ChirpFest
When: Saturday, Sept. 19; 6 p.m. - midnight
Where: North Dill Street from West University Avenue to West North Street
Tickets: $5 at the door
ChirpFest acts
ChirpFest will be hosting several local and out-of-town acts, including Nyzzy Nyce, a Fort Wayne, Ind.-based rapper who started record label Certiflyyed; Dub Knight, a DJ coming from Indianapolis; and BorderlinZe, a Muncie local DJ.
Full line-up
BorderlinZe, J Tubbs, Jordn Moody, Trill, Nyzzy Nyce, Jody Free, Dub Knight, Mikado
The first-ever ChirpFest, an electronic dance music festival thrown in the Village and organized almost entirely by two Ball State students, will be held Sept. 19.
Darius Norwood and Chris Cammack, both in their early 20s, said they work from 8 a.m. until 3 a.m. on projects like ChirpFest, yet refuse to call themselves busy. Productive is their word of choice.
"I got three hours of sleep last night," said Cammack, a business administration major. "I'm not tired, because I love what I'm doing."
The result of their late nights will be a $5 event on North Dill Street stretching from West University Avenue to West North Street and featuring a raffle and eight musicians. Cammack likened it to IU’s Little 500 and Purdue’s Grand Prix.
"I knew we didn't have that event," Cammack said. "[We] have the student base, just not the support or creativity to make that happen."
ChirpFest is actually a merging of Norwood and Cammack's individual ideas. Norwood, a public relations major, had entertained the idea of hosting a music festival at John R. Emens Auditorium since coming to Ball State, and Cammack wanted to host one that bridged the gap between the Muncie community and Ball State's campus.
ChirpFest had to get $1 million liability insurance. Read our news coverage here.
They were eating at Brother’s Bar and Grill when their ideas combined.
"Man, what if we just blocked off [Dill Street]?" Cammack said to Norwood.
The concept of ChirpFest lines up perfectly with President Paul W. Ferguson's 18 goals, said Norwood.
"He's looking for young entrepreneurs, he's looking to bridge that gap between the Muncie community and the village," Norwood said. "We're able to do any and everything he's asking."
Cammack and Norwood have gained support from 16 different sponsors including UPS, MITS, Village Promenade and Greek’s Pizzeria.
Raf Domenech of Greek's Village location, said he will support anything that can be done to join the students, the Village and Muncie residents whether it be EDM or hard rock.
Norwood and Cammack aren't the only ones behind ChirpFest. It's a team effort.
"We have students that go to Ball State that help with branding, help us with the photography, videos," Norwood said. "So they're all building their resumes and portfolio while helping with this event." Norwood said around 25 students will help with the festival.
Cammack and Norwood’s peers also inspired them to charge a low price for the event. Norwood said he hopes people come to the event and think the $5 ticket is too cheap, and that they’d be willing to pay something closer to $30-50.
"We went back and forth on that for awhile," Norwood said. "Hey, we go to school with these people. We want them to come out and have a good time, we're not here to break their back."
Cammack and Norwood's plan is to extend this ChirpFest into a regular fall and spring event.
"ChirpFest is gonna be at Ball State forever," Norwood said. "When Ball State is no longer here, ChirpFest is no longer here."
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