Fordham students definitely felt the rain on their skin at Rose Hill’s Spring Weekend Concert this past Saturday. Despite the brisk weather outside, Fordham’s Campus Activity Board (CAB) brought the heat with this year’s lineup.
Starting off strong was Fordham’s own winner of Battle of the Bands, Irish Exit. They covered two classics with “Say It Ain’t So” by Weezer and “Toxic” by Britney Spears, as well as a few originals that quickly garnered admiration from the crowd.
Between sets, speakers played tunes ranging from 2013 Lorde to the latest Sombr release. The blasting music made sure everyone, from those saving their spots at the barricade to others lingering around the Lombardi Fieldhouse, could feel the buzzing energy of the venue.
Del Water Gap took the stage next. His set was cinematic and rhythmic, every song drawing the crowd into a steady sway, clap or cheer. By the time he stepped off stage, the crowd was fully settled into the groove and ready to lock in for the main headliner of the concert.
Closing out with her hit song “Unwritten” did not disappoint. The crowd was hyped up by the impending excitement the iconic song provided, and it definitely proved to be worth the wait.
When the trendy TikTok remix playing from the speakers started to quiet down and a thunderous cheer rang through the ever-growing crowd, everyone knew it was time and that Natasha Bedingfield was nearby.
In a similar fashion to her opener, she arrived in a simple raincoat with the hood up, going right into her set. The energy started off high and stayed there as Bedingfield played hit after hit, engaging the crowd and making sure everyone was enjoying themselves.
Closing out with her hit song “Unwritten” did not disappoint. The crowd was hyped up by the impending excitement the iconic song provided, and it definitely proved to be worth the wait.
With the terror of upcoming finals and cramming in last-minute missing assignments, it makes sense that students clung to lyrics that implored the crowd to “release (their) inhibitions.” The rain outside was truly the cherry on top of the immersive experience the concert provided.
It was special to see the way these kinds of experiences bring the student body together by either reconnecting people with fellow classmates or making new friends with the people screaming along next to them.
The atmosphere was bright with the overhead lights on in the back of the fieldhouse and colorful flashing stagelights to light up the performers and audience. They brought a new aura to the venue with every beat drop, either setting the tone for the slower, acoustic vibes or shifting for the upbeat, energizing moments.
The way the Fordham community came together, from swaying back and forth holding up their phone flashlights to clapping their hands slightly off beat to the music, was a truly electric experience. It was special to see the way these kinds of experiences bring the student body together by either reconnecting people with fellow classmates or making new friends with the people screaming along next to them.
Students felt comfortable in the happy and easy vibe of the event, having fun letting go for a few hours in the hectic whirlwind that comes with the end of the year.
There was also buffet-style food offered at the event. CAB’s Instagram account referenced a free barbecue, and they delivered with options such as make-your-own hot dogs or hamburgers, vegetarian selections and a table for gluten-free alternatives.
A popular menu option was the addictive mac-n-cheese, and a close companion was the refreshing watermelon that seemed to be restocked by the minute. The weather has been getting warmer this past April — even if this day specifically did not reflect it — and with it, fruits have been getting better.
If the watermelon was not enough to cool the crowd down after being surrounded by bodies jumping in the crowd during the sets, there was also a wide ice cream selection offered.
Joanna Wang, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’29, provided an in-depth review of the variety of flavors to choose from, and put together a plate of desserts ranging from cookiewiches to vanilla ice cream pudding.
“It’s hard to go wrong with ice cream,” she said.
Similarly, it is hard to go wrong with free merchandise. A table to the side featured CAB-designed stickers, visors and a limited collection of free T-shirts. It was little things like this that contributed to the sense of care and planning behind the event, adding to the overall experience.
While the weather may not have cooperated, the success of the event did not depend on it. Through a strong lineup, a lively crowd and thoughtful touches from CAB, Spring Weekend once again proved why it remains one of Fordham’s most anticipated traditions.