SHABANG REBORN
With more stages and music, this was the biggest Shabang to date
The desire to grow and improve has been a continual impetus for the Shabang team, headed by founders Alexander Schwend, Carson Stone and Greg Golf, and not even distance can weary the passion they have built for the festival.
There are even team members who live outside of the state, and most of them balance full-time jobs alongside their Shabang commitments. Golf, who serves as marketing director and volunteer coordinator, kept in touch with the team through video chats as he balanced his job as a summer camp director in Austin. Golf works Monday through Friday and spends anywhere from two to three hours after work to coordinate the festival. While it is not an easy task, Golf said he believes the end result is worth it.
“Having people come up to me and tell me that this has been part of their college experience … there is no better feeling than being able to give that to others,” Golf said. There have been 12 Shabangs since the festival’s early days on Cuesta Ridge, and the team hopes to continue making the experiences something concert-goers want to return to.
While ticket prices were increased from last Shabang, Sponsorship Director Carson Stone said he believes it is all with the best of intentions.
“Not trying to rip people off, just basically trying to provide the best experience for people,” Stone said. “The value of the event is worth more than what people pay.”
Those who aspire to put this same amount of time and effort into launching their own festival should hear Building and Infrastructure Manager Schwend’s words of advice: “[Have] the desire to put something together, really … anything you can share with people and create an experience,” Schwend said.
“It takes a lot of time and effort and the short run feels like a lot, but in the long haul it’s worth it — so, just the dedication.”
Lead vocalist Brad Johnson belts out one of local band Golfdad’s signature songs. Kyle Calzia | Mustang News
Kyle Calzia | Mustang News
Indie pop band Sure Sure was formed in 2014 in East Los Angeles. Diego Rivera | Mustang News
San Luis Obispo mayor Heidi Harmon gave a talk about climate change in the “university” festival tent. Zach Donnenfield | Mustang News
Youth took to the Cuesta Ridge Stage at 6:00 p.m. for their set. Alison Chavez | Mustang News
For concert-goer James Alexandercrocitto, Shabang is an event he is willing to travel from Reno, Nevada to see.
“I’m here because of [my friends]; I love to be here and I’ll be here for years to come,” Alexandercrocitto said.
For some, Shabang also has the ability to spark romance, as in the case of civil engineering junior Eleni Korogianos and her boyfriend Jaxon Stuhr.
“I think Shabang was the first place we started actually hanging out,” Korogianos said. “I was taking photos and I found him and was like, ‘You need a profile picture.’”
Sure Sure played over 150 shows in the last two years alongside artists such as Hippo Campus and Young The Giant. Alison Chavez | Mustang News.
Bane’s World is run by Shane Blanchard, who writes, records, and produces all of the band’s music on his own. Alison Chavez | Mustang News
Diego Rivera | Mustang News
Banes World performs under the stage lights. Kyle Calzia | Mustang News
Golfdads performed in front of a lively Shabang audience. Kyle Calzia | Mustang News
Designed by Aidan McGloin