Students and locals poured into the Daily Brew Coffee House for Singer-Songwriter Night on Oct. 2, presented by California Baptist University’s commercial music program.
Daily Brew, a local Riverside establishment, offers CBU students a space to study, hang out, and occasionally perform live music. In addition to the event, it was also Waffle Wednesday, allowing guests to pair their coffee or tea with a fresh waffle while waiting for the show to begin.
By 5 p.m., the coffee house was packed, with no seats left—demonstrating strong community support for CBU’s singer-songwriters. Whether students looking to engage with commercial music events or locals simply stopping by for a coffee, everyone was able to socialize and enjoy a night of live music.
Cadence Barnett, senior songwriting major, kicked off the evening by performing her original song, “Melatonin,” available on all streaming platforms.
“I love performing because it’s an opportunity to connect with people, and I just find it really fun,” Barnett said after her performance. She will release her next original song, “Thrift Store,” on Oct. 15.
While commercial music seniors were familiar with the event, some newcomers were making their debut. Jonah Lietzau, freshman studio production major, performed at Singer-Songwriter Night for the first time, singing his original song, “It’s Not Right.”
“They push us to write and release our own music so that we aren’t just starting a career when we leave CBU but are building on the foundation we set here,” Lietzau said, explaining how the School of Performing Arts has already helped him in his music career.
Performances throughout the night ranged from original songs written by CBU students to covers of popular artists like Noah Kahan’s “Maine.”
With the sound of coffee machines in the background, friends chatting, and incredible voices singing, the Daily Brew was the place to be on Wednesday night.
Adrianna Berumen, freshman pre-nursing major, attended the event with friends from her living area. “It was just a fun socializing event—hanging out, getting off campus, having fun, and meeting new people,” she said.
As a regular event for CBU’s commercial music division, Singer-Songwriter Night encourages current and past students to get involved and witness the talent within the program.
Sara Mislang, CBU commercial performance alumna, shared her perspective as both a previous performer and an audience member. “Music brings people together, so it’s cool to see people able to fellowship, meet new friends, and get connected,” Mislang said.