Old School Freight Train will headline Philfest 2011. Photo from Wikimedia, licensed under Creative Commons
Kick back and chill out on the Norris south lawn on Saturday May 14th at the 10th annual Philfest, an A&O and SEED co-sponsored bluegrass and folk event. This year, folk ensemble Old School Freight Train will headline and the opener will be announced soon.
“The music will be very casual,” said Communications junior Elsa Stahura, co-director of Promotions and Public Relations at A&O. Pegged as “Chillo Day,” Philfest has “all the fun, hippiness of Dillo Day without the craziness and the mess,” Stahura said.
Philfest is held in honor of former SEED member Phil Semmer, who passed away in a car accident while studying abroad. The free event will also collect donations for the Rocky Mountain Institute, an environmental charity that Semmer strongly supported.
“He was a very bright, energetic student,” said Communications sophomore Caroline Schwartz, SEED member and Philfest co-chair. “The bluegrass, folk genre of music was his favorite to listen to. The gecko, which is the Philfest logo, was his favorite animal.”
Virginia-based Old School Freight Train, this year’s headliner, mixes mellow folk with Americana and bluegrass, taking some jazzy cues as well. The live ensemble includes a mix of a mandolin, fiddle, upright bass, and acoustic guitars. OSFT also does a lot of covers from various artists that span many genres.
In addition to the musical acts, Philfest will also have a Green Fair featuring local environmental groups around Evanston to promote their respective missions.
“I really think that Philfest is very much a feeling,” Schwartz said.
Communications junior Elliott Glass, SEED member and Philfest co-chair, agreed: “It really is a feeling, which is great, because that’s what it was meant to be started as […] Phil was there in spirit; which was why it came together so nicely. It’s just fun and carefree.”
“I think it’s just a little treasure of Northwestern,” Stahura said. “Not too many people know it, but those who do stumble upon it and who happen to come out to the lawn and see what it’s all about, they end up loving it.”
Philfest 2011 will be held on Saturday, May 14th starting at 1pm on the Norris south lawn.