The Lamar University/ Spindletop Film Festival will kick off April 15 at the Art Studio of Southeast Texas showcasing short films and two live music acts, a first for the Film Fest.

While the festival focuses on films and videos and highlights film festival contest entries from throughout the United States and Canada, this year organizers will spotlight musical acts from Texas and Louisiana. In total, the three-day event will feature about five hours of music.

The film festival’s opening party will feature Greyline, an alternative band hailing from Lafayette, La. This five-member group has been playing together for a year and a half, and are one of the biggest acts to watch in Louisiana. With a growing fan base expanding well across Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi, Greyline is focused on getting their music heard by playing as many shows as possible in as many different places as they can.

With the oldest member recently turning 24, Greyline is a younger band that has talent that surpasses most of veterans on their local scene. Though the band may be young, every member has played in a band prior to Greyline, which they all count as merely “practice.” Lead singer Jacob Leblanc,23, and bassist David Palombo,24, played in Devyre before departing to form Greyline with three member of Next Generation Slackers: guitarist, Robby Richard, 20, drummer, Thomas Harper, 19, and guitarist, Kyle Leblanc, 18.

Now, 18 months later, the guys have put out two EPs, toured with Kevin Martin and The Hi-Watts, played the 2005 SXSW Music Festival in Austin and have made themselves the band to see in Louisiana. Their most recent EP, Face to Face, was recorded in the summer of 2004 and has received radio play on stations in Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Biloxi, among others.

While their list of achievements is constantly growing, band members are most proud of a certain performance that hit a little closer to home this past January.

“Our biggest accomplishment thus far was when we played at the Mardis Gras Fair at Cajunfield in Lafayette,” said Richard. “We were able to play in front of our friends and family and it was one of our biggest crowds ever.”

The band said playing at the fair was a dream for them since they were young. As youth, they frequented the fair to catch the music of other bands. “It was a blast,” said Richard.

Greyline’s sound is a broad spectrum of technicality and harmonies that change from one song to another. Their sound is anything but redundant. Harper sums it up when he says their music is unique and “there’s no specific ‘sound.’” Live shows are what the band lives for and watching them on stage is an experience that keeps their fans coming back for more.

“Right now we’re just playing and writing new material,” said Palombo.

“Our main focus is playing shows and getting our music heard.”

With each show, Greyline gains new fans and gets one step closer to their goal: a record deal. “We’re hoping to make it a career,” said Richard. “We can’t wait until we can quit our day jobs and just focus on music.”

Greyline played Beaumont at Antone’s this past November and they are ready to return for an encore performance.

“I’ve heard the film festival has been a big success the past few years,” said Palombo. “We’re definitely excited to play it.”

The film festival opening party will begin at 7 p.m. April 15.

Acclaimed country artists Templeton Thompson and Sam Gay will perform at 7:30 p.m. At 8:30 p.m. the Houston Film Commission’s Texas Filmmaker Showcase will screen short films, with Greyline taking the stage at 9:30 p.m. By 10:30 p.m., the festival will screen additional selection from the Filmmaker Showcase, an audience favorite.

Currently, Templeton is touring to promote her most recent release "I still feel". Her new single, "If I Didn't Need The Money", released in June of 2004, spent 7 weeks on the top 10 of The Texas Music Chart.

Templeton's current CD, "I still feel", was selected by Texas DJs and program directors as one of the top CDs of 2004.

Gay, a 25-year veteran in the music industry, began his career in Memphis in 1979 playing guitar and singing in local bands. In 1989, he moved to Nashville and was signed as a staff songwriter at the Acuff-Rose Publishing company where he wrote "Me And The Moon" which was recorded by Bryan White on Bryan's million-selling debut album.

Festival volunteers will be accepting a $5 donation at the door to help fund the event. Local bands will perform from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Mirabeu’s Cafe at Lamar’s Setzer Student Center April 16 as part of the festival. A music pass, which includes all musical acts Friday and Saturday, is $15. The pass includes access to the opening night party and film screenings at the event.

Film festival registration is $65, which includes access to all workshops, screenings and music events. Students and senior citizens pay $25 to attend the festival. A movie pass, which will allow attendees to see movies Friday and Saturday night as well as Sunday is $15. Film festival attendees can secure a $65 per night room at the host hotel, Holiday Inn Beaumont Plaza, by calling (409) 842-5995. Listen to festival sponsor Fox 1340 and 1380 for updates on discounts and to win free tickets.

For more information and schedule updates, visit www.spinfest.org or call 880-8490 or 880-8038.