Eastern Connecticut State University

WECS Radio presents 'Willipalooza' music festival

Eastern student-run festival showcases local talent

by Kyle Berson

Willimantic, CT (04/06/2026) — Eastern Connecticut State University will host a student-driven "mini-music festival" featuring local talent on April 15 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Geissler Gymnasium. The inaugural "Willipalooza," formerly named "Willistock," is presented by the University's WECS Radio Club in partnership with Storrs-based music venue The Dog P0und.

Performers include Eastern student and DJ Jack Neri as Shinomiyaa, local punk/rock bands Symposia and Remedies, and New Jersey-based Punk band "joey cxp."

Event Information:

Where: Geissler Gymnasium, Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, CT 06226.
When: Wednesday, April 15, 6-9 p.m.
Admission: Free and open to the public.
Parking: Public parking is available in Cervantes Garage and the third and fourth floors of Shakespeare Garage.

"It's hard for local musicians to gain recognition in their communities, let alone at a regional scale," said Kyle Berson, president of the WECS Radio Club. "Willipalooza aims to get our performers' names out there, while providing a good time for our campus community."

"Supporting local music also opens you up to sounds you may not have otherwise heard," added Lucy Jones, the club's vice president. "Symposia, for example, plays music that I ordinarily wouldn't listen to or wouldn't get recommended to me through algorithms or social media, but I really enjoy listening to them because they feel different and exciting."

The student-run club helps manage Eastern's on-campus radio station, WECS Radio, with several members hosting their own radio shows. The club is working with The Dog P0und, a self-described DIY, LGBTQ+-owned music venue in Storrs with strong ties to UConn's student community, focusing on promoting LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and femme-fronted acts.

Alexa Udell, the venue's founder, said that "going out as a queer person or a person of color, especially at a primarily White institution, is not always safe or comfortable. We started operating with the hope of filling that niche for nightlife at UConn and we have grown to hosting shows all over the state with that same mission."

Another focus of The Dog P0und is promoting local music talent. "Promoting local musicians is all about community. Providing a platform for local musicians lets them share their hard work and creativity, and it gets people interested in what those around them are doing," Alexa added.

The event will also feature various vendors, including The Dog P0und, performing artists, and student clubs and organizations. Willipalooza is free to attend and open to the public, with IDs being scanned at entry.

Primary Press Contact:

Michael Rouleau - Public Relations Officer, Eastern Connecticut State University - rouleaum@easternct.edu

Contact Information:

Kyle Berson - WECS Radio Club President - radio@my.easternct.edu
Alexa Udell - Dog P0und Founder - thedogp0undvenue@gmail.com
Symposia - Performer - symposiaband@gmail.com
Joey CXP - Performer - joeycxp@gmail.com
Remedies - Performer - david.shapard1214@gmail.com
Shinomiyaa - Performer - nerijac@my.easternct.edu

###

Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut's public liberal arts university, serving upwards of 4,000 students annually on its Willimantic campus. A residential campus offering 41 majors and 68 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal arts foundation grounded in a variety of applied learning opportunities. Ranked among the top 25 public institutions in the North by U.S. News & World Report in its 2025-26 Best Colleges ratings, Eastern has also been awarded 'Green Campus' status by the Princeton Review 15 years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.