By Georgia King ’28
Claremont has a serious music scene. While I’m no musician myself, I’m greatly appreciative of anyone who has the skill to play an instrument and I take advantage of any opportunity to hear new genres and new artists. There seems to be an endless amount of opportunities here for music makers to create outside of the classroom, and for music enjoyers, like myself, to listen and support.
Luckily for me, I’ve fallen in with some incredibly talented artists. They represent one of many student bands on campus that perform at 5C-wide events, such as the one pictured above on Pomona’s farm! Students also have opportunities to perform at the beloved Scripps coffee shop the Motley as well as larger festivals such as DAZE, which is put on by the Pomona Events Commission. The network of student musicians is vast and inclusive even of people like me who are just happy to see live music. I’ve been exposed to some great covers and originals by way of the band Where’s My Jeens, and I’m so excited to see them perform at more campus events!
Student performances aren’t just limited to bands. Student DJs often find themselves as fixtures of 5C nightlife. If club classics and house music are more your style than indie rock, these are the events for you. Not only do students DJ, but oftentimes the 5C events committees will bring in special guests to kick things off—see DJ Mandy above.
Now maybe you love club pop and dance music, but sometimes you want to be a bit of an old head and listen to some classics. If so, you may find yourself at the Claremont Community Performance Stage bopping along to a (very good) dad band playing the Beatles greatest hits. These community concerts are staples of the warmer months and everyone in the crowd, young and old, dances along—it’s truly a heartwarming experience.
Clearly, there’s plenty of music to go around. From student bands to dad bands and all the party anthems in between, there’s endless opportunities to get in touch with your musical side. If you wish to go farther afield, there is also a steady stream of amazing artists playing shows in L.A. (most recently Tyler the Creator), but even if you stay on campus, you’ll be sure to get your fill. Claremont as a whole is a space for creatives, a fact reflected in every music festival and community performance. Aspiring artists and avid listeners alike can find their place—it’s all here for the taking!