JK Rowling wrote seven Harry Potter books. Over the years, K-State, with the help of the Harry Potter Alliance, has hosted six Hallows and Horcruxes Balls to commemorate and celebrate each of the books.
The seventh and final concert will be held Saturday from 6-11:30 p.m. in the Alumni Center. The event brings together community service, dedication to the arts and the Harry Potter books that have touched millions of lives around the world. This year, event proceeds will go to First Book of Geary County, a nonprofit that provides books for children in need.
Performers at Hallows and Horcruxes are musicians of “wizard rock,” a genre of music inspired by the Harry Potter novels. Hallows and Horcruxes is a premiere venue for this type of music and performers, and will include Seen and Unforeseen, Justin Finch-Fletchley and the Sugar Quills, Tonks and the Aurors, Lauren Fairweather, The Whomping Willows, Ministry of Magic, Alex Carpenter, Draco and the Malfoys, and Jarrod Perkins.
The event will also include a book drive and T-shirt sale, and is sponsored by the HPA; the Children’s and Adolescent Literature Community; Student Governing Association; English department; Union Program Council; LGBT Resource Center; and the Manhattan Music Coalition. ChALC and HPA may still sponsor smaller wizard rock shows in the area, but this will be the last year where all seven or more bands will appear together at this particular event.
“The idea developed seven years ago when I
attended a fan and academic conference on Harry Potter and heard several of the
bands perform,” said Karin Westman, faculty advisor for ChALC and HPA, and the department head of English. “When they heard about the performances, students in ChALC wanted
to bring some of the bands here for a benefit concert. My favorite part is the opportunity to see fans
of Harry Potter and wizard rock celebrate a key aspect of Rowling’s
books: the importance of helping others in your community.”
Anne Sisley, senior in English and Spanish, has been attending Hallows and Horcuxes since she was in high school.
“I grew up in Manhattan, so I’ve been to all six years,” Sisley said. “I’ve become friends with lots of the band members because we see each other once a year … I’m sad this is the last year, but I think it’s a good time for it to happen. It’s been a long time since the books and movies ended but it’s cool we’re all still meeting and hanging out together.”
The Hallows and Horcruxes Ball is free for students and $12 for the public, and will broadcast via new.livestream.com, a website that streams live events. The link will be posted on the event’s Facebook page and is appropriate for all ages of literary enthusiasts.
