Starting today, the University Board will be adding themed open mic nights to its new list of events.

Khelan Todd, the mainstage coordinator for the UB, said he hopes the four events will bring musicians from various music genre backgrounds.

Todd said it is different from the types of events the organization has done before.

Todd said this semester the four open mic nights will cater to a different idea.

“The first open mic will just be a general open mic, just to introduce it back to the campus for the second semester,” Todd said.

The first open mic night will be at 7 p.m. today in the 7th Street Underground.

UB Chair Darius White said the first open mic will be open to all genres of music.

“The winner of this open mic will be able to perform at the last open mic of the semester, which will be an all-star open mic,” White said.

The remaining four open mics each have a separate theme.

Todd said the different themes will help encourage different student participations.

“I think the idea behind the themes was to diversify,” Todd said. “Usually the open mics are kind of generic.”

The second open mic of the semester on Feb. 29 will be themed to fit Black History Month.

“The First Amendment: Freedom of Expression” open mic night will have an open floor for students to share their feelings.

“This open mic gives students a chance to come out and talk about anything they like, whether it is race, gender, sexuality, things of that nature,” Todd said. “They can just speak about it or do poetry about it, write a song about it.”

Students who are interested in country and western music will be focused on during the March 28 open mic night “Marching in My Boots.”

“In my time here, I’ve never had anyone sing a country song at an open mic night,” Todd said. “I am hoping to draw out that crowd.”

This open mic night’s music is not all that will have the country theme.

“We will have country and western decorations too, just to spice up the open mic,” Todd said.

The last open mic night on April 25 will be an all-star reunion.

“We will bring back the winners from all the open mics of this semester and last semester,” Todd said. “Winners from the singer-song writer competition in March, and the Battle of the Bands this week are also going to be invited to this open mic.”

Todd said he thinks the open mic is a good idea because it highlights the performances throughout the year.

Todd said the “All-Star” open mic will bring together rappers, guitar players and singers.

“The ‘All-Star’ open mic is going to be good because it is bringing a lot of different people together, different genres or different sides of the music together in one event,” Todd said. “It shows unity among the music community.”

Todd said the open mic nights can provide relaxation during the semester.

“They get a chance to creatively express themselves,” Todd said. “Most musicians use music as an escape.”

Todd said he thinks the open mic will be a good ending to the semester.

“Everyone will come together and we will have a last night of the art type deal, just to close out the semester,” Todd said. “It’ll be a last hurrah, an end of the year mainstage party with all the years talents.”

Samantha McDaniel can be reached at 581-2812

or slmcdaniel@eiu.edu.