MUSIC Matters, a student organization dedicated to driving social change through music, held its annual SpringFest concert at Palmer Field on Saturday. One of the largest student-run events at the University of Michigan, SpringFest aims to bring the campus community together through advocacy, dance and music, according to the MUSIC Matters website. About 200 music lovers from the UM community attended this year’s event.
This year, 10 student music and dance groups performed at the eight-hour festival, which included food trucks and sponsored giveaways. MUSIC Matters has also partnered with other student organizations, including Wolverine Support Network, to provide an opportunity to connect with a variety of campus organizations.
LSA Junior Anna Lehrer served as Chair of this year’s SpringFest for MUSIC Matters. In her role, she oversees the entire planning process, which began in the summer of 2021. Teacher said one of her favorite things about the festival is the way it introduces students to the campus music scene and provides opportunities for student artists to perform.
“We start planning for this event in August, before school even starts,” Teacher said. “It’s really a year-round process planning a music festival, but it’s so rewarding. I love seeing our hard work pay off with happy members and a happy audience. We have such incredible local talent here in Ann Arbor and it’s so great to appreciate that.”
MUSIC Matters has 200 club members and is organized into five committees. Though one of those committees is charged solely with organizing SpringFest, Lehrer said all of the committees work together in the spring to run the event.
“At SpringFest, we want to use the unifying power of music to bring the community together and nurture local talent and local organizations,” said Lehrer. “In my role, I want to bring everyone together and involve everyone at the club. I really appreciate having a vast and diverse community connected through the arts.”
LSA Junior Jenna Shatzman serves as the Director of Membership Development for MUSIC Matters. After helping plan Saturday’s event, Shatzman arrived as an attendee and said it was wonderful to see so many talented students in the same place. MUSIC Matters works throughout the year to maintain strong relationships with campus bands, Shatzman said, which helps ensure the spring event runs smoothly.
“We’ve worked hard to develop relationships with student bands on campus,” Shatzman said. “We support and host other events throughout the year to try and find as many different bands as possible. It’s great to showcase so many different bands, organizations and providers.”
Architecture senior Lauren Conroy was one of the many students attending SpringFest this year. Conroy said she originally went to her friend, LSA senior Alison Albrecht, to perform her solo set. Albrecht’s final cover – a performance of Lorde’s “Green Light” – got the crowd on their feet and cheered Palmer Field when she was done. After SpringFest was virtually held last year due to COVID-19 restrictions, Conroy said it’s exciting to be back in person with her friends before they graduate at the end of the month.
“As a senior, I spent most of my time in Michigan like most college students during COVID,” Conroy said. “So this is the first time I’ve been able to come to SpringFest in person. After two years of virtual events, it’s really cool to be able to support friends and listen to live music.”
One of the groups performing at SpringFest was Gravytrain, an eight-piece funk band. Joseph Lauerman, junior music, theater and dance, plays the keyboard for Gravytrain. He said attending SpringFest was a rewarding experience for their group and the perfect way to end the academic year.
“Performing today was amazing,” Lauerman said. “The audio was great. People were great. The audience was engaged and enthusiastic. Especially at the end of the school year it’s so nice to be able to play our music live and outside for the people.”
Editor’s Note: Daily Staff Reporter Justin O’Beirne is a member of MUSIC Matters. O’Beirne was not involved in writing or editing this article.
Daily Staff Reporter Carly Brechner can be reached at crupt@umich.edu.