There has been a lot of comparison of this year’s Serendipity to the ones of the past. There has been a change in the concert venue from the lake to the Armfield Athletic Center, weather permitting. If there is rain, the concerts will be moved to Ragan-Brown Field House. There has also been worry over the increased security. There will be more RAs and Public Safety officers on duty. No bags, purses or containers, including Nalgenes, will be permitted at the performances.Despite these changes and recent criticism, the Campus Activity Board (CAB) is still hopeful for a successful Serendipity.

“It’s ten times better than last year,” said sophomore Tim Lindberg, who has been working with CAB, especially on the Battle of the Bands event. “This is because there were only three bands and Common last year. This year there are 16 bands over two nights.”

This year’s Serendipity’s acts were decided by the genres that they fit under.

“There is a change in focus,” said Andrew Herz, a member of CAB. “There will be a larger variety of performers and themed nights.”

Friday night performances are rock-themed with performers such as former Guilford student Bria Kam’s band, Sky Filled Balloons, Fractured, The Holy Liars, New Familiars, and Clay Pigeons. The last two performers of the night will be the winner of Battle of the Bands, with headliner Recycled Percussion ending the night.

The Battle of the Bands was scheduled for March 29, but due to weather was postponed to a date to be announced.

Saturday’s performances are hip hop themed with performances by a techno DJ, Jadon Success.

Endless Mic, who performed at Guilford in October, is also returning for Serendipity.

“We had a great time playing with RJD2 a few months ago, so when we were asked to come back and play at Serendipity we were pretty stoked,” said Ryan Maiani, known as Zano of Endless Mic. “We didn’t know much about serendipity before being asked, but everyone says it’s a pretty rowdy event.”

On Saturday there is a Battle of the Sexes Game Show early in the afternoon. Other performers for Saturday include Rise, Guilford College Beat Boxers, H/N/X, Flaming Faeries, and Mickey Avalon, who has been at the center of debate about Serendipity because of some of his controversial lyrics.

“I hear that Mickey Avalon puts on good live shows,” Lindberg said. “There is no need to protest. People are making a huge deal out of nothing; he is performing last for only one hour.”

“It’s that there are serious concerns about the context and material of this performer,” said senior Katie Yow, who helped organize a discussion on March 30 about Avalon’s performance. “We need to talk about how we are bringing someone to campus who raises all of these concerns.”

Other concerns about Serendipity include a rule forbidding open containers of any kind from any of the performances and increased Public Safety and RA presence.

“Last year, there were cans thrown at the equipment,” Herz said. “Campus Life is trying to make a balance between fun and preventing harm.”

Despite the issues over some of the performances and an increase in security, most people are looking forward to Serendipity.

“Personally, I am looking forward to Recycled Percussion,” Herz said.

“I think Recycled Percussion seems pretty cool, and I know the Clay Pigeons are good,” said Sam Howard, a first-year ready for his first Serendipity experience.