitors alike swarmed Court Street, donning costumes and ready to party.
Leading up to the party, The Post took a look at the history of Athens Halloween:
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Back to the Block: Journey through the decades and discover the Athens Halloween Block Party’s past, present and future.
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OU alum helps with organization of annual October bash for 20th year
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Tunes not always staple of Halloween Block Party
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Court Street costumes have evolved
Crowds gather at the north end of Court Street during the annual Halloween Block Party. (Brien Vincent | File)
MGK concert shut down
Cleveland rapper Machine Gun Kelley brought his “bad boy” rep with him to Athens when he kicked off Halloween weekend with a Friday-night concert. The show, which used to be considered the Black Student Cultural Programming Board’s Sibs Weekend Concert but was moved to Halloween weekend, was shut down after a riot broke out, according to officers on the scene. Winsome Chunnu-Brayda, adviser for BSCPB, said she didn’t witness a riot, though, and that the show went well.
“I thought the concert went well," she said. "There was no riot. One-hundred students came onstage and security took precautionary measures to make sure all students got out safely."
Rapper Machine Gun Kelly performs at Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium. The Cleveland native was accompanied onstage by a group of fans for the last song of the show. (Conor Ralph | File)
Ohio University Performing Arts and Concert Series
Peppered throughout the big parties and fests were regular performances brought by the Campus Involvement Center’s Performing Arts and Concert Series. From comedy shows such as Seth Meyers, Jeff Garlin, The Second City, and Nick Kroll to music stars like Andy Grammer and Chris Young, the Campus Involvement Center kept its lineup diverse, appealing to as many people as possible.
Andy Grammer performs at the Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium. (Erin Corneliussen | File)
Check out more Year in Review recaps from The Post here.
nb360409@ohiou.edu
