Southwestern University students are getting ready to hold their second annual spring music festival known as Clusterfest on Friday, April 20, at the Corbin J. Robertson Center.

The headline performer for this year’s festival is Sleigh Bells, an electro-rock duo from Brooklyn, New York. Featuring guitarist, songwriter and producer Derek Miller and singer Alexis Krauss, Sleigh Bells gained a prominent fan base after a breakout performance at the 2009 CMJ Festival. Upon unleashing their 2010 debut album Treats, Sleigh Bells quickly became one of the most exciting new bands around, playing lauded, exhilarating sets at festivals around the globe and confirming their status as a tour de force on stage. Treats’s own extreme volume was matched by the deafening roar of praise, placing the record on more than 50 year-end lists for 2010. Sleigh Bells released their second album, titled Reign of Terror, on Feb. 21 on Mom + Pop Music. In the past month, Sleigh Bells has appeared on the cover of Spin magazine and landed the role of musical guest on Saturday Night Live, further solidifying their status as bona fide rock stars.

Other bands scheduled to perform at the festival are Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, Future Islands, Suzanna Choffel, Mother Falcon, Whiskey Shivers and The Frontier Brothers.

“We’ve got a lot of fun energetic groups that will keep everyone entertained,” Clusterfest co-chair Brandon O’Connor said. “They all have unique sounds and looks but they’re still all high-energy bands that put on great shows, so they’re going to put an awesome show on for our students.”

In order to select this year’s lineup, the festival coordinators worked closely with the Clusterfest Think Tank, a diverse group of nine students who applied earlier last fall. “The Think Tank was a huge help,” Clusterfest co-chair Harrison Glaser said. “It was really cool to sit around with a bunch of different people who liked all different types of music. Most of the bands that are coming this April are all thanks to their suggestions.”

Southwestern University is excited to welcome back 2007 graduate Travis Newman, who is the drummer for the Austin indie pop band The Frontier Brothers.

Clusterfest also will have a stage featuring some of Southwestern University’s very own musicians. These artists include first-year student Sarah Cook, Dream Shake (featuring seniors Justice Kinley and Stephen Adams), The Staylyns (featuring junior Joe Kraft), and 2011 graduate Jasmine SayGan.

A variety of food vendors will be located outside the Robertson Center, including Amy’s Ice Creams, Hat Creek Burgers, The Peached Tortilla and Southwestern student-run Korouva Milk Bar. Artist and organizational booths also will be located outside.

Tickets for the event may be purchased any of the following ways:

1.         Online with a credit card at www.theclusterfest.com/tickets.

2.         In person at the Southwestern University Office of Student Activities (Third floor of the McCombs Campus Center, suite 340), Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

3.         A limited number of tickets will be available for sale at Waterloo Records at the intersection of 6th Street and Lamar Boulevard in Austin.

4.         At the door the day of the event (if available), Cash only.

Student tickets are $15, faculty/staff/alumni tickets are $20, and general admission tickets are $25. All tickets sold the day of the festival are $25.

For more information about the concert, visit www.theclusterfest.com or call the Office of Student Activities at 512-863-1345.