Washington State University’s CougFest returns to Pullman, Washington this Friday night, with a new venue of Rogers Field.
The Student Entertainment Board (SEB) at Washington State University hosts CougFest each fall. This year, SEB is making changes to CougFest’s location and access, while also keeping traditions in place.
CougFest is a concert known for featuring up-and-coming artists that occurs in the first week of September on WSU campus every year.
“There’s this tradition that CougFest every year tends to be a country concert,” SEB spotlight programmer, Hussein Akoum said.
This year, country artist Wyatt Flores will be performing alongside the Brudi Brothers at the event on Sept. 5. Wyatt Flores is a Billboard charting country artist. Originally from Oklahoma, Flores now calls Nashville home. He has a string of hit songs such as “Losing Sleep”, “Please Don’t Go” and “Take Me As I Come”. He will take the stage as the main act on Roger’s Field, Friday night in Pullman. Flores is travelling to Pullman, Washington from Seattle, where he performed on Wednesday, Sept. 3 as part of the Welcome Back to the Plains Tour.
The Brudi Brothers are a dynamic Americana band that originates in Seattle. The band is known for their single “Me More Cowboy than You”. The Brudi Brothers are travelling alongside Flores on his tour.
CougFest will be located at a new venue on WSU campus this year. The event has taken place at Thompson Flats in previous years, but is now moving to Rogers Field. The stage will be set up in the corner of Rogers Field, facing outwards towards the turf.
“Thompson Flats was good for the sake of accessibility,” Akoum said, “but the issue was that it was technically difficult.”
Rogers Field will create better acoustics, as well as an easier stage set up for SEB. The technology setup is easier due to the proximity of power sources. As a result, equipment will no longer need to be left outside overnight.
The entrance of Rogers Field allows for CougFest to be a ticketed event, which makes it possible for SEB to track event attendance. In previous years, the event was unable to be ticketed due to the open nature of Thompson Flats.
The relocation of the event also allows for alcohol to be sold. Attendees can expect to find a beer garden and food options available within the venue.
Security Volunteer, Elizabeth Torgerson, is working her first year at CougFest as security. Torgerson said she thinks it is going to be fun and energetic. She is excited to be there because she has never been to CougFest.
The event is open to the general public and WSU students. General public tickets are $25 and student tickets are $10, before fees. The doors for the event open at 5:30 p.m. on the day of the event, with the first act taking the stage at 6 p.m.
For more information about CougFest, visit SEB’s website: seb.wsu.edu/cougfest/.