Everything you need to know about the 2021 Big Agg Show
Every September, students gather on the Quad, their hearts thrumming in excitement to scream and dance to local music. One of the most popular Weeks of Welcome activities, the Big Agg Show is a Utah State University tradition that brings the community together through its array of local bands and vibrant energy.
This September, after skipping a year due to COVID-19 restrictions, the show is coming back in all of its glory.
The show will be held on Thursday, Sept. 2 on the Quad, during the first week of the annual Weeks of Welcome. Alternating between two separate stages, bands will start playing at 6 p.m., with plans of ending around 10 p.m.
In response to the pandemic, the show will also be livestreamed, so those who are feeling sick or who don’t feel comfortable coming can watch from home.
The Aggie Radio team and Utah State University Student Association have worked hard to assemble a unique ensemble this year, focusing on representing Utah’s local music scene and roots.
“We’re going for an alt rock-ish kind of feel,” said Sydney Ho, the station manager of Aggie Radio, “the indie alt rock thing that Utah does so well.”
This year, the Big Agg Show will feature The Lonely Heights, Mt. Everett, The Painted Roses, Sunfish, Mojave Nomads and The Moss, who will be headlining the event.
For many of these bands, this will be their first time performing at the Big Agg Show. The Moss, an up and coming band with Hawaiian roots, has played in Logan but never on the Big Agg Show stage.
According to the band members, The Moss’ signature sound can be described as “alternative surf-rock,” following this year’s theme of indie alt rock, but with a unique twist.
Fans have plenty to be excited for, as The Moss will be coming out with some fun new sounds and will even be playing with a new drum cover.
“We have a few new songs we’re really excited about, kind of new installments in a kind of new sound we’re going for,” explains Tyke James, the lead singer for The Moss. “They’re a lot of fun. We’ve got a lot of changeups tempo wise and whatnot.”
The USU community is special to many of the bands playing. According to the Mojave Nomads, Logan is like a second home. The Moss also love to play around Logan because of the welcoming environment and community.
The Painted Roses, an indie rock band based in Logan, all pride themselves as Aggies and are especially excited to play on the Big Agg Show stage this year.
“I think everyone in the band has gone to Utah State at some point in their life, so it’s kind of an important place for us, so being able to play on campus means a lot to us,” said Cole Stocker, the founder of The Painted Roses.
The Painted Roses will also be playing some new songs, including some from their latest album “Stone Cold Killer” and a cover of a Fleetwood Mac song.
Having already played with Mojave Nomads at the Depot, the band has some connections with other members of the lineup.
“Got a lot of friends playing up there that I’m really excited about playing with,” Stocker said. “I think this is the best Big Agg Show in a long time, so I’m really excited to be a part of it.”
This Big Agg Show will be a special one, not only because it’s the first one in two years due to the pandemic, but because of what it represents for the bands, Utah State and the community as a whole.