Swine Stock was the first evening event of Swine Week 2025, and the crowd was amazed by the variety of music genres, instruments and voices that appeared on the stage. From heavy metal to country music, Swine Stock was a night that many enjoyed, regardless of their taste in music.

Taranis started the night with a passionate performance and a large stage presence. The band members seemed comfortable on stage, and the crowd enjoyed their music, which is a variation of metal known as “Girly Pop.” The band has released a few singles on Spotify, so several students may recognize their music. They began things with a bang, had a great sound and were definitely memorable.

School of Rock performed next as a larger band that favored rock. The lead singer had an amazing voice, and the musicians were good at gaining the audience’s favor. The band was less interactive with the crowd than the previous performers, but the crowd was just as enthused.

Crashing Out was a favorite of mine because it included instruments not often seen in rock bands, such as a tuba and flute. They seemed confident and excited to share their music with the audience. The lead singer was sure to spotlight the musicians, and the audience appreciated his energy and the talent of each band member.

Panoramic was the next group to perform. It was a remarkable band with the lead singer also playing a keytar during one of the songs, which I was not expecting. This was a notable inclusion because it had not yet been used and added more detail to their music.

Bread Basket was a crowd favorite with its performance. The band had a fantastic drummer and guitar players who fed off of the crowd’s cheers. The songs they chose fit their musicians and singers well, who I could hear clearly. The two lead singers continued to hype each other up, which in turn made the crowd more enthusiastic.

Fat Cat in a Jean Jacket had an amazing drummer, vocalist and bassist. During the band’s performance, it was evident how much the audience enjoyed their music by the number of people jumping and dancing to the beat of each song.

Jackson Pollard came to the stage as a solo performer with his guitar and a smooth voice. As soon as I saw him walk on stage in a cowboy hat, I knew I could expect another shift in genre. He included slower-paced songs that were a nice addition alongside the upbeat pieces.

The next performance was by Carter Wright, who, similar to Pollard, brought an acoustic guitar and a beautiful voice to the stage. Wright, similar to Taranis, is a new artist on Spotify who has released a few singles. He played two singles that have been released on the app, along with a new, unreleased song that he debuted at Swine Stock. It was more upbeat than the previous two and was a great way to close out his time on stage.

Nick Swartz, known more by his stage name Kid Prexy, closed out the night. A more well-known artist, he has around 15,681 listeners each month on Spotify, so some know his music well. Like Wright, Kid Prexy performed two released songs and one unreleased piece. Although it was the end of the night and most of the audience members were tired after a long first day of Swine Week, his music excited many listeners.

The winner of the night, those who raised the most money after their performance, was the band Bread Basket. As a first-time attendee of Swine Stock, it was clear that it was a great event for music lovers, and I would recommend attending. Bands who would love to gain more listeners can share their sound, and the audience members can support local or even student bands, all while raising money for Swine Week. Bread Basket will perform at the final assembly on Friday, March 14.

Contact Esther Wood at [email protected].