Pop, hip hop, and dubstep played on Saturday, October 4, as Beloit College hosted its annual Folk ‘n’ Blues festival on the Chapin Quad. Mason “Masooni” Sorensen ’25 warmed up the crowd with his own mix of electronic dance music and a few original tracks. Enthusiastic students and community members gathered as the Saturday night fun grew, donning glow sticks and grabbing pizza. But there’s more to Folk ‘n’ Blues than yard games and 360-degree selfies.

Folk ‘n’ Blues is a tradition rooted in Beloit College history, the festival itself starting in 1972 when students invited Chicago-based artists to perform on the Chapin Quad. Folk ‘n’ Blues means a lot to the campus community who celebrate its history, including alumni.

This year’s theme, “Homegrown,” references the tradition and talent demonstrated by campus performances from artists who found their musical passion at Beloit College. The Beloit College Programming Board, a student-run organization that helps plan events and activities, commissioned student artists from Beloit College to draw with chalk a few days prior to the event, and selected four musical acts who each brought their own energy and style to the festival. Dean of Students Ron Watson’s band Mr. Pink headlined. “Being back for a second time means a lot,” says Watson, “It’s exciting for me. It’s also verification that this is a cool place that likes the kind of music that I like and that I am actually able to help produce.”

Mr. Pink returns to Folk ‘n' Blues.
Credit: Maurice Lea ’29 Tae Charles ’23, ResLife coordinator, performed under the stage name Tae Laurent. His set, entitled “Do what makes you feel alive,” lit up the stage with a variety of original hip-hop songs linked to the idea of following your dreams. Sorensen too started pursuing his dream as a student, performing at campus spaces like C-Haus.

“The event went exactly as we had hoped,” says Head of P-Board Priyanshu Bhunia ’27. “We wanted to curate a holistic experience, hence the glow sticks glasses, and photo booth, Ella our MC, and Kazuma our chalk artist. It was so fulfilling to see so many people dance and sing along. It felt like all our hard work paid off!”

The final act was campus DJ duo Much & Kwas, current seniors and international students who are well known DJs in the Beloit community. Afrobeats and melodies from their original remixes lingered for one last appreciation by the crowd for Folk ‘n’ Blues, its music and its memories.