Saturday, Feb. 6, the sun is shining down on the Frosh Quad as students slowly begin to enter the concert area. People have brought blankets to sit on while they watch their friends attempt to learn how to line dance. The concert has not yet begun, but soon good vibes and country acoustics will radiate through campus.
Spring Fest 2016 was a great time to be had by all who attended. The country music group, Love and Theft put on an incredible show, as well as their opener, Justin Lee. Rockstar Energy supplied free energy drinks, but even without the sponsor, there was enough high energy to go around.
Justin Lee got on-stage around three o’clock accompanied only by his guitar. Regardless, the country singer knew how to move a crowd. He played some of his own songs along with covers of other popular country songs. A fan favorite was “Wagon Wheel,” which got the whole crowd singing and dancing along. By the time Justin Lee left the stage the students of the U of R were pumped and ready for the main event.
The moment Love and Theft frontmen Stephen Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson stepped on stage, the crowd fell in love. Throughout the show the duo threw signed guitar picks and t-shirts at the audience, and Stephen Barker came down into the crowd to take selfies with people. The set list included “Night That You’ll Never Forget”, “Anytime, Anywhere”, “Whiskey on My Breath”, and finished with their most popular song, “Angel Eyes.” Thrown into the mix were songs by rock legends Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, and The Police.
As the sun began to set, the concert came to an end. Cowboy boots and converse made their way out of the gate carrying with them good vibes and the feeling of Spring, along with some boot stomping good tunes stuck in their heads. Spring Fest 2016 was a success.
[Image courtesy of Joseph Serrano, Redlands Bulldog photographer]
Full Love and Theft setlist:
“Can’t Wait For the Weekend”
“Dust on the Bottle”
“Runnin’ Out of Air”
“Let’s Get Drunk and Make Friends”
“Candy Land”
“Everybody Drives Drunk”
“Night You’ll Never Forget”
“Wrong Baby Wrong”
“Fishin In the Dark” –Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
“Tan Lines”
“Dancing In Circles” (acoustic)
“Folsom Prison” –Johnny Cash
“Anytime, Anywhere”
“Whiskey On My Breath”
“Free Fallin’” –Tom Petty
“Every Breath You Take” –The Police
“Runaway”
“Freedom”
“Angel Eyes”
