Greg Golf and Carson Stone are two Cal Poly students who have truly embraced the entrepreneurial spirit. The duo, along with San Luis Obispo local Alec Schwend, have co-founded Shabang — a concert showcasing San Luis Obispo’s most promising musical talent usually atop scenic Cuesta Ridge.
In two short years, Shabang has put on five shows, and has become known on campus as a must-attend tradition.
“Seeing all the memories everyone is making— a lot of people act like it’s something they’ll remember for a long time. So it’s cool being able to provide that to people,” agricultural business senior Stone said.
Shabang evolved into a popular event after students hauled music equipment up the Cuesta Ridge mountainside and performed in what Golf refers to as “a kind of DIY and kind of loose feel.” That being said, last winter’s Shabang 5 didn’t go over quite so well. A combination of bad weather and police concern about safety and legality put the show to a halt.
But Shabang founders promised students a show this spring and came up with “Live at Laguna.” The event will serve as a sort of “Shabang 5.5,” according to business administration senior Golf.
The founding trio is currently working with the U.S. Forestry Service to acquire a permit that will ensure the Shabang tradition will live on in Fall 2016.
“Live at Laguna” is scheduled for Saturday, May 21 at Laguna Lake Park. The new setting still pairs great music with San Luis Obispo scenery. The concert will be at the northernmost section of the park, with a lake waterfront and Madonna trailhead in the backdrop.
The show is free and open to the public, though Shabang is taking online donations to fund future events. Parking may fill up and will be far from the stage, so attendees are encouraged to shuttle to the event. Shuttle rides will cost $10: They leave from Campus Bottle Shoppe at 4:30, 5, 5:30 and 6 p.m.
The set list, scheduled to start at 5 p.m., includes local rock artists Rowan McGuire; honestly, nothing.; The Earthtones; Animals In The Attic; and William H. Klink.
Correction: A previous version of this article misstated the date for the next Shabang. It has been updated.