Summer means having fun, going to parties, hanging out with friends, and setting up picnic dates. Not only the general idea of picnic; PIQNIQ, the music event that brings together the fans with their favorite bands. It is mostly broadcasted through their radio station, 101WKQX, and website.

Paola Millan-Ayala, Div. 667, believes that music festivals like Lollapalooza, Pepsi Summer Bash, Pitchfork, Spring Awakening, and many other events are well-known because they are very well advertised in public.

“I’ve heard of Lolla through the radio and bus ads, and I’ve heard of other concerts through social media and apps like Bandsintown,” Millan-Ayala said. “I didn’t know about PIQNIQ until a friend told me about it.”

PIQNIQ is an annual music event that was started three years ago by Troy Hanson, program director, and crew of the 101WKQX radio station. Hanson said that they wanted fans to connect directly with the artists that they play on 101WKQX in a well-branded, all-day event.

“People can come out, have fun, listen to excellent music, and have a great experience,” Hanson said. “Life is really about experiences, isn’t it?”

The event has taken place at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre each year. It is a premier amphitheatre located in Tinley Park, a southwest suburb of Chicago, which can hold up to 28,000 people, according to radio station 101WKQX’ website.

Around ten bands have performed each year at PIQNIQ for the past three years. They take into account all the current hot alternative artists and their availability.

“We try to give a broad range, something for everyone who is a fan of 101WKQX,” Hanson said.

The bands that performed in the first PIQNIQ in 2013 were Awolnation, Silversun Pickups, Atlas Genius with Twenty One Pilots, Cold War Kids, New Politics, and more.

Linkin Park, Thirty Seconds To Mars, Wild Club, AFI and Sleeper Agent all performed at PIQNIQ 2014. Cage the Elephant, Saint Motel, Bleachers, The Mowgli’s, and The Offspring are a few bands that performed at PIQNIQ 2015. PIQNIQ 2016 includes The Lumineers, Young The Giant, The Strumbellas, Robert Delong, and many more.

Melissa Solis, Div. 762, first heard about the band 30 Seconds of Mars performing at PIQNIQ 2014 on the radio, 101WKQX.

“I thought, ‘Hey that’s a cool band and I love them, so I should go’,”Solis said. She arrived at PIQNIQ 2014 two and a half hours early because she did not know how long it would take to get checked and be allowed in.

Solis had bought a 30 Seconds to Mars CD, which then allowed her to meet the band and get it signed by them.

“I was really jittery and nervous, even though I knew it would be like a ten second interaction,” Solis said. “I didn’t know what to say except ‘you guys were amazing’ which Jared [lead singer], replied with ‘thank you so much’ and I died inside.”

First time experiences at music events can sometimes be really fun, but can also be very nerve wracking because of lack of knowledge on what to do.

Elodie Castro, Div. 654, did not really know what to expect from her first time at an all-day outdoor event, like Lollapalooza.

“It was a pretty good time. I recommend to go with a group of people, it’s so much more fun,” Castro said.

Hanson also created other different events that help connect the artists with the fans.

“We try to create unique listener experiences,” Hanson said. “Things like No Dough Shows (free shows), Shopping with Rockstars (see Bastille, Awolnation, Twenty One Pilots), and Cooking with Rockstars (see Vance Joy, Cage The Elephant).”