This years Moscow Block Party will feature music from three different bands
Sam Balas
Argonaut
Suburban America gave birth to the concept of the block party, food, drinks, music neighbors family and friends all gathered in a culdesac, the University of Idaho has begun a new tradition using this American concept.
UI has many traditions that make it unique and the Homecoming Committee has taken steps to introduce the school, and the Moscow community, to a new one in the past few years, The Moscow Block Party.
“It was a partnership between the University of Idaho and the Moscow Chamber of Commerce,” said Emily Rasch, UI Homecoming Chair. “We wanted to encourage the inclusion of the Moscow community in homecoming events.”
The Block Party will be the third free event and is open to both students and members of the Moscow community. “We decided that we should block off the streets.
We wanted to get the students downtown with our shops and our restaurants, get them involved with the city,” said Gina Taruscio, Executive Director of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a lot easier to get something done if we do it together.”
Both Rasch and Taruscio are excited for this years Block Party. They said it will be larger, more inclusive and feature a wider range of entertainment and attractions.
“It’s bigger, but better organized. More music, more food vendors,” Taruscio said. “Instead of one or two bands playing, we have three.”
One of the bands performing is local band, Blue Funk Jail Break. The band is made of UI and WSU faculty as well as the local Moscow School District.
“The music is dance music,” said guitarist and computer science professor Axel Krings.
He describes the band as playing mostly blues and funk music intended to get people up and out, Blue Funk Jail Break refers to the mood of depression one may experience in life, where as Jail Break refers to encouraging listeners to break out depression. Krings said that Blue Funk Jail Break would provide a musical experience no one else in the Palouse could provide.
“We are probably the hottest band in town,” he said. “I think we are the best musicians you can find in the area. I think our music will reflect that.”
Blue Funk and two other bands slated to perform, Ease Up and Tunnel Vision, were discovered by Taruscio at local bar and stage, John’s Alley.
“We knew we needed music,” she said. “John’s Alley has great, live music.”
By spreading three separate bands throughout Main Street, both Taruscio and Rasch hope that the Moscow Block Party will be an exciting event for students to experience a variety of music while also exploring what the City of Moscow has to offer.
Rasch especially hopes the event will become something of a tradition for the university, and envisions the music and beer filled event as something that happens years into the future.
“We’re excited to start a new tradition within the school and the community,” she said. “We are excited to see where this goes in the coming years.”
Sam Balas
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