[Photo courtesy of Kelley Lach]

By Grace Koennecke, Columns Editor and Copy Editor

Do not fret, Rock Lobsters, because ACRN’s annual Battle of the Bands is back and better than ever, returning to The Union this Saturday, Nov. 4. With five bands performing, this year’s battle is sure to be one to remember, especially with such a diverse lineup. 

Listeners can stop by The Union to judge sets by Secret Oatmeal, The HouseGuest, Roman Candle, Split, and Cranberry Cascade for themselves on Saturday. Before you make your way to The Union this weekend, here is some brief background on each artist:

Secret Oatmeal will be the first DJ Battle of the Bands has seen in a while at The Union. With quite the resume, the DJ and experimental artist has been keeping busy with releases throughout the year, including tracks like “katelyn’s lullaby” and two albums titled “ac03x45dh3” and “dj secret oatmeal deluxe deluxe.” ACRN’s own programming co-director Eli Beard, Secret Oatmeal is sure to be one of the most experimental of the night, and you won’t want to miss their set.

The HouseGuest, consisting of Ohio University student musicians Sean Pierce, Ben Kloppman, and Leah Marshall, has made multiple appearances at The Union throughout the fall. Aligning most with the indie-rock genre, the band has become a fan-favorite on campus for their chill vibes and upbeat sound. With Marshall at the forefront, this band will surely garner attention for her smooth soprano and guitar skills.

Roman Candle emerged this year, winning over local music fans for their whimsical frontwoman, OU student Samantha Kruse. With over 600 followers on Instagram, the band can be best described as loud and groovy, integrating sounds from the 1970s to now. After performing throughout major events in Athens like Homecoming Weekend and Halloween, the band is ready to bring it for Battle of the Bands.

Split is another new band that has grown in popularity this fall, thanks to the talent of OU students Ella Franks, Ethan Shatz, Jacob Dickey, Harrison Smith, and Calvin Whipple. A band known for their covers of artists from The Backseat Lovers to Declan McKenna, they are definitely impressive contenders for this weekend. Falling under the alternative-rock genre, make sure to catch Split’s set for nostalgic hits from the 2010s and beyond.

Cranberry Cascade is an Athens-based indie post-punk band performing this weekend as well. Originating from Cleveland, Ohio, its members are all Ohio University students, including ACRN’s production director KJ Mueller, Marty Bradesca, Luca Deliberato, Wes Piai, Steve Martis, and Miles MacDonald. While they are newer to the Athens music scene, they aren’t afraid to combine genres such as funk, indie, rock, and more. Check them out this weekend at The Union.

An honorable mention also goes out to The Long Lost Somethins, who aren’t playing in this year’s Battle of the Bands due to unforeseen circumstances, but their music is still worth the listen. The band has recently submitted music to NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest with their song “Voyeur”, and they have four albums spanning from 2019 to 2022.

Doors open at 8 p.m., with music starting at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 for 21+ and $10 for those under 21. More information can be found here.