Amid gorgeous weather and a lively Memorial Union Terrace, the Snake on the Lake music festival began Saturday afternoon, entertaining the many attendees until late in the evening. Yearly brainchild of WSUM — the UW student radio station — and sponsored by the Wisconsin Union Directorate and various local businesses, the festival featured seven artists playing from early afternoon until midnight.
Previously known as "Party in the Park," the annual festival relocated from St. James Park to the Memorial Union Terrace after the loss of a large sponsor, but was resurrected with a new name for this year's event. The unusual new title comes from a nickname for WSUM, and "seemed fitting," according to station manager Jackie Sutherland. The new location and aesthetic approach of "Snake" was geared to the target audience of the festival, the student body.
There was a large turnout for the event, as few of the football apathetic would pass up free music under warm, clear skies, as well as a host of other activities present at the Terrace. Wet hair and swimsuits were common sights as many came to enjoy a swim in the lake or free canoe rides at the nearby docks. Visitors gathered to enjoy some cold beer courtesy of the Rathskeller, and some students even studied amid the visitors and families present.
To the side of the stage were numerous green-shirt clad WSUM staff members, facilitating the event and advertising the station by providing flyers and paraphernalia. The festivities began with a few remarks from WSUM staff member Jennifer Hanrahan, with local power-pop quartet German Art Students taking the stage immediately after.
The German Art Students set was an energetic and raucous first performance, complete with Bangles-style dancing and driving dual guitars. Sounding like a cross between Velvet Underground, Harvey Danger, and Twin Cinema New Pornographers, the band sang of quirky subjects and colorful tales, including lead singer Annelies Howell's youthful love affair with a dark and mysterious boy in school.
Unfortunately ill-received "humorous" banter filled the void between songs, including a dedication to Terrace listeners prior to "Nightmare Date."
"If you're sitting by someone who looks uncomfortable, this song is for them."
Stink Tank and DLO of local hip-hop ensemble Dumate took the stage after some intermittent — and poorly chosen — tracks, but quickly rejuvenated the event with slick rhythms and dynamic wordplay between the two emcees.
The crowd around the stage was minimal during the day, but was overflowing the Terrace by nightfall. A bustling audience gathered for the later sets, including two Chicago-based groups (Maps and Atlases, and The 1900s), and local regulars Leslie and the Lys and Pale Young Gentleman. The dancers were out front in full force, a welcome sight for the performers and organizers of Snake.
The final performance was an amped-up final set by nationally recognized Chicago-based group, the Ponys. Fronted by vocalist Brian Case — who replaced a previous vocalist present on their first two albums — the quartet played Pixies and vintage English-styled garage rock, ending the festival with a literal bang. Much of their material was from their third full-length album featured on Matador records — Turn the Lights Out — including their final song "Small Talk."
Though Snake on the Lake didn't attract an enormous crowd, the turnout by the end of the night was considerable, and there were many students and Madison residents happy to again enjoy a free concert from venerable local and national musicians. Small local events look to the continued success of annual events such as WSUM's festival, and this year's reincarnation continued in venom-free fever where Party in the Park left off.
