This semester was a great one for music on campus. Rowan has developed an incredibly robust music scene in the past two years. Off campus house shows run by the Student Government chartered club Rowan Alternative Music, and the unaffiliated, but student run venue known as 4333 have brought some of the most lively college shows to our South Jersey campus.
Starting off small, Rowan Alternative Music began producing live music shows featuring local Rowan bands. The shows attracted a small, but dedicated crowd that only grew as time went on. today, both Rowan Alternative, and 4333 attract bands from as far away as Massachusetts to preform in front of hundreds of Rowan students. not only do these shows attract big names in the college band scene, but they provide a unique space for Rowan students to feel involved on our campus. Many of these students feel as though the traditional late night college scene, parties and bars, are unappealing. House shows provide these students with a safe and fun alternative, where they can meet other like-minded people.
These shows usually start around 8 p.m giving enough time for three to four band performances. From their humble beginnings they started with students who sang and played the guitar and gave a very acoustic late-night-open-mic style of environment. But as they gain traction and the clubs were granted more budgets they were able to equip the basements with better sound equipment and the bands referenced before.
The organizations count on different people to run the shows. All of them very talented. Most of the set ups require technical skills that the students have learned due to their involvement. Not only there is usually a sound board but they run lights and set up the stage just as you would find it in any other minor venues. They provide a show case of talent not only on the musical side but also the technical side of the shows. These shows sound and look professional and they entertain a whole community of students.
Students enjoy the shows in different ways. I talked once to one of my friends, with whom I go to these shows with, and one time he told me how he enjoyed talking to the people at these venues.
These house shows are very well organized and the organizations also fund raise by selling merchandise, like shirts, and also selling tickets.
As production cost raise as well as the quality of the artists, tickets also go up. They had started at $5 and now they’ve moved to $15 which is still pretty affordable. One big improvement, especially coming from the 4333 Collective is that now some of the shows have been hosted in Philly because of the number of people that attend.
I would encourage any new student who is into music to check out the productions next semester because this club is coming with the batteries recharged and with some talent that its worth your time.
Follow them on social media. Especially Instagram. To find out where they go next.
@4333collective
Lastly, here’s a fun recap video that the Rowan Alt Club people put together.
RU LIVE! 