The Rev. Adam White is a closet metalhead.

At the 2007 Faculty Show, the Sweet Briar College chaplain and electric guitarist wowed a standing-room-only audience with his wailing guitar riffs. “I have a theory that all clergy want to be rock stars,” he later confessed.

Chaplain White and his band will open for Friday's concert.On Friday, March 30, White and his band – which is currently nameless and made up of SBC faculty and staff – will be the opening act at Sweet Briar’s second Battle of the Bands. The concert raises money and awareness for Amherst Habitat for Humanity.

The show begins at 8 p.m. in the lower quad in front of Prothro Hall. The event is open to the public and admission is free. In case of rain, the concert will move to Josey Dining Room.

Sweet Briar’s business management program hosts the event, which raised more than $2,068 for Habitat last year. In addition to fundraising, it also serves as a class project.

“The students in the management laboratory, along with an ‘executive suite’ comprised of upper-level business practicum students, are entirely responsible for proposing and carrying out the educational and fund-raising events on behalf of Habitat,” Tom Loftus, business management professor, said.

“[They] decide what to do, how to do it, and then work to get their projects done. They have to set goals, develop budgets and timelines, work with members of the Sweet Briar administration and other students groups, and with members of the local community. They are gaining the kind of real world business experience that simply can’t be duplicated without getting outside the classroom.”

Hot Like CajunAlong with White and crew, this year’s program includes House, a group from E.C. Glass High School; Lynchburg bands Escape Velocity and Hot Like Cajun, and Dr. Kenneth and Google Plex, a group from Washington and Lee University.

“The bands all have their own style, but each plays a variation of rock,” Jenny Walkiewicz, business student and concert point person, said. “I think everyone will find that at least one band fits their taste.”

Made up of White, Rob Granger, Mark Magruder, Tom Marcais and Steve Wassell, the staff/faculty band will not be among the contenders – a “kind” decision by the show’s organizers, White said. “There are other bands,” he added reassuringly. “Younger. More skilled.”

During the concert, collection jars are placed onstage, and winners are decided by whichever band garners the most money from the audience. Last year’s winner, Seven Year Glitch, collected more than $108.

“We’re really looking forward to the different bands and seeing what they each raise for the Amherst County Chapter of Habitat for Humanity,” Walkiewicz said.

In addition to the warring factions, Earphones, one of the College’s tap clubs, will perform, and Sweet Briar student and guitarist Michelle Raymond will close out the night. Also, a Habitat for Humanity volunteer and homeowner will speak, and there will be a silent auction.

For more information, contact Walkiewicz at 381-7438 or walkiewicz@sbc.edu.

– By Suzanne Ramsey, SBC staff writer