Peace, love and music

The normally empty Dow Field was clustered with booths, two stages, and lots of students Saturday from noon to midnight as a kick-off to Human Rights Awareness Week on campus with a concert headlined by Dead Prez. Other acts included the UConn Steel Drum Band and local punk, ska and rock acts.

The giant music festival was put on by the Human Rights Tour in conjunction with Idealists United and UConnPIRG, and funded by USG. Other organizations like WHUS, Direct Action, and the Connecticut chapter of the ACLU also participated in the event.

The UConn Steel Drum Band began playing at noon. The upbeat calypso rhythms, as well as the performance put on by the drummers themselves, helped to attract attention to the event early in the day.

After their energetic performance, John Corkery, the Human Rights Tour coordinator, stepped up to the microphone for a brief introduction, outlining the rest of the day and the events planned for the week. Corkery also took the stage late in the show to congratulate UConn students on providing the most signatures on a university campus so far for a document supporting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a charter drafted for the United Nations in 1948 to provide an international standard for human rights.

The Social Boys took to the stage, bringing a Beach Boys type sound: a mix of classic rock and surf rock. The 40-minute set grabbed the attention of even more passers-by.

Next up was Life on Hold, a band from Billerica, Mass. Their performance took place on a smaller, solar-powered stage. Their half-hour set was extended an additional 20 minutes because of audience demand for their music.

Life on Hold brought to the stage a solid, tightly performed combination of metal and hard rock instrument work with an energetic and powerful female lead vocalist.

Kittens Ablaze, hailing from Brooklyn, arrived on the main stage afterward, bringing the usual bass, guitar, drums, and keyboard, but also adding a cello and violin to the mix. Their style ranged from classic to modern rock, to pop and even folk, including a sped up, strings focused rendition of John Denver's "Country Roads." Next, Spongioblast took to the solar-powered stage for a high energy set full of funk, blues, and a touch of psychedelia.

Several other bands rounded out the dinner time hours of the festival, including Funk Your Mother, Written Up, Circadian Rhythm, and Lawless Coast. The popular Sleep Well was the last band before Dead Prez.

After their performances, a representative from Connecticut Students Against the War spoke about his organization's advocacy for ending the war, as well as diverting military funds towards jobs, education, health care, and affordable housing in the U.S. He was followed by Justin Holmes, who gave a brief speech about how modern technology is helping keep track of human rights violations all over the world.

Other events before Dead Prez's performance included a large peace sign formation of students, photographed from the top of the library.

"No Sweat" Fashion featured student models, who showcased sweatshop-free clothing and recycled clothes from thrift shops.

Dead Prez appeared on stage around 10 p.m. Their set lasted until almost midnight, captivating the audience. Some students climbed on stage to dance.

Dead Prez made sure each of their songs delivered a message about human rights, one that was not missed by those who listened.