It’s Miller time With a grunt of frustration, he threw on his backpack, grabbed his C.U.P.P.S. mug, and headed out the door. With a heavy load of math and English weighing down his back, he dreaded the upcoming hours to be spent at the library. The midweek blues had him down as he walked into Johnny’s snack shop for a cup of coffee. Through the chatter of the Calvin crowd, strains of music floated from within the snack shop. Curiously, he wandered down the ramp into the candle-lit room. Music to his ears became music to his eyes as he listened to the musicians performing in front of him. The groove overtook his soul as he realized...he had entered the Cave Cafe. Cave Cafe is in the lower area of the snack shop in the center of campus. Most Wednesday nights the Cave is full of Calvin students who are studying, socializing, and chilling to live music for free. The Cave was started about eight years ago by Four Friends Coffee House owner, Karl Swedberg. The ‘97-’98 Cave People are Ben Hekman, Natasja VanderBerg, Dave Verbee, and Heidi Vincent. Both Cavewomen expressed an interest in Cave as freshman. After a year of training by last year’s Aaron Hipple and Mike VanderBrug, these sophomores are in charge of contacting bands to set up dates and of promoting the shows. Hekman and Verbee handle the sound. Unless there is a concert at Calvin, the Cave is held every Wednesday night from 8:30 to approximately 11:00. The last Wednesday of every month is open-mic night and provides an opportunity for Calvin students to play anything ranging from a song to a set. VanderBerg explains that the goal of Cave is to give Calvin musicians an opportunity to perform. Calvin bands such as Autumn Fix and Kirk and Eric have performed at the Cave several times. In addition to local bands such as Baxter, larger bands like The Nields, The Immigrants, and Lucy Kaplansky have also done shows. Traditionally, the style of music played at Cave has been folky and mellow. However, VanderBerg says the Cave is open to diversity. The Cave People work to set up a comfortable, casual atmosphere by placing candles on all of the tables. Background music is played between sets. Free coffee is provided. Vincent remarks that the musicians that perform aim to communicate and interact with the audience. The performances are casual and flexible. Vincent enjoys hearing the “raw, unpolished music. It’s a good idea to have a place where local bands--especially Calvin bands--can express their art in a really comfortable setting.” VanderBerg pointed out that the Cave is “a way for Calvin and local bands to form a network with each other.” Most performances are set up by word of mouth. Anyone interested in performing or playing at open-mic calls Heidi or Natasja at X5227. Last minute open-mic-ers are also welcome. The Cave is run completely by students for students. It is funded by Student Senate, so not only does the Cave supply coffee, but they have been able to purchase a fantastic sound system. VanderBerg describes what drew her to the Cave last year when she began Calvin. “The Cave is an escape from Calvin, even though it’s all about Calvin. It’s music, and it’s people, and it’s cool.”