PoChella Music Festival

On Thursday, April 26th, Ramapo College will present ‘PoChella, a free carnival-themed music festival featuring many of the school’s own student and alumni bands. 

The event, open to the public, runs from 3 p.m. - 9 p.m. and will take place on the college’s Laurel Courts, which are located behind the student center on campus. In the event of inclement weather, the H-Wing Auditorium will be used as an alternate location. 

Taking its name from the popular California concert festival Coachella, which is currently in full-swing out West, Ramapo College’s ‘PoChella event is being co-organized and produced entirely by students in the Music and Entertainment Industry Student Association (MEISA) and those enrolled in the Advanced Business of Music class.

The headlining act for ‘PoChella is The Hsu-Nami, a group comprised of several Ramapo graduates.  The Hsu-Nami blends American instrumental rock and the unique sound of the *erhu*, a traditional Chinese violin.  The band has achieved success in multiple countries, including touring with major groups from the United States, Japan, and China. The Hsu-nami was also acknowledged at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics where their music was played for the Chinese national basketball team. More information can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/HsuNamiRock

Audio Insight, a progressive rock band featuring current Ramapo student Dan Sullivan ‘14, tests musical limits with their soaring melodies and complex instrumentals.  This promising band has often been compared to The Fall of

Troy and The Mars Volta.  This year they will be appearing at the Bamboozle Music Festival for the second time in as many years alongside leading national and international talent on Asbury Park’s North Beach. More information can be found at: www.audioinsightmusic.com

Other artists on the bill for ‘PoChella include rock bands StandStill, Ideal Drive, Strive, We Are Ghosts, and Roe!, a solo acoustic performer.  In addition, Evantr0nic blends electronic beats with live bass, while Lo Kloza mixes pop, rock and R&B, and Kokonut Cong offers a groovy ukelele and djembe duo.

‘PoChella offers students that are performing an opportunity to present their musical talent, and gives students who are organizing the show the first-hand experience of planning a live concert event. 

For more information on the event, contact Ramapo College Professor Ben Neill at bneill@ramapo.edu or 201-684-6283.