Patriot Avenue roared with music as students played (and broke) instruments for Earthwinds annual Coffeehouse. Jackson Prep’s award winning literary magazine presented its 45^th yearly edition on April 29, 2016.

Cookies and cream ice cream spilled along the steps of The Hederman Amphitheatre as students attempted to cool down from the wrath of the 84-degree sun. A coffee bar with a variety of flavors from Cups Coffee was set up. In addition, Earthwind’s sold t-shirts and posters of their literary journals. Staff members set up an instant poetry stand where students and faculty could request a poem with a preferred subject to be written from one of the typewriters.

Eight groups performed with a variety of songs ranging from “Smells like Teen Spirit” to “Big Yellow Taxi.” Kelly McBride, a tenth grader, went off with a bang as he smashed a guitar after his big number, sending a wave of shock and applause over the audience. Eleventh grader Anna Kate Williams enjoyed the shows saying, “All the singers were really talented, and it made Prep look very artsy.” Throughout the performances, Earthwinds members read poems from their magazine. Lawson Marchetti, a national Poetry Out Loud contestant, treated the audience with the poem “Ever Single Day” before leaving for the competition in D.C.

In summarizing the day’s festivities, Rosemary Ferguson, a current eleventh grader, said, “It’s kinda ironic to have coffee when it’s burning hot, but it was still an amazing time.”

Earthwinds 2016 Coffeehouse was definitely one for the books!

Click here to see video of Earthwinds Coffeehouse 2016 on our YouTube channel.