Bubbles, blankets and loud music filled the housing lawn at the Boca campus last week at Hootfest 2008. There was a performance list of up-and-coming artists, as well as artists signed to FAU’s own record label, Hoot/Wisdom Recordings.

Hootfest is an event that began in 2006 to introduce bands from the record label to the student population. It has slowly gained student supporters each year the event has taken place. The lineup for this year’s event included eight acts, but only three artists and groups were already signed to Hoot/Wisdom Recordings.

The organizer, junior Lori Button, believes that this year’s Hootfest will help the bands that performed expand their fan bases and to bring attention to the label.

“I’m really pleased with the turnout this year,” says Button. “It’s not a shut out crowd, but it’s not a bad crowd either. I’d say, all together, there were about 200 people who attended the event this year, which was a huge increase from last year’s total of only 70 people.”

One of the biggest adjustments this year to Hootfest was the change in venue from Coyote Jacks to the barbecue pit on the housing lawn.

“We decided to move it outside this year to make it more fun and noticeable,” Button says. “We want to do it outside every year from now on.”

The first three bands, Bell Tower Falls, Remedy and Quiet River High, all took the stage unsigned, but were auditioning for a chance to be signed by Hoot/Wisdom Records by showing the label that they can draw an audience.

“More fans came out than we ever expected,” says 22-year-old Quiet River High guitar player Nathan Lyons. “We’re just hoping that by playing at the event, we’ll get a demo deal from the label after they make their decision at the end of the semester.”

A currently signed band, The Marchen, began their performance and captured the crowd’s attention with their lyrics and indie melodies. They have recorded a single and a demo.

“My favorite part was playing ‘A Bird in a Cage,’ because now we have a good vocalist and it just fits the song,” says Noah Garbarino, guitarist for The Marchen.