The Sigma Pi fraternity will fight for one last sizzle of summer Saturday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. with a public concert at their new house on 700 NE California St.
Jordan Johnson, the event coordinator and Sigma Pi member, said the fraternity wants the event to mark their move this year onto Greek Row.
“We really wanted to step onto Greek Row with a bang,” Johnson said. “We just really wanted to throw an event that everybody can enjoy, Greek or not Greek.”
He said if it goes well, the concert could become an annual event.
The free event, sponsored by Monster Energy, will feature Vividal, a Seattle-based band that has a sound similar to the Red Hot Chili Peppers and recently headlined at Seattle’s Showbox concert house. The evening also includes a barbeque from Stubblefield’s, a beer garden provided by the Paradise Creek Brewery, free Monster energy drinks and free Munchy’z T-shirts.
Stubblefield's DJ Goldfinger, who is hosting the event, said when Sigma Pi contacted him about doing a day concert for the community, he appreciated the unique approach to letting people have a good time. He said he liked that they did not want to charge people for the music and were not just trying to provide an excuse for people to get drunk.
“I’m really down with the fact that it’s really about the music and the concert,” Goldfinger said. “I feel like a lot of other late night concerts are a gimmick, but these guys are just trying to have a good day.”
Goldfinger said he looks forward to dropping some beats and bringing the showmanship back into the DJ world by playing whatever makes people dance. He said people should definitely come and check it out.
Zach Fetaru, Sigma Pi’s marketing chairman, said DJ Goldfinger stepped up tremendously to assist, and the band and other participants fell into place through connections. He said the event is turning out to be more than any of the fraternity members could have imagined.
“This is key for our fraternity and we want to make sure it goes as well as it can,” Fetaru said. “This could be a transcendent event for Greek Row.”
Johnson said the barbeque and stage will be on the basketball courts at their house. He said they hope 1,000 or more people attend, and they have bouncers, sober brothers and hired security to control the crowds. The brewery also strictly enforces the age limit of 21 for the beer garden in the parking lot.
“We will hopefully keep everybody out of the streets,” Johnson said. “We are really focusing on public safety and will make sure everything is running right.”
