One of the best things about going to school at JMU was the annual MACRoCk festival.

MACRoCk, or the Mid-Atlantic College Radio Conference, is an annual celebration of college radio and the independent music community run by student volunteers at college radio station WXJM.

Basically, this means the campus was swarmed with independent musicians, record labels and indie kids. The best part was that all the frat boys and skinny blonde girls vanished from the campus for the weekend. It was like living in Bizarro World.

When I was in school, I would go and enjoy all these bands I had never heard of before. I remember seeing +/- and Mates of State before anybody else knew who they were.

In its 13th year now, MACRoCk has boasted such names as Dashboard Confessional, Dismemberment Plan, The Faint, Fugazi, matt pond PA, Saves the Day, The Walkmen and many more.

However, this year I’m unable to go due to being in Chicago. Many RVA bands will be showing off their stuff this year. Jonathan Vassar, The Low Branches, Nick Coward & The Last Battle, The Florentines, The Diamond Center and Snack Truck are just some of the names on the list.

If you’re able to go, do it. It runs all weekend and I guarantee you it’ll be an amazing time.