On the core of the College and Charlottesville’s famously wealthy musical tradition lies the scholar group Indieheads — a house for native artists and all lovers of indie music.
Based in 2018, the membership presents an area for music-loving college students to satisfy one another and join with the native music scene. Brie Handford, Indieheads government and third-year Faculty pupil, says that Indieheads is just about “something to do with music.”
“Our purpose is principally simply to convey individuals collectively who take pleasure in the identical forms of music,” Handford mentioned. “We like to begin conversations about music, we prefer to take heed to music, we prefer to placed on reside reveals and promote the native bands.”
The membership hosts weekly conferences the place members talk about music releases and opinions whereas catching up with associates and taking part in actions like trivia, PowerPoint nights and extra.
Since its creation, the membership has grown exponentially, just lately hitting over 1,000 members in its GroupMe and over 1,300 Instagram followers. Though this magnitude is vastly completely different from the membership’s humble origins, it has nonetheless managed to carry onto what makes it particular — neighborhood.
“The members who be part of and who come to weekly conferences, they grow to be actually shut with one another,” Handford mentioned. “The individuals themselves are capable of actually discover a residence with Indieheads.”
Past its weekly conferences, the membership gives alternatives for its members to understand music in any capability they want, together with album listening events and live performance discipline journeys. The rising dimension and affect of the membership has even allowed executives to present away free tickets to native concert events.
In response to Everett Vereen, Indieheads government and third-year Faculty pupil, this range of alternatives is a key a part of Indieheads’ mission.
“We would like Indieheads to type of be no matter individuals wish to make of it,” Vereen mentioned. “We attempt to present as many shops for those that are fascinated with music as potential.”
Presumably the most-well recognized component of the membership is their home reveals — a number of instances a semester, the membership places on concert events, providing native bands alternatives to carry out and college students an opportunity to understand reside music. One precedence of the membership is to work with and promote pupil musicians.
“Group constructing is de facto essential for us — native bands can come to us and we will attempt to e-book them gigs, both with us or with different venues,” Handford mentioned. “We simply present them an area to get publicity.”
With a mean of 4 bands and 200 to 300 viewers members in attendance, every present is a significant feat for the membership. Handford, in collaboration with different members of the Indieheads government board, plans and units up these massive occasions.
“[The work] is completely price it once you’re capable of see what you’ve got finished and see everybody simply having enjoyable, having fun with themselves,” Hanford mentioned.
Because the membership continues to develop in dimension, its government board is trying to develop the size and attain of home reveals. The autumn semester noticed record-breaking attendance at home reveals, and the membership was even ready to usher in They Are Gutting a Physique of Water, an out-of-town band from Philadelphia, Pa.
Jack Davidson Garza, Indieheads government and third-year Faculty pupil, each organized and performed within the live performance, and described the expertise as “transcendental”.
“I used to be actually simply attempting to be current within the second in the course of the present trigger it was simply the craziest gig I’ve ever performed,” Davidson mentioned. “It wouldn’t have been potential with out Indieheads and the neighborhood they’ve been constructing round U.Va.”
Along with rising their home reveals, the membership can also be hoping to share the broader Charlottesville music neighborhood with college students by internet hosting occasions and connecting musicians with native venues like The Southern and The Jefferson. Vereen has ambitions to proceed constructing upon each facet of the membership.
“We’re actually attempting to spend money on new gear, new merchandise, in order that we will promote our presence on Grounds extra — get extra individuals and excited concerning the music taking place right here and have the ability to convey in additional and greater bands from out of city to develop U.Va.’s scope throughout the East Coast,” Vereen mentioned.
Regardless of the challenges that include internet hosting occasions and maintaining with the membership’s speedy development, the Indieheads executives are really enthusiastic about their work. For Vereen, the music makes all of it definitely worth the effort.
“Stay music is my favourite factor on this planet,” mentioned Vereen. “No matter it takes to have the ability to share that with different individuals means every part.”
Indieheads will kick off the brand new semester at 8 p.m. Saturday with their first home present of the 12 months, that includes two native and two out-of-town bands.