Kendrick Lamar to Headline Sun God

     

    The festival will also mark the introduction of the newly branded Sun God stage, replacing last year’s main stage.

    Other artists accompanying Kendrick Lamar on the Sun God stage will include Andrew McMahon and Youngblood Hawke, while headliner Porter Robinson, RAC, IndO, and Geo-D will perform as part of the dance stage lineup.

    Due to contractual obligations, the remaining Sun God stage and dance stage acts will be announced in an official second release at the end of this month, and will include direct support acts for both stages and all Midway acts.

    “This year we were trying to really focus on a headliner that a lot of students would be pleased to see,” A.S. Concerts and Events (ASCE) Festivals Coordinator Alisha Vallabhapurapu said, “and Kendrick Lamar is a very upcoming hip-hop artist.”

    According to AVP Concerts and Events Eric Babajanian, it was easier for ASCE to choose performers for this year’s festival due to a student survey released during fall quarter.

    “[The survey] really helped us decide who we wanted, because we had a 99 percent confidence level,” Babajanian said, “it was easy for us to decide what types of artists we wanted.”

    Over 2000 students responded to the survey—with the incentive of two Sun God guest tickets for completing the survey—in an effort that was much more thorough and organized than last year’s attempts, according to Babajanian.

    “…[Silversun Pickups] is an amazing act,” ASCE Festivals Director Andrea Hsueh said in response to audience feedback regarding last year’s headliner, “…at the same time, Kendrick is more relevant to our student body right now, and we’re more on the pulse with what they wanted. The survey that we took overwhelmingly said that hip-hop/rap is what students are really into.”

    This year, ASCE will sell 3,000 student guest tickets at $65 each, demonstrating a $5 increase in box office fees from last year. However, the A.S. base price of $55 will stay consistent with previous years, according to Babajanian.

    The Alumni Association will be selling a maximum of 500 alumni tickets one week prior to student guest ticket sales, allowing for any unsold alumni tickets to be included in the student guest ticket pool.

    In conjunction with last year, guest tickets must be purchased by UCSD students or employees, who are limited to one guest per person.

    Although ASCE is yet to finalize any allocations within their $500,000 Sun God Festival budget, $180,000 is predicted to be spent on talent, with the other $320,000 (as well as any sponsorship and vendor fee supplements) to be spent on festival production, security, box office, and all other aspects of the festival.

    ASCE is also in the process of confirming all sponsorship contracts, including sponsors for the festival lounge that will replace last year’s D’lush lounge.

    The Sun God Babies will be returning this year, as part of ASCE publicity efforts, which will also emphasize student health and safety initiatives.

    ASCE will also continue their emphasis on art and student involvement, with plans to showcase student art at the festival. The Battle of the Bands and DJ Battle will also return this year; winners of each contest will be announced on April 5 and April 8, respectively, and will be given a chance to perform in the festival. Midway performers are also yet to be selected, but will no longer be purely comedy-based, according to Babajanian.

    ASCE officially announced their lineup today on their website.

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