From country to hip-hop music, fans will get their fill this spring

As the winter bears down on us and the semester moves into full swing, a variety of events are getting organized for local music fans this semester.

Last semester proved to be a good one at The Bryce Jordan Center, with acts such as Elton John, the Counting Crows and Live performing.

This semester is getting off to a solid start with some new acts lined up for this week.

Country star Alan Jackson will perform 8 p.m. tomorrow at the center. A country veteran, Jackson will make his first appearance at the Center along with up-and-coming country sex kitten Deana Carter.

Two days later, the Boston-based super band Aerosmith will take the center stage at 8 p.m.

Opening for the band will be blues guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd, who many believe has the talent to go far in the business.

"I really think that (Shepherd's) going to be the next Stevie Ray Vaughn," said Bernie Punt, the marketing representative for the center.

If big venues are not your favorite way to see live music, a lot of other concerts are happening on the campus music scene as well.

The HUB Late Night program has many shows lined up for the coming weeks.

From a dance party with Biz Markie at 10 p.m. Saturday to guitarist Vance Gilbert at 10 p.m. Jan. 23 to "progressive acoustic" band the Gordon Stone Trio at 10 p.m. Jan. 31, a wide variety of musical tastes promise to be available.

The appearance of Biz Markie at the HUB marks one of the first hip-hop acts to appear in the area in months.

Fans of the music are optimistic that more artists will break into the University music environment.

"It's good that he's coming because we go a whole semester without anyone coming up," said Jocelyn Woods (junior-kinesiology), a DJ for "Jam91," the hip-hop show on WKPS-FM (90.7).

"There are a lot of supporters interested in the music -- we're always flooded with phone calls during the show -- but we don't get any (shows) here," Woods said about the University's hip-hop interest.

Fans of ska music will have the opportunity to see SKA Fest '98, the second annual gathering of ska-based bands, from Feb. 13 to 14 in the HUB Ballroom.

University Concert Committee, HUB Late Night and WKPS got together to organize this 14-band extravaganza.

"The show went off real well last year, and it should be even bigger and better this year," said Jeremy Myers (senior-telecommunications), the new music director for WKPS radio and co-organizer of both SkaFest shows.

Another big festival that many students look forward to every year is Movin' On.

Movin' On, sponsored by Association of Residence Hall Students, has been bringing acts such as Jewel, Buffalo Tom, Fun Lovin' Criminals and the Lemonheads to the University in recent years.

The festival, now in its 24th year, will be held April 25 on the athletic fields behind Pollock dorms, said Dana Nale (senior-integrative arts), director of Movin' On.

No specifics on what bands will be playing are available yet.