For Students, By Students: MICFest Establishes Its Campus Presence with Breakout Attendance

by Will O’Brien & Will Mehring

May 2, 2025

“Not A Band” performs for a crowd on HSS Lawn. (Will O’Brien/Photographer)

Wish we could have done it all over again this weekend, but we can only reflect on the inaugural “MIC Fest” event hosted by The University of Tennessee’s Music Industry Club last weekend. The festival featured 13 performers and bands on two hand-built stages on the HSS Lawn, as well as eight vendors from the Knoxville Vintage Market, free food for attendees and exclusive MICFest merchandise.

MICFest marks a historic moment for UTK’s Music Industry Club. In a year-long culmination of balancing schoolwork, social lives, career exploration and festival preparation, MIC presented a grassroots festival experience that went above and beyond to create a space for student artistry and creativity.

 Festival goers enjoy the “Vintage Market” on HSS Lawn. (Will O’Brien/Photographer)

In their live entertainment debut, MIC upheld their festival mission statement of “For Students, By Students” in every aspect possible. From exchanging contact info at merchandise tables to overseeing sound equipment and production, MIC student members managed every minute detail of the festival proceedings.

Students help prepare and set up for MICFest. (Will O’Brien/Photographer) 

All acts featured at the festival were student performers as well, including, DJ Will “The QWill”, DJ “DJ”, Cashkit, Cassidy Forras, Not A Band, DJ “JT”, Night Deposit, Ava Tignor, Sola, Annie Miller, Antadie, Pierre, Duck and Jackson Ave.

Student Djs “TheQWill” and DJ “DJ” kicked off the evening with some warmup tunes, as attendees strolled through the coveted clothing tents of The Knoxville Vintage Market (@vintagemarketknox).

“TheQWill” prepares to set the tone with warm up tunes. (Will O’Brien/Photographer) 

Patiently waiting and ready to rock, the student band, Cashkit, sat prepared to mark their place as the first performing band at MICFest 2025. The six-piece college band delivered some epic covers of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition,” Journey’s “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” and “This Love” by Maroon 5.

Vocalists Caroline McDearmen and Ella Pinchok delivered stellar, enthusiastic performances alongside Eric Grigsby on guitar, Nicki Contreras on bass, Cole Hines on the keyboard, and Liam Webb on drums. All members of Cashkit matched the energy necessary to kick off a great festival and truly impressed the attending crowd.

”Cashkit” kicks off MICFest as the first performance. (Will O’Brien/Photographer) 

Following Cashkit, another group of musicians made their way to the stage; led by MIC Executives Sherleen Mwaura and Arnashia Gray with Layla Moore/PIERRE on vocals, Issiah Rajnoor on keyboard, J.B. Stafford on drums, Jeremy Myers on lead guitar, Marrio Green on bass and Braylen Robinson on rhythm guitar.  Before the performance they were sure to caution the audience that they are “Not A Band.”. 

Whatever their name ends up being, it didn’t take them long to bring the energy. Composed of several backup singers, some keys and three killer guitarists, the group came through with several lively songs. Even though they are clearly NOT A BAND, they should give some thought to becoming one.

”Not A Band” takes the stage as the second band performance of the evening. (Will O’Brien/Photographer) 

In between these two performances on the main stage were a couple of acoustic acts on the other side of the festival. Cassidy Forras played first, swaying in tune with the wind while playing some of her Americana originals. With a delicate vocal tune, she carried audiences through an intimate lawn performance that felt deeply personal and passionate.

Indie/Folk Artist Cassidy Forras entertains crowd with her original music. (Will O’Brien/Photographer) 

Next followed Will Brown’s Night Deposit, a thrashing soulful blues rock guitar act. Brown displayed some serious talent and kept the energy alive at the mainstage of MICFest ’25 with his soulful PRS SE Dave Navarro Custom 24 electric guitar.

Will Brown performs with “Night Deposit” while playing his custom guitar. (Will O’Brien/ Photographer.) 

As the night ensued, filled with illustrious student performances and retail items galore, attendees of MICFest were graced with delightful performances from Ava Tignor, Annie Milner, Sola, Pierre, and Duck. Annie, Ava and Pierre all had deeply intimate and beautiful sets that reeled in each audience member, casted in a faint orange glow from the dimming Knoxville sunlight.

PIERRE performs his new single “DL” at MICFest. (Will O’Brien/Photographer) 

Ava Tignor takes the stage with a collection of Acoustic songs. (Will O’Brien/Photographer)

Annie Milner joins the lineup of solo artists with a collection of indie/folk tunes. (Will O’Brien/Photographer)

Once the nighttime took over, bands Antadie and Jackson Ave completely overthrew the MICFest mainstage with effortless talent and stage presence. Antadie, led by the “Great Galliano,”  gave an unapologetically intense sleaze-punk performance with enough grit to spark a fire. Jackson Ave followed with an energy level in the same vein, closing out the inaugural MICFest 2025 with a bang. With the crowd still wanting more, DJ “JT” threw an after hours rave set in a packed-out festival tent.

”Jackson Ave” connects with the crowd during an electric late night performance. (Will O’Brien/Photographer) 

Alt/Rock band “Antadie” sets the tone of the night with engaging crowd work. (Will O”Brien/Photographer) 

Through hours of planning and dedication from the 96 student members of MIC, the student-led organization was able to pull off a tremendous on-campus music festival featuring 13 performances, 9 vintage clothing store vendors, hundreds upon hundreds of attendees and a lifetime of unforgettable memories on the HSS Lawn. Early rumors say that MIC Fest is plotting an even bigger and better return to the HSS Lawn in 2026. 

So, same time next year?