The music industry and performance and recording arts students will put off their first show since last semester.

By Gage Miranda

Zack Nash and T.J. Allingham jam while preparing for Tuesday night's Motown tribute at the L.A. Bown Building in Stephenville. Photo by Gage Miranda

Valentine’s Day couldn’t be a more suiting date for the music industry and performance and recording arts students to host a Motown night at the L.A. Bown Building, given their love for making music.

Doors for the show open at seven 7 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Admission is $4, and there will be refreshments as well as a 50/50 draw.

Some of the artists being covered include Marvin Gaye, The Marvelettes and Stevie Wonder, but there are many more in store.

Most of the students are excited to perform songs from the Motown genre.

“I enjoy the catchy rhythms and simple lyrics of this genre,” said second year music student Mandy Evans. “The songs that my band are performing are amazing and I’m stoked to sing them!”

Second-year recording arts student Andrew Murley feels slightly different about Motown music.

“You won’t always be working with the music you like in the industry,” said Murley. “To me, this is still a show and I’ll work it the same way as I did the last one, and I’ll work the next one the same also.”

There was speculation from the student body that the music students were not properly prepared for their previously cancelled show, but Evans sees it differently.

“We haven’t held an event yet because we have been putting a lot of work into this show,” said Evans. “Motown is so well-known and intricate that we didn’t want to put off a half-assed show.”

Evans is not the only student putting extra work in to this performance.

“My band is practising about four to five times a week,” said T.J. Allingham, a first-year music student.

Another first-year music student, Zack Nash, practises nearly as much with his band but practises even more once home.

“I practise for at least one hour a night, two when it is necessary.”

Nash is responsible for the layout of the chairs and tables for the show, as well as tearing down after the show.
There’s no doubt that the music and recording arts students treat each show like a paid gig.

“I find these shows help with prepping me for the real world,” said Murley.“Part of the reason is that you encounter problems that you could easily face working any show, small or large. You can learn as much as you want in a class room but until you get out and do it, that’s when all the things you learn become real.”