An espresso machine made a subtle grinding sound. Bodies huddled on soft, overstuffed couches. A turning page resonated raspingly. Laptop screens produced a light blue glow. At the first performance of Music Week, Tim Grau tapped his foot lightly against the linoleum floor as he strummed his guitar. Music Week consists of a series of low-key events in the soothing environment of The Greenleaf.

Feb. 20 featured performances by Tim Grau, Matt Del Olmo, Josh Lewis, and Will McKindley-Ward. Feb. 21, “Ladies’ Night,” featured an array of female musicians.

This semester, by coincidental scheduling, a WQFS concert corresponded with the week’s other events.

The melodic celebration of Music Week began in fall ’06.

Chelsea Simpson, a junior and events manager at The Greenleaf, helped devise the festivities.

“It just seemed a shame to let all of the great talent at Guilford go unappreciated,” said Simpson.

During the fall ’06 semester, Music Week was scheduled before fall break and attracted a significant crowd. Simpson expressed concerns early on in Tuesday’s festivities that this semester’s events were ill timed.

“I think scheduling it during midterms might have been a mistake,” said Simpson.

While Simpson voiced concerns about poor scheduling, students in attendance were delighted by the timing.

“(I’m here) to de-stress from midterms,” said sophomore and Greenleaf employee John Douglas.

Douglas was among others who were escaping from their studying, while some brought their materials along and sat with their laptops and textbooks as they enjoyed the music.

Upcoming midterms did not seem to mar the turn out, especially on Ladies’ Night.

The night’s female-oriented gig had a steady stream of students coming into The Greenleaf and watching the unique lineup.

The night started with raven-haired senior Lisa Jaeggi’s impromptu acoustic version of Oasis’ “Wonderwall.” She then played several original songs and a unique Phil Collins medley.

Following Jaeggi’s opening, several other women brought instruments to the softly lit corner stage to perform for the ever-growing crowd, which eventually reached 30.

No two music acts were alike; some were folksy, others had a bluegrass twang.

“Oh, daddy dear, you’re still number one,” sang senior Josh Lewis.

He offered the only male voice as he joined sophomore Lexi Mincer for a bizarre cover of “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.”

First-year Casey Thomas wowed the crowd with her unexpected performance. She walked from the kitchen toting a bass taller than herself, and then proceeded to belt out a series of bluesy songs.

“There’s something to be said about people performing and doing things that aren’t traditionally done,” said first-year Hannah Johnston, who also performed.

First-year Kylie Gilliams, a self-proclaimed emo kid, was also awed by the musical mlange.

“Music Week was a chance to experience music I wouldn’t normally hear,” she said.

Music Week ended after performances on Feb. 20 in The Underground.

“It’s been solid. Really solid,” said Simpson.