BandFusion 2008

Because everyone loves a great concert!

BandFusion  -  A Brief History

BandFusion was born out of a vision to create a music festival that would bring together a diverse group of student organizations to create a lasting tradition at Miami University.  The concert would be by the students, for the students and would bring into Oxford some of the nations biggest up-and-coming artists.  For the past 8 years, BandFusion has succeeded in that vision, in the process creating one of the nation's leading college music festivals.

 

Started in 2001 as a LeaderShape vision of Miami student Dave Knox, the first festival was a joint effort between the BandFusion committee and the MUSF 20/20 10/10 Bike Race.  The original committee included members of Pi Sigma Epsilon, Program Board, Concert Board, Residence Hall Association (RHA) and the Miami University Student Foundation (MUSF), with Knox  serving as the event’s co-chair along with the President of Program Board.  BandFusion’s name was the creation of Amy Packard, who would go on to become the Executive Director of the festival in 2002.  The inaugural concert was held on April 21, 2001 with performances by headliner Pat McGee Band, local artists Baghdad Jones and Sleeping Charlie, and a finale by then unknown John Mayer.  The above student organizations, as well as Aware Records, CollegeBoxes and Red Bull sponsored the show.  The inaugural BandFusion saw over 2500 students attend the outdoor show held at Cook Field.

 

With the success of the first year, BandFusion 2002 looked to break new grounds and make the event even bigger.  The BandFusion committee brought in Jam Productions to help host the event at Millett Hall.  Work began in the Fall of 2001, with Amy leading the committee and assisted by her successor, Mike Hadgis.  The committee included the same organizations as the year before, with the addition of IFC and Pan-Hellenic Council.  BandFusion 2002 continued the tradition of promoting new music with performances by Howie Day, Phantom Planet, Guster and G. Love & Special Sauce.  The show also raised $5000 for Miami University Student Foundation.

 

BandFusion 2003 brought top college act Virginia Coalition, singer/songwriter Ari Hest, and crowd favorite Hello Dave to an outdoor show on the Central Quad field of Miami’s Campus.  Attendance was huge and the weather cooperated!

 

The following year, BandFusion was forced back inside to Withrow Court for a ‘standing room only’ show featuring regional powerhouse Oval Opus, Cincinnati’s own Blessed Union of Souls, and up and coming rocker Will Hoge.  Another great year for BandFusion 2004.

 

Following a few years of smaller shows, BandFusion 2005 decided to celebrate our Fourth Anniversary in style by presenting national roots-rock island-vibe superstars O.A.R.  Helping bring down the house was a return appearance by campus favorite Ari Hest.  This show, presented in partnership with Nederlander Productions and the Miami University Performing Arts Series, donated $1 per ticket to the L.I.N.K.S. foundation (Lonely Instruments for Needy Kids) of Cincinnati.  The show was a huge successes raising over $4,000 for charity.

 

The next year, BandFusion return to its roots with a small free show in the Oxford Pavilion in beautiful Uptown Oxford.  BandFusion 2006 featured singer/songwriter Dave Barnes rock the crowd on a beautiful spring day.  Also performing was Miami’s own national recording artist Kate Voegele, Louisville, Kentucky’s The Muckrakers, and Oxford’s own Sofapunch!  The show was a phenomenal success and raised over $800 for the Talawanda School District’s Music Department.

 

BandFusion 2007 faced a tough year of concert booking but an old friend stepped in at the last minute to save the show.  O.A.R. made a return performance at the request of thousands and rocked John D. Millett Hall once more!  Also performing was Columbus, Ohio’s Mike Perkins.  The 2007 show once again donated $1 per ticket to the Talawanda School District’s Music Department and raised over $3,000.

 

BandFusion 2008 will feature 311 in what is sure to be one of the biggest BandFusion shows ever.  For the third time in four years, $1 per ticket will be donated to the Talawanda School District Music Department.