CSUN played host Saturday to the ninth annual of Big Show festival. Put on by students for students, it sure was big this year. In the eternal struggle between booking a flavor of the month big name or to find a well-established artist, no compromise was needed.

Lupe Fiasco has had a rich career. After the critical success of his debut studio album “Food and Liquor” and the conceptual followup of “The Cool,” Fiasco fascinated everyone with his crossover success from indie to hip-hop. Major credit goes out to the booking of Lupe Fiasco as well as strong support from Talib Kweli.

Although music is and will always be the main focus of Big Show, the Associated Students and S.P.A.C.E did a bang-up job of making the concert more of a community experience. Festivities included giant blow up slides, games, and booths set up to help some of CSUN’s clubs with fundraising. Local vendors were on hand as well to provide fuel for the occasion, ranging from tacos to Sprinkles Cupcakes. The addition of all these elements helped amp up school spirit and boost the event to festival status, creating a unique sense of community not often seen at a commuter school.

Lupe Fiasco may have been the main draw for a majority of attendants, but the opening support was nothing to overlook for true hip-hop fans. Strong Arm Steady was the first act to break the filler after a lengthy warm-up DJ set from Power 106’s own DJ Felli Fel. A new group, Far East Movement, followed up with a stylish set that featured interplay between the DJ and emcees that channeled classic acts.

As for the main event, Fiasco busted out all the stops to ensure the show stayed true to its name and being “Big” in all aspects. His attitude carried the big band sound and an over-the-top lighting setup. It’s nice to see a college campus host a rapper that addresses his crowd intelligently, almost like a professor, covering sentiments of war, political, and social awareness. He addressed such issues while still having so much fun, which he manages to do with ease. Fiasco ran through his massive catalog of hits such as skater anthem “Kick Push”, breezy “Paris Tokyo,” and megahit “Superstar.” The combination of a DJ, a drummer and a guitarist lent to an organic yet sleek sound that feels like the future of hip-hop.

Talib Kweli rounded out the bill and closed out the evening, which had its draws as a mass of people dissipated after Lupe’s powerful set. Talib Kewli may not have the same name recognition, but being an underground staple for years it was nice to see a core group of his devoted fans being treated to a raw performance.

This year felt like a total success and hopefully, the evolution of Big Show.Big

Big Show 9 is coming up, this Saturday, Oct. 3, at noon. There, students can see Lupe Fiasco and Jeremih perform on the CSUN campus, as well as a lot of other activites that will be going on.

Audrey Younna, Associated Students S.P.A.C.E. executive director, said this is going to be the biggest Big Show that they have put on yet.

“It’s the most student focused that we’ve had,” she said. “We have bigger-themed entertainment as well as a lot of artists on stage this year.”

In addition to the great show on stage, there will also be an entire section dedicated to clubs and organizations. There will be approximately 30 clubs and organizations represented from around the campus. There will also be more food vendors than ever before, serving up items such as sprinkled cupcakes and barbecue.

This Big Show will also be the biggest pep rally that CSUN has ever seen. There will be representatives from all Northridge sports teams, and Matty the Matador will be hanging out. Younna also said the men’s and women’s basketball coaches will be there to talk about Matador Madness (another event that’s coming up in a few weeks).
Big Show is becoming more than just a musical event; it’s becoming a festival, Younna said.

“We’re combining all aspects that students enjoy,” she said. “Based on our surveys we brought more entertainment, better food options and variety; we even have (an) inflatable. You’re not just there to see music — there is so much more to do.”

Younna said she is excited for the Big Show this year.

“It’s one of the biggest events that we do and I’m excited we get to do it year after year,” she said. “We really want people who have come to Big Show in the past to be pleasantly surprised and all the new students who have never gone to be really excited that their school can offer something like this.”

Lupe Fiasco and Talib Kweli will be co-headlining Big Show 9 at CSUN on Saturday, Oct. 3. Far East Movement is set as the supporting act and DJ Felli Fel from Power 106 will host the show.

In what may be the last Big Show for some years, Associated Students’ (A.S.) S.P.A.C.E. is looking for the Big Show to be the biggest spirit event on campus this year.

“We got Matty the Matador doing his thing on stage and student athletes are coming out there,” said Audrey Younna, A.S. S.P.A.C.E. executive director. “We are making this a big pep rally.”

Seven popular vendors, 30 CSUN clubs and organizations, games, prizes and more are scheduled to be part of the event.

“When you come to the Big Show you’re not just waiting for a concert,” Younna said. “You can interact and play some games.”

“We are really excited for all the new people. We want people that have never gone to the Big Show to be like, ‘Wow, my campus does this, this is amazing.’”

One of the differences this year is that for the first time, students have to pay for their tickets. In past years, the show has been completely free. This year, the charge for students, faculty and staff is $5.

“The big reason for charging is to keep up the pace that Big Show is (growing) because Big Show grows every year,” Younna said. “More students find out about it and we get bigger artists every year.”

S.P.A.C.E. wouldn’t charge students for the show if they didn’t think it was a worthy program, according to Younna.

Another factor contributing to S.P.A.C.E.’s decision to charge this year is last year’s debt after Big Show 8.

But this year, for the first time, the entire show is completely covered beforehand.

“This year’s show is fully funded. That’s never happened before,” Younna said.

“Given the climate of everything that happened last year with the debt, they (A.S.) wanted to be comfortable not relying on anything this year.”

Big Show is receiving $115,000 from A.S. and $75,000 from the Spirit Fund this year. The Spirit Fund money set aside is used for school spirit purposes. The total amount of the Spirit Fund is $250,000.

A.S. President Abel Pacheco said the show was reduced $17,000 from what S.P.A.C.E. spent last year.

“It’s set money that will cover the show,” Pacheco said. “The money that is coming in (from ticket sales) is revenue that will go back to student clubs and organizations.”

Conor Lansdale, A.S. vice president, said this year the headliners of the show and all the other acts are being paid from the Spirit Fund, as opposed to last year where headliners were expected to be paid from ticket sales. The infrastructure of the show will be paid from the annual Big Show budget.

In an effort to draw in a larger crowd, S.P.A.C.E. reached out to nearby CSU campuses and is trying to set up buses that will bring students from those campuses.

“The show itself is like a big pride thing for A.S. and it’s a big thing S.P.A.C.E. is known for and loves — it’s like a labor of love,” Younna said.

What you need to know about Big Show 9:

When: Saturday, Oct. 3

Where: Sierra Quad/Lawn

Time: Doors open at 12:00 p.m.

Price: $5 for students, faculty, and staff,

$20 for everyone else

Where to purchase: A.S. Ticket Office, Matador Bookstore, Freudian Sip, all Mercantile Exchange stores and at Ticketmaster

Associated Students (A.S.) President Abel Pacheco reflects on his administration's progress in his Fall 2009 president's report.

Aside from addressing student concerns, Associated Students (A.S.) is charged with providing spirited programs and events that help create a community feel. One such successful event was recently completed in collaboration with the Residence Hall Association (RHA) and the University Student Union (USU): the India.Arie concert.

On Saturday, Oct. 3, the biggest spirited event of the semester will be coming up. The Big Show, a concert aimed at bringing together the campus. Tickets are only $5 for students, and can be purchased at the A.S. Ticket Office, Matador Bookstore, Mercantile Exchanges, Freudian Sips and at www.ticketmaster.com.

As the biggest, most student-focused show yet, here’s what Big Show 9 will feature:

• Double headliners: Lupe Fiasco and Talib Kweli with additional performances by Far East Movement, hosted by POWER 106’s DJ FELLI FELL with surprise acts!
• Popular vendors: Sprinkles Cupcakes, Baby’s Badass Burgers, Let’s Be Frank Hot Dogs, Barbie’s Q Inc, Fishlips Sushi To Go, Ash’s Ice Cream Truck, Giamela’s Lamplighters, Casa de Soria
• Clubs and Organizations Pavilion: 30 clubs and orgs showcasing different booths and fundraising efforts. Prizes will be given to most spirited decor!
• Pep Rally: appearances by Matty The Matador, reps from all sporting teams, coaches, special guests: coaches from Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams officially announcing Matador Madness

Big Show 9 is an event that we expect to be very spirited and an excellent way to create a community among CSUN students, staff, faculty and alumni, as well as support for student clubs and organizations. Along the same lines, we have also introduced a “spirit exchange” program whereby students can exchange apparel from other schools for CSUN apparel. This program runs through the end of the week at the bookstore and items traded in will be donated to the charity Meet Each Need with Dignity (MEND).

If you would like to become involved in creating these and other exciting programs, please stop by our office and ask us how to get involved or visit us at csunas.org. Elections for next year’s senators are coming up and applications are available in the A.S. central office in the University Student Union.