Friday, Oct. 23, Samford’s student bands Lakeshore and Montague stepped off campus and out of their comfort zones to play at Ferus Artisan Ales in Trussville. Per the graphic released by Lakeshore’s Instagram page, the night was a “family friendly evening of R&B and rock music from one of Samford’s top ensembles.”
Montague opened the night with a set list of early 2000’s hits from artists like Paramore and Wheatus.
“Last year we did a lot of classic rock,” said Sophomore Ty Fancher, one of the band’s vocalists. “This year we did a lot more modern music and I think the energy just skyrocketed.”
For Montague, this concert was the first show for its new lineup of student musicians.
“We’ve never seen this group of students before on stage, and we’ve got some incredible freshmen,” said section leader Via Vicary. “This lineup is so special because we’re such close friends…. and I think we bring a new heat to Montague this year.”
After Montague’s set, Lakeshore took the stage with a series of high energy covers of R&B hits. Unlike Montague, the band had already performed its first show the week before.
“My personal feelings about it are that it was a much, much better show than we did last week” said Lakeshore drummer Dylan Clotfelter. “It was definitely the synergy between us and the audience.”
The members of Montague wholeheartedly affirmed this sentiment.
“The crowd was electric! We are so happy and proud of the turnout. We saw lots of Samford students there, and we can’t wait to continue seeing more Samford students at our future gigs.”
-Via Vicary
Samford students were not the only ones in attendance, though. The venue was populated by people of all ages. Elderly couples in lawn chairs sat next to children dancing on the Astroturf in front of the stage. Although Ferus’ bar area is reserved for those 21 and up, its outdoor space is free for everyone. This makes it a perfect spot for local families to bring their families for a fun night out.
“We come into Trussville to the entertainment district about once or twice a month” said local mother Ashley Cruzi. “We love it because it’s a fun place for entertainment, and it’s really fun for our kids to run around.”
While live music is a frequent fixture of Ferus’ event spaces, it is not the only entertainment offered.
“There’s bingo nights, and line dancing, and…. all sorts of different things,” Cruzi said. “There’s a variety of food, drinks, and fun for the family or a girl’s night out.”
Cruzi speaks for a substantial portion of the audience, who did not specifically come to the event to support Lakeshore or Montague. They came to have a good time.
Events like these prove that Samford’s school bands are not merely class projects, but competent musical acts capable of entertaining general audiences with excellence.
Staff Reporter
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