Spring Concert

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Spring Concert is a large event held traditionally held on the Saturday of Midterm Break of each Spring Term, though it was held in 2006 on the Saturday of Sixth Week. It is the only occasion on which Carleton hires a major band, and the CSA allocates a large amount of funding for that purpose each year. The Social Programming Board exists primarily to organize Spring Concert, although this is not its only function.

Contents

History

It appears that the tradition began in or around 1979. The Carletonian first mentioned the event in April of 1979. The May 18, 1979 concert featured the Dixie Dregs, a jazz-rock fusion band, and the Nicks, as well as an unnamed band from the Twin Cities. Similarly, the April 20, 1979 Carletonian states that the students organizing Spring Concert "hope that this concert will be repeated next year."

Relationship with St. Olaf

St. Olaf had an early involvement in the event.

On May 17, 1985, the Carletonian ran a frontpage feature questioning the future of the event due to the Carleton administration's concern over potential exposure to liability. At that point, Spring Concert was described as a "day-long, three-band blowout which in the five years of its existence has become something of a tradition on the two Northfield campuses."

From all accounts, St. Olaf remained involved in the event for the next two decades.

From 1998 to 2001, Carleton and St. Olaf enjoyed a very functional relationship regarding Spring Concert. 2000's Spring Concert most likely set some sort of benchmark in regards to both funding and headliners. This was in large part a function of St. Olaf's fall concert, which generated enough money to further supply Carleton and St. Olaf with some financial wiggle room. That spring, Carleton and St. Olaf's respective Spring Concert co-chairs secured both Wilco and Sugarhill Gang. The two bands alone demanded upwards of $30,000 combined.

Funding was significantly curtailed by the next year. It was at the 2001 Spring Concert that the colleges opted to each present a campus band to eliminate the expense of a fourth and fifth act.

Prior to 2005, St. Olaf would host the Fall Concert, whereas Carleton would host the Spring Concert. The contribution of St. Olaf funds to the spring concert enabled bigger-name bands to come to Spring Concert. St. Olaf pulled out of Spring Concert largely due to concerns about Carleton's more relaxed alcohol policy. Furthermore, since Carleton had never contribued funding to the Fall Concert, St. Olaf was reluctant to continue contributing to Spring Concert.

In 2005, Spring Concert was originally going to be a dry event, in an attempt to at least allow St. Olaf students to attend it. (Their Campus Activities office had refused to sell tickets to Carleton's Spring Concert.) Most students were only informed of this decision by an email sent on May 4th, 2005 from the Dean of Students Office. In response to student opposition to this decision, and when it became clear that a dry Spring Concert would still not bring back any students from St. Olaf, the policy was changed overnight to allow alcohol. The following background information was contained at the end of the email sent by the Dean of Students Office to the Students-oncampus mailing list on May 5th, 2005 explaining the decision to allow alcohol:

THE BACKGROUND
Early winter term the Social Programming Board (SPB, the student group that organizes Spring Concert) began regular meetings to plan Saturday's Spring Concert. There were discussions with St. Olaf about their participation, and about the place of alcohol in the event. Before Dean Govoni's departure, it was established that whether or not St. Olaf participated in 2005, Carleton could not continue the past practice of allowing all students to bring alcohol to the event site, due to increasing concerns about liability. SPB was given a number of possible options to consider. Options such as allowing those of legal age to purchase or bring alcohol into a beer garden area on the site age were initially considered, but were seen as divisive, and therefore counter to the community nature of Spring Concert. Wristbands were also considered, but administrative concerns about liability and logistics to the elimination of that option. At the time, that left one viable alternative - to not allow any alcohol into the Concert.
Jon Bartlow (Assistant Director of Campus Activities and advisor to SPB) and Dean Colwell had a number of discussions with SPB about the purpose of Spring Concert which is seen as foremost an outdoor music festival that had, for some, included alcohol. Overall, it is an event that all Carleton students should be able to experience together, and that the alcohol is secondary. SPB and other students involved in the discussion did not like the notion of separating some students from others, and therefore, eventually (with varying degrees of reluctance) agreed that the best way to proceed was to prohibit alcohol from the event, making it an all-campus event similar to Mid-Winter Ball. Once this decision had been reached, SPB and Campus Activities worked together to expand the activities, food, and beverages at the event.
This decision was made late in the winter term, and was not kept secret. While no formal announcement was made to the student body, those working with SPB (CSA, the Campus Activities Office, and other peer student groups) certainly knew that this was the plan for this spring's event.
While this discussion was occurring, St. Olaf decided that they were going to continue their version of spring concert (the cleverly titled Lutefest) tradition and declined to join Carleton for the joint Spring Concert. Lutefest will be held on the St. Olaf campus Saturday afternoon.
Given that there are a number of other events, including weekly Mai Fete gatherings and Rottblatt, that allow alcohol for upperclassmen, we ask that you respect and understand this decision, and join us Saturday as the musical tradition of Spring Concert continues.

As of spring 2006, it seems highly unlikely that St. Olaf will return to jointly host spring concert. St. Olaf's spring concert, known as "Lutefest," has continued to be a successful, family-style event, and there seems to be little support on the St. Olaf campus for a reunified concert.

Past lineups and schedules

2007

  • 12:00-12:30: Gospel Gossip (Student Band)
  • 12:50-1:20: Duck Bus (Student Band)
  • 1:40-2:30: The Retrofits
  • 3:00-4:30: Donna the Buffalo
  • 4:00-6:30: Neba Solo

2006

  • 12:00-12:30: Alchemystery & The Fort Knox Five (Student Band)
  • 12:50-1:20: Shaker Revival (Student Band)
  • 1:40-2:40: GLUE
  • 3:00-4:00: Kubla Khan
  • 4:20-5:20: Kid Koala
  • 5:40-6:40: The Ponys

2005

  • 12:00-12:40: Juggernaut (Student Band)
  • 1:00-1:40: Don Q. and the Chosen Few (Student Band)
  • 2:00-3:00: Hockey Night
  • 3:20-4:20: Down Lo
  • 4:40-5:45: Lyrics Born

2002

  • Ozomatli
  • Mark Mallman
  • Backroads Junction

2001

(unfortunately held at St. Olaf due to rain)

  • Reel Big Fish
  • Gratuitous Umlaut

2000

  • Wilco
  • Sugarhill Gang
  • 12 Rods
  • Adaawe
  • Gruvis Malt
  • DJ Compulsion

It should be noted that the Sugarhill Gang demanded its payment in cash, which they received by hand that morning. It should also be noted that despite this amount, Sugarhill Gang was dubious at best. Of the origninal trio, only Wonder Mike remained, with a young Master Gee and a very bizarre Big Bank Hank who wore carpenter-style sweat pants.

1999

  • Guided by Voices
  • Kathleen Bradford
  • Mason Jennings
  • Sister Carol
  • Trektah Beam X-Press
  • DJ Bionic

1998

(held in the Cave due to rain)

  • The Big Wu
  • Atmosphere
  • Umoja
  • Latin Sounds Orchestra
  • Brenda Weiler
  • The Sensational Joint Chiefs


1979

  • Dixie Dregs
  • The Nicks
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