Bad Weather Ballads, the winter version of CAC’s annual “Good Weather Groovin”,  made its debut Friday, Feb. 18 at 11 a.m. The event took place at the cafe and lasted until 2 p.m. 

“Bad Weather Ballads” opened with some jazz music, led by Music Program Director David Berry on melodica, Sophomores Will Stutzman on electric guitar, Maggie Garber on vocals, Thaddeus Jackson on acoustic guitar, Junior John Jantzen on bass, and Seniors Rodrigo Barahona and Caleb Hostetler on drums and piano, respectively.

Following the first group’s jazz act, “Johnny and the Jantzen,” a band consisting of John Jantzen on bass, Sophomore Laura Craft on vocals and ukulele, Garber on guitar and vocals, and CAC Director Tyler Goss on the box drum, performed multiple songs, which included  “Count on Me” by Bruno Mars, “Vienna” by Billy Joel, and “Silver Lining” by Mt. Joy. 

Sophomore Bradley Kirkdorffer played guitar and sang four original songs: “House of the Rising Sun,” “Train,” “Up In Space,” and “Blood on Fire,” as well as Guns N Roses’ classic “Knocking on Heaven’s Door.” Kirkdorfer was also joined byStutzman on the electric guitar. 

After performing, Kirkdorfer shared some words about the ways that his life has impacted his music and how his music, in turn, has impacted his life. Kirkdorfer, who describes his music style as rock/blues, expressed that music is religion to him and that he is always grateful to perform for others.

Sophomores Mana Acosta and Iris Anderson were also among the students who performed, singing a duet together and being some of the few who also performed at “Good Weather Groovin” back in the fall.

The cafe was full of students and faculty both eating lunch and enjoying the music. Many students enjoyed the live music as they ate lunch, applauding after performances. Sophomore Rachael Saeli sat close to the music as she ate her lunch and cheered her friends on. Saeli shared, “I loved getting to hear my friends perform. ‘Good Weather Groovin’ and ‘Bad Weather Ballads’ have been my favorite events.” 

Craft, who performed alongside her friends, talked about how she felt afterwards. “I was nervous but ended up having a lot of fun performing with my friends. I’m thankful for low-pressure opportunities like this to get to share my hobby with others.” 

“Bad Weather Ballads” is only one of many on-campus activities that give students a chance to showcase their talents and hobbies; CAC hosted two karaoke nights in Common Grounds and also joined the theater department and BSA last semester in hosting a cabaret.