WILD explodes to two-day event
Walk in Lay Down (WILD) has almost arrived. The Saturday concert, featuring Ben Folds, Matt Nathanson and Duncan Sheik, has expanded to boast two full days of entertainment.
The event was extended to two days because Folds already had a concert scheduled in Tennessee on the final Friday of classes, the day that WILD is traditionally held.
Junior Matt Jones, co-chair of Team 31 Productions, said that over 550 people had requested Folds using an online submission form, so Saturday was chosen for WILD so that Folds could perform.
“We have 550, probably 1000 more who would love to see this guy come to campus. Do we want to have [WILD] on the last day of class or on Saturday? The decision was made to roll over to Saturday because Ben is such a great talent. [It is] kind of an honor that such a talent would want to come and play at our event.”
Questions arose, however, regarding moving WILD to a Saturday, considering its longtime position as a celebration during the last day of class.
In response to that concern, fifteen university administrators and over twenty students worked on the idea of Final Friday, a day of activities to celebrate the end of classes and the coming of WILD.
“[It was] a great opportunity for student leaders to get together and put together a really cool day of events,” said Jones.
Final Friday, a thirteen hour extravaganza of eating, entertainment and music will take place today, starting at 11:00 a.m. with Second Stage in Bowles Plaza. Student bands will take the stage at this time, and the famous mechanical bull will also be available for wild rides.
At noon, The City Drive, a professional band currently on tour with Fall Out Boy and Hoobastank, will take the stage.
Other highlights of the Final Friday daytime activities include a Ben and Jerry’s Vermonster Eating Contest in which teams of 4 compete to finish 20 scoops of ice cream, four brownies and four bananas. There will also be a McDonald’s barbeque in the swamp presented by the Junior Class Council.
“[This is] not confirmed, but Ronald McDonald might be floating around for pictures,” said Jones.
At 5:00 p.m., Dance Marathon will present “Best in Show,” featuring acts like Garba, the Aristocats a capella, Irish Dancing and the Mosaic Whispers at the Athletic Complex. There will also be a screening of “Wedding Crashers” in Graham Chapel, complete with a wedding reception to follow. Jones added that the reception will include wedding cake, champagne and cider.
From 10:00 p.m. to midnight at the Athletic Complex, Campus Programming Council will present VH1 TV personality Michael Ian Black, who starred in “Wet Hot American Summer.” Following the event, Filmboard will screen “Dark Side of the Rainbow” on the Swamp, with a countdown until WILD beginning around 11:55 p.m.
Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m., the “doors” will open in Brooking Quadrangle and there will be two hours of free barbeque plus music by a local band, The Feed, at 3:45 p.m. at Second Stage in Bowles Plaza. At 4:45 p.m., Duncan Sheik will take the stage, followed by Matt Nathanson at 6:15 p.m., and finally Ben Folds at 7:30 p.m.
Jones thinks that the event will provide a great way to celebrate the end of classes.
“The purpose of WILD is a fun way to celebrate the end of the year with your friends. The University community, the students and your friends can enjoy that and have fun,” he said.
Several students are also looking forward to the concert.
“I don’t know a lot about the people who are coming, but [WILD] is just fun in general,” said sophomore Eric Schmidt.
Aiden Yandell, a senior, echoes these thoughts.
“I have a friend coming in from out of town who is going with me, so I’m really excited about that. It will be a good weekend, and it is a good way to relax before exams.”
More information can be found at ff.wustl.edu or team31.wustl.edu.
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