WIUX to bring an edge to Bishop

From campus to past Kirkwood, IU students are faced with plenty of options for spending their free time.

The trouble is picking just one, depending on the day.

“The local music scene, The Bishop and WIUX are three of my favorite things at IU. Put those three things together for free, and you have my perfect night,” freshman Bari Finkel said. 
It looks like she’ll be getting what she wants.

WIUX will be sponsoring a free show 9 p.m. Thursday at The Bishop showcasing local metal bands Medusa, Beast In The Field and We Are Hex.  

Senior Katie McKenna, special events director for WIUX, said the night will be offering something different for music lovers.  

“WIUX puts on a lot of indie rock shows, but I wanted to do something different this time. I personally love all the bands on the lineup, as do a lot of other people,” McKenna said.

That sense of a strong local following was echoed by James Bauman, guitarist for Medusa.

Bauman said after the group won the Bluebird’s Battle of the Bands last year, enthusiasm for Medusa’s performances has only increased.  

Senior Stephanie Foreman has been a DJ for the student radio station for three semesters.

She showed passion for the event as she described memories from seeing We Are
Hex perform for the first time and said Medusa always gives 110 percent energy.

“It’s definitely metal, which they push to the limit with brain-numbing riffs and high intensity stage presence that will melt your face off,” Foreman said. “Not to be worried though — I never thought I’d really be into them since they are pretty hardcore, and I’d say I’m a fan now.”

When organizing the event, McKenna said she chose The Bishop because of the intimate and unique environment it offers.

Finkel said she values the vibe of the local venue.

“The Bishop always creates a great connection between the band and the audience which I love being a part of,” Finkel said.

McKenna said the initiative behind the show is not just to bring music to the people of Bloomington, but to spread the visibility of WIUX.

Also, it gives the station a chance to reach many listeners with new and local music talents.

Medusa has been involved with WIUX before, as Bauman said they played a show at the station a few years ago.

He said the students on staff are genuine and enthusiastic about what they are doing and the station offers Bloomington something unique.

“A college station offering such a wide variety of music the way WIUX does is pretty cool,” Bauman said. “A lot of the music that gets played at the station wouldn’t normally be heard over the airwaves in Bloomington if it weren’t for them.”