New host, new flavors: ‘Release’ makes its way into its seventh year

For the seventh year in a row, an excited crowd will gather in Memorial Hall’s auditorium this Saturday to see the spring concert, Release.

Former student Jovan Mays began Release in the auditorium of Chadron High School. Six years later, Release is still going strong, with not only local artists preparing to share their talent, but also artists traveling in from all across America. The buzz this year, however, is about Kay’Vion, a signed R&B artist, who is traveling in from New York.

Karl McFarlane, aka Karl Minor, this year’s Release coordinator, said that having Kay’Vion is an exciting step for Release. This is the first year they will have a signed artist coming in, McFarlane said.

This year is also McFarlane’s first year coordinating Release. Previously, the show was put together by Mays, then later by Marty Lastovica, who graduated last spring. Both Mays and Lastovica will be returning for this weekend’s performance.

Lastovica commented that he is looking forward to seeing McFarlane’s take on Release. Lastovica said that everyone has different ideas for the show. “I’m excited to see Karl put a different flavor on the show.”

“If it keeps going, I’ll do what I can to be there and support it,” said Lastovica, adding that it would be surreal to see the show make it to it’s ten year anniversary. “It’s good to see the support of the arts in Chadron.”