By Charles L. Westmoreland
“Bigger and better” was the goal of the brothers of Sigma Chi when planning this year’s Sigmapalooza concert held Saturday night at the Iroquois Park Amphitheater. This year’s festival marked the sixth iteration of the event and was considered a “stepping stone” by Event Coordinator Ben Arterburn. “In the past years it was just a big party, but this year we wanted to do something for the community as a whole,” Arterburn said. This year Sigmapalooza focused more on charity than in the past. Previously, a portion of the revenue was recycled back into the fraternity to help sponsor the next year’s festival. This year, 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Children’s Miracle Network, Sigma Chi’s national philanthropy cause. Arterburn said the event grossed $21,000, which was $6,000 more than last year’s concert. After paying the vendors and amphitheater, he estimates that between $2,000 and $3,000 will go to charity. “If tonight is considered to be a stepping stone, then I would have to agree,” said U of L alumnus Sarah V. Dailey while comparing the first Sigmapalooza to this year’s. “The first one was just a big frat party with music. The choice of venue and selection of performers this year is much better than the first one.” In the past, Sigmapalooza was held at either Tailgaters or a hangar at Bowman Field, but to attract more popular bands and a larger crowd, the venue was changed to Iroquois Amphitheater. U of L alumnus Chris Hutchens coordinated the first Sigmapalooza six years ago. He brought the idea to Louisville from Dennison University, where Sigmapalooza was already a tradition. Hutchens said this year’s Sigmapalooza was what he hoped to build up to when he introduced the event in 1999. The first concert had an audience of 500. This year’s show had an audience three times larger. Arterburn said the goal of selling 1,500 tickets was met, but that still left 1,100 seats empty in the amphitheater. Last year, around 1,200 tickets were sold. “We were really pleased with turnout,” Arterburn said. “When an event is held yearly you never really know what factors influence turnout. “We had a vision to make this the biggest and best fraternity music festival around,” he said. “We wanted to bring a big music festival to Louisville and at the same time do something for our national philanthropy. It’s a win-win situation. You can have a good time and give to charity.” The change in venue did just what Arterburn and Hutchens had hoped for –– it attracted local, big-name bands eager to play for a lively college crowd in a music-friendly environment. Performances included Waterproof Blonde, Florez, Digby and the Villebillies. “This venue is really cool,” said Jeffrey Smith, bassist for Waterproof Blonde, who played at Sigmapalooza two years ago. “I hope they hold it here next year –– you can’t beat this venue.” “I had a really great time playing here,” added vocalist Rachel Hagan. “If they asked us to play again next year I’d be willing.” But not everyone liked the venue change. “I liked last year’s at Bowman Field better,” said freshman Erica Johnston. “Last year everyone was crammed together like a giant mosh-pit –– it was more fun.” Sigma Chi also planned ahead to ensure the audience had safe modes of transportation to get home. “We tried to do everything possible to provide a safe way home,” Arterburn said. “There isn’t a venue near campus large enough to host the event.” Arterburn coordinated to have CityScoot and Yellow Cab on hand to drive people home. The fraternity also posted the TARC schedule on its Web site. “My last announcement of the night was to not drink and drive,” Arterburn said. Overall, the brothers of Sigma Chi were pleased with the show. “This is what we hoped for when we started Sigmapalooza –– a bigger venue, bigger bands,” Hutchens said. “We wanted to have a music festival for everyone in the Louisville community to enjoy.”
