Quinnipiac University’s annual spring concert, Wake the Giant, will feature The Driver Era on April 26 at M&T Bank Arena
It has been drawing excitement from students before they even arrive on campus and creating a shared experience for the university community each year.
“I was following [Wake the Giant] even when I was a prospective student last year,” sophomore public relations major Daniel Greff said. “So, it’s always been something cool that I look forward to.”
That early interest is shared by other students who said the event stood out while they were considering Quinnipiac.
“When I was thinking about going here, I saw the headliners that they’ve had, and I thought it was really cool, and a really cool part of the community that we have here,”freshman communications and media studies major Emma Robbins said.
That excitement has continued following this year’s artist reveal as The Driver Era take the stage April 26 at M&T Bank Arena.
“I really love The Driver Era, so I’m really excited for this year’s performance,” junior biomedical marketing major Violet McCarthy said. “I’ve been into their music recently so this is the perfect artist pick in my opinion.”
Beyond excitement for the lineup, organizers say the event’s impact extends further than just entertainment.
“We’re able to blend everybody together in a way that just feels so natural, and people can make new friends,” Wake the Giant Main Stage Chair Amanda Gerarci said. “They can explore new music that they like. And I think that it’s really cool to see everybody just have fun after they work hard all year.”
Gerarci said student input plays a major role in shaping each year’s concert. “Based on the data that we received, we received over 1,000 signatures the last time I checked which was really awesome, or 1,000 submissions, and overwhelmingly, the top genre was pop,” she said.
As Wake the Giant continues to grow, both the organizers and attendees mention its lasting influence. Not just as a concert, but as a tradition that helps define the campus experience and brings the community together each year.