The Bulldog nation and music fans of all allegiances will be out in force Saturday, Sept. 25, as a crowd estimated to reach near 30,000 fills Starkville”s Cotton District for the 10th annual Bulldog Bash.
Headlining the free event sponsored by the Mississippi State University Student Association and Alumni Association is nationally-known rock band Third Eye Blind. Also performing are Jamie Davis and Soul Gravy, Sterling Y, The Flames, Red Hill City, Z-Flo and Hot Chelle Rae. Bulldog Bash co-coordinator Rob Triplett said the SA chose this year”s lineup with a strategy based off of polling, research and student responses from previous bashes.
“We have listened to feedback over the years and the common consensus has been to get a big national act and then showcase our locals,” he told Sarah Dale Simpkins of The Reflector.
Third Eye Blind, known to their fans as 3EB, will take the main stage on University Drive at about 10:30 p.m.
The post-grunge/power pop band first gained recognition in the late ”90s when their self-titled debut recording spun off memorable tunes like “Semi-Charmed Life” and “How”s it Gonna Be.” With Starkville, the band kicks off a tour in support of its first album in six years, Ursa Major.
“They are a fun, upbeat rock group that all ages can enjoy,” said Triplett. “The ultimate goal for Bulldog Bash is to have a fun music festival atmosphere, and I think we succeeded this year.”
FanFair
The family-friendly FanFair begins at 5:30 p.m. A pep rally, rock climbing wall, inflatables for the kids, vendor booths and much more will create a festive mood the evening before the Sept. 26 MSU game against Louisiana State University.
Music line-up
Beginning at 7 p.m. on the Rick”s Cafe Stage, hear Red Hill City, Z-Flo and Jamie Davis and Soul Gravy. The AT&T Stage will host, starting at 7:30 p.m., Sterling Y, The Flames, Hot Chelle Rae and Third Eye Blind.
Convincing nationally-known bands like 3EB to play in Starkville is not the main obstacle anymore; paying for them is, SA President Blake Jeter told Simpkins.
“The normal budget has been about $65,000, and this year the budget is $90,000,” Jeter said. “We worked really hard and raised 40 percent more money than in past years. The Alumni Association has acted as the title sponsor, donating $10,000 for the second consecutive year and helping revolutionize the bash and the talent it can support.
Text for United Way
The Student Association has partnered with local cell phone service providers to organize a text message donation event at the Bash to benefit the Starkville”s United Way chapter. This will be the first time in Mississippi a text message fundraiser has ever taken place.
“During the concert, we”re going to ask the crowd to text NCMISS to United on their cell phones. It will send a message back to see if you want to donate to United Way, and if you want to, it will donate $5, which will show up on your cell phone bill,” Jeter said.
“It”s a way for us to say that while our student body can get together and have a good time, we can also give back while we do it,” he said.
For more information about Bulldog Bash, visit www.msubulldogbash.org, contact the MSU Student Association at 662-325-3917, or e-mail Jeter at [email protected].
This article contains information reported by Sarah Dale Simpkins in The Reflector.
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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