Southern Utah University’s radio station, Thunder 91.1, hosted Sips & Spins, a record painting event open to all students, on Feb. 26 from 5 to7 p.m. in the Sharwan Smith Student Center Living Room.
Soda Nerd, which has locations in the Gerald R. Sherratt Library and on Harding Avenue, provided drinks at no charge. Students in the Thunder 91 radio program served popcorn and other refreshments.
Thunder 91 provided the crafting supplies, and attendees only had to pay $1 for the vinyl record.
Participants of the event were able to spend a fun night painting and chatting with friends, and then leave with a personal and hand painted souvenir vinyl.
Thunder 91 coordinates these events in hopes of getting more students involved and interested in the radio program. Additionally, events are also great advertising opportunities
for the Thunder 91 radio channel.
Events like Sips & Spins are solely run by radio students, giving them the opportunity to work promotionally and with other people in the radio station.
“Everyone is so fun and they’re so relatable. People laugh at the shows and think it is fun too,” said Tennessee Zollinger, an SUU student who hosts her own weekly show on Thunder 91.
Besides providing music for events and for students to listen to, one of Thunder 91’s goals is to highlight local artists and help them get involved in the area’s music scene.
Every year, Thunder 91 puts on a Battle of the Bands where musicians can audition and compete for a cash prize, and throughout the semester they provide open mic opportunities in the Student Center Living Room for solo acts. Local artists can also submit their work to Thunder 91 for the chance to be featured on air in one of their Thunderground Showcases.
“I think these events are effective, and I like that they give space to local artists,” Zollinger added.
More information on Thunder 91 and their upcoming events can be found on the SUU Website. To listen to Thunder 91 live and send in requests, students can tune into channel 91.1 on the radio or listen live at suunews.net/ksuu.
Author: Briar Adams
Editor: Heather Turner
Photos by Margaux Feret
life@suunews.net
