On Thursday, hundreds of students arrived for the Student Board of Governor’s (SUBOG) annual Sunset Fest at the Student Union lawn. Sunset Fest initially started off as a series of concerts hosted in the fall near Horsebarn Hill for the sake of helping students wind down. However, this shifted into a single yearly event in 2024.
Lawn chairs and tables were set up near the stage for people to sit back and relax, and a large crowd of students were waiting in line at the Dude’s Donuts truck, eagerly anticipating a free donut and apple cider. There was even a giveaway of a Good Molecules skincare product for those who completed a short survey.
Four indie artists/musical groups took over the Student Union terrace from 6:30 to 9 p.m., introducing people to their raw talent.
First up, was Broken Throne, a Connecticut-based punk and hard rock band. They stunned the crowd with their memorable act, wowing people with their raw energy and electrifying sound.
Next was a solo performer, Marko Katra, who is currently a fifth- semester honors political science and music student at UConn. He impressed people with his singing and guitar skills. His performance consisted of both covers and his own originals. He played covers of “Jersey Giant” by Tyler Childers and “No Other Art” by Mac DeMarco among others. His treats to the audience were ballads he’d created on his own, such as “Vagabonds,” and “Something Beautiful,” which is actually a work in progress, currently unreleased to the public.
The third act of the night was Whiplash! and the Weather, another UConn-based performance group. This is a tight-knit rock band who introduced the audience to raw and catchy vocals and a magnetic presence that audience members couldn’t help but interact with. The lead vocalist even shared a fascinating piece of advice, stating that she ate honey between songs to ensure that she didn’t lose her voice. They played covers of songs, such as “Don’t Let Me Down” by the Beatles. They also performed some of their own originals, like “Selfish Desire,” a Latin fusion song with a rich beat.
Last but not least, Sunset Fest was closed by Artemis, an independent singer-songwriter who hails from Manchester. She blended pop and R&B into masterful creations and played originals that were inspired from her own life, love and heartbreaks, some of which she wrote in her teens. She brought dancers with her and showed that she was not only a talented vocalist, but also an amazing dancer. Her songs are available for streaming for those who want to check them out.
Anushka Kuntey, a first-semester speech language and hearing sciences student, said “This was such a cool event, and I did not realize how impressive it really would be.” This was a night to remember, characterized by awe and enjoyment by both the audience and performers.