At 6:30 p.m on October 24, students in Algonquin’s library were quietly reading, studying, and working on assignments. By 7 p.m, they were disrupted by Dave Russell and his acoustic set and again at 8 p.m by four fairly well known, mid-twenty-year-old musicians. Students didn’t seem to mind the disruption.

That’s because the four men made up The Midway State, an MMVA (Much Music Video Award) winning band from Collingwood, Ontario. They played at the library as part of the college’s “New Music, New Places” initiative.

Students continued to work away as the band played well known songs such as “Change for You,” and “Never Again,” as well as a number of songs from their new album, Paris or India. There were, of course, a group of about 30 students who came exclusively to see the band in an intimate setting such as the library.

“I loved it,” said Melanie Costanza, a first-year Interior Design student at the college, adding that she enjoyed the show particularly due to the “small crowd and really quaint area.” Of course, she enjoyed the music as well – The Midway State are currently her ring tone.

The band’s lead singer, Nathan Ferraro, invited the crowd to move much closer as he took seat at his keyboard, providing an intimate set. Ferraro, along with the other members of the band – Daenan Bramberger, Mike Wise, and Mike Kirsh – conversed with the crowd all night, even pointing out the peculiarity of playing in a venue like a library.

“This poor guy’s trying to do his work,” joked Bramberger, pointing to a student on a computer.

Much different than their normal bar and festival shows, the band was more than happy to play a set in a much quieter atmosphere.

“It’s a very different energy than what we’re used to a lot of times, but personally as a singer and songwriter, I really get off on the quieter vibes and the subtleties that kind of exist in this kind of place,” said Ferraro.

Particularly, connecting with the fans in an intimate setting is something that the band really appreciates.

“There’s only a few kids here tonight but they’re real fans and it’s really fun to connect with them, make eye contact, and tell them about the songs and a bit more background on where I’m coming from and where the band’s coming from,” Ferraro added.

The band stuck around to talk to, and take pictures with fans before leaving to continue their lengthy Canadian tour to promote their new album.

“Our life is now in a bus, in a van, in a car, on the road, playing shows and promoting the record and getting it out there,” said Ferraro.