Organizer of ‘Release’ aims for full house

The fifth annual “Release” show is set to take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Memorial Hall’s auditorium.

Release is an annual show featuring both local and national artists and performers.

This year’s Release will spotlight over 20 artists organized by Marty Lastovica, 20, junior of Omaha,

Maxilla Blue, a hip-hop group from Des Moines, Iowa, is the best-selling group in Des Moines.

“I’m excited that they are gonna come,” Lastovica said.

The show will feature artists from Omaha including Zack Short, a singer/songwriter; slam poets Gage Wallace and Ben Wenzl; and a rap/hip-hop artist, KB the Kid.

Additional artists will include slam poets Mikena Renee and CSC graduate Jovan Mays, as well as an indie singer/songwriter, The Maykit, from Denver.

Artists who regularly perform at Open Mic Nights will also perform at Release.

“I don’t wanna give away too much, but the fact that we have someone singing acoustic folk paired with a hip-hop group is enough to shock someone right there,” said Lastovica.

Lastovica became the organizer of Release this year after Mays, the initiator and organizer of the show, graduated from Chadron State College in 2010.

“I’ve been a part of it for the last two years,” Lastovica said.

The first Release took place in 2006. According to Lastovica, the idea was born when Mays and a friend spontaneously decided to organize a concert. At that time, only five or six friends collaborated and performed for the public.

The definition of Release is the act of freeing oneself. “I think it’s a good name for what it is,” Lastovica said.

According to Lastovica, some of his responsibilities include getting money allocated for the event, inviting the artists, and making sure that all the artists get to Chadron on time.

“A lot of things go into play – that’s what makes it so much fun,” Lastovica said.

Lastovica also said that he hopes to see a good turn-out. “Last year we had over 600 people,” Lastovica said. “We want people lining the rows.”

Lastovica said that if the turnout exceeds the amount of seats in Memorial Hall’s auditorium, people can sit in  the lobby and listen.

The show is recommended for audience members older than 13 years old.

“It’s like PG-13, you can expect to see a couple of curse words, but nothing distasteful,” Lastovica said.

There will be a pre-show at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Student Center. Four to five artists perform for approximately 20 minutes each. The event is scheduled to give the public the taste of Saturday’s event.

Release is free of charge and open to the public.

The event is sponsored by CAB, the diversity Committee, and the Student Senate.