O.C.apella Fest gears up

The O.C.apella Fest is shrinking. Down from 18 groups and five concerts last year, only twelve a cappella groups will perform at the second annual O.C.apella Fest, for a run of four concerts this evening and Mar. 8.

The reason behind the atrophy? "Housing," said college junior Stephen Baer, a member of several of Oberlin's a cappella groups. "It is really hard to find places for all the people to stay. It's a much more manageable size this way."

The festival is still quite large and very diverse. There will be groups from Cornell, Tufts, Binghamton, Macalester, Smith, Haverford and two from University of Michigan. Of these colleges, both Binghamton and Haverford are returning guests to Oberlin. The festival is a way for Oberlin's a cappella groups to invite back to Oberlin some of the groups that they have sung with before.

According to Baer, most of the groups are working with similar musical styles - pop, barbershop and folk, among others. The difference in sound comes with their different sizes, as well as their distinct performance styles. "All groups have their own quirkiness," he said. Some groups simply go for a straight performance, while others have a penchant for skits - their sets are more like a comedy troupe than a musical group.

But music is the reason that these groups are coming to Oberlin. Baer sees the festival as a way to increase interest in an alternative form of music, as well as an opportunity to utilize Oberlin's vast musical resources for something a little different.

This year's festival promises to be quite fresh, with many of Oberlin's groups - the Obertones, Nothing but Treble and In-a-Chord - debuting entirely new material, along with old favorites. Also debuting at the Fest will be an all new Oberlin group, the Offbeats. The Fest provides a perfect forum for both new and established a cappella groups to strut their stuff, to learn from each other and for all of us to sit back and enjoy.