A popular music festival hosted by Lakeland Community College in the 1970s and 1980s returns this spring in celebration of the college's 50th anniversary

Mayhem 2018, a free outdoor music festival, will be held Saturday, May 12, from 7 p.m. to midnight on the Lakeland campus, 7700 Clocktower Drive, Kirtland, 44094, in a huge, covered pavilion used for commencement.

Northeast Ohio bands Faction Cleveland, Pieces of Eight featuring The Lakeside Brass, and The Chardon Polka Band will alternate performing three half-hour sets on three stages.

Pieces of Eight featuring The Lakeside Brass will perform a mix of classic rock 'n' roll and popular rhythm and blues at 7, 8:30 and 10 p.m. The Chardon Polka Band will bring new life and energy to traditional polka music at 7:30, 9 and 10:30 p.m. Faction Cleveland will perform Top 40 dance music from every genre blended together in crazy mashups and medleys at 8, 9:30 and 11 p.m. All three bands will join for a Mayhem jam at 11:30 p.m.

Food trucks will be available. Beer and wine will be sold, cash only, with proceeds benefitting student scholarships. No outside alcohol is permitted. Parking is free.

Lakeland's original spring music festival was held from 1971 to 1989 and featured many well-known bands on the Cleveland music scene including Michael Stanley, Wild Horses and Beau Coup.

The student sponsored event began as Spring Fling and was renamed Spring Happening, Mayhem and Springfest. Held in May to celebrate the change of seasons, the festival featured music, food and beverages, movies, contests, games, sports, magicians, and other fun activities.

Music performances in the 1970s included: Brainchild in 1971; Orpheus in 1972; Fred DeJarvanne, Pig Iron, and Foundation II in 1973; John Bassette, Sunrise, and Michael Stanley in 1974; John Bassette, Peter Panic, and Jimmy Ley & the Cossa River Band in 1975; Buckeye Biscuit, Doo Wops, and Left End in 1976; Deadly Earnest and the Honky Tonk Heroes, Alex Bevan, Love Affair, and the Star Spangled Washboard Band in 1978; and Flatbush, Patchword Blue, and Pat Dailey in 1979.

Bands performing in the 1980s included: Alex Bevan, Smack and Rouge, and Breathless in 1980; Forecast, Class of '57, and Brat in 1982; and Todd Rundgren's Utopia, Daniel Pecchio Band, Class of '57, American Noise, and Wild Horses in 1984; Fayrewether, Wild Horses, Class of "69," and S.W.A.K. in 1985; Fayrewether, Caruso, In Pursuit, Cleveland, and The Motion in 1986; The Basics, Jady Kurrent, and Alex Bevan in 1987; and Beau Coup, Calabash, The Basics, and Wilbur Niles and Thrust in 1989.

By: Jessica Novak