Eight student bands will compete for a chance to open for the headlining guest band at Centralhallapalooza during the Student Activity Board’s CHP Showdown tonight from 8 p.m. to midnight. 

“Showdown is a great way for students to be introduced to different student bands,” Student Activities Board Media Team Member and junior Emma Kate Mellors said. “The three bands who receive the most student votes are the bands chosen to perform at CHP.”

CHP Showdown will be held in the Old Snack Bar and each band will perform 30 minute sets. Junior and lead singer for the student band Runaround Daniel Doyle said the competition at CHP Showdown is fierce.

“It’s competitive because everyone really wants to play CHP,” Doyle said. “It’s always hard to pull the winning vote at Showdown because there’s always a new band, and always the well-known upperclassmen bands, and everyone is extremely talented.”

The array of talented student bands sets Hillsdale apart, Doyle said, and he urges all of campus to come to CHP Showdown to support all of them. 

“This event is part of the Hillsdale experience, and part of what makes Hillsdale like no other school,” Doyle said. “For a school our size to have so many talented student bands is unique. CHP is a huge event, and it all hinges on Showdown.”

Students who attend CHP Showdown vote on their favorite bands by placing rocks into baskets representing each band.

“I would totally recommend coming for the entire set in order to hear every student band possible,” Mellors said.

Performing in order will be Immigrant, Big Mac, Crisis Actors, Jay Jameson and the Car Bombs, Schizmatics, Runaround, Heretics by Proxy, and Warm Christian Biscuits. 

Centralhallapalooza is scheduled for Saturday, April 26. Recent headlining acts have included The Back Country Boys, DWLLRS, Arlie, Jukebox the Ghost, and the late Aaron Carter.