Few students were familiar with Josie Dunne before she opened Ben Rector's show in spring 2019. Many left Rector's concert impressed with Dunne's performance and wanted her to return to Harding. After seeing students' reactions to her performance, members of the Campus Activities Board (CAB) invited her back in fall 2019. "It was a no-brainer," senior Valerie LaFerney, co-director of CAB, said. "She was engaging with the fans and loved performing at Harding." Logan Light, director of campus life and CAB, said she was a better performer than he expected. Light said she seemed to be at home on stage when performing, which he said was one reason the crowd enjoyed her performance. "When she is performing, she is all over the place," senior Avery-Kiira Abney, co-director of CAB, said. "You never know what's going to happen, which is exciting to watch." Light said part of Dunne's success was because of her personality and her engagement with fans on and off stage. After Rector's concert, Dunne stayed in the lobby of the George S. Benson Auditorium, meeting fans for hours. LaFerney said she had not seen a line to meet a performer at Harding as long as the one to meet Dunne. Light said as long as someone was there to shake her hand, she was going to stay and meet as many as she could. "I recognize that in artists that are up and coming," Light said. "That kind of personality goes a long way when it comes to the music industry." Abney said when she spoke with Dunne, the conversation felt casual. LaFerney said one of her favorite attributes of Dunne's was her approachability. LaFerney said she was excited for Dunne's return in fall 2019 because of the musical variety she brought to the Harding community. LaFerney said students often gravitated toward folk and indie genres of music, but Dunne brought a more pop and edgy style of music. "It's something different that we're bringing to Harding, and I'm excited about that," LaFerney said. Abney said she was most excited for Dunne to bring her new music to Harding. Other than Rector, who opened for NEEDTOBREATHE in 2012, Dunne was the only opener to come back as a headliner for a CAB concert, according to Light. story by Kylie Jones student life 25
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