If you’ve ever walked past UC San Diego’s Main Gym, you’ve likely noticed the tall, grassy hill across from the Old Student Center — lovingly referred to as “the Hump.” Once a quarter, independent, student-run KSDT Radio transforms the Hump from a casual spot where students can relax and study into one of the most unique venues on campus for its Hump Day concert.
A tradition dating back further than anyone currently in KSDT can remember, Hump Day is a free concert typically held in the middle of each quarter, featuring 30-minute performances from four to five UCSD student bands. The Hump provides bands an exciting opportunity to use the hill’s high vantage point to show off their sound to a public audience below.
“Unfortunately, at large, public universities like UCSD, we don’t really have a lot of chances for students to get out and perform,” KSDT Events Director and DJ Alex Kozak said. “Hump Day’s a perfect chance for student bands to perform on a larger stage. We help people with those resources and getting access to that space, which is really important.”
Hump Day, along with other KSDT Radio events, has historically been an important stepping stone for student-turned-alumni bands looking to break into the music industry. The Diz, which won KSDT’s Battle of the Bands event in 2023 and used to consistently perform at Hump Day, has now been booked to perform this year at San Diego’s iconic waterfront music festival, Wonderfront.
“It’s so cool to see, because it’s like, ‘Wow. I knew some of those people,’” Kozak said. “They were at the station all the time, and they performed at our spaces, and now they’re performing in front of thousands of people instead of just 20.”
While Hump Day’s primary focus is to provide opportunities for its performers to gain exposure, the mid-quarter event also gives students the chance to take a break from their midterm exams and unwind. Hump Day this quarter was held on April 30 — a Wednesday, in typical Hump Day fashion — and offered attendees free Yerba Mates, friendship bracelet-making, and tote bag-painting alongside the free concert.
“This is, like, an iconic tradition, and it’s funny to me,” said Kate Halperin, KSDT events intern and lead vocalist for Kate & Da Boyz. “Because it’s just this random hill and everyone’s at the bottom. I think it’s just a really cool and unique venue. Usually, it’s a stage and a room, but this is something different.”
For most student bands, Hump Day is about getting noticed; for others, it’s about spreading a message. For example, When Sunsets Fall is a student band that makes music to spread awareness about the current political climate’s effect on low-income, immigrant populations in San Diego. Led by first-year Angel Olguin, the band’s music speaks on issues such as the number of UCSD students recently having their visas revoked, Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in the Barrio Logan and Escondido areas, and increased amounts of deportations.
“Something I noticed from this school is that a lot of people really don’t understand what’s going on right now,” Olguin said. “I have family and friends who have been deported for no reason, and Trump is just letting this happen. … So we talk about a lot of those problems in our music, and that really motivates us to just continue writing more music and performing.”
At its core, Hump Day is more than just a concert on a hill — it’s a celebration of student voice, self-expression, and the diverse stories that shape UCSD’s creative community. Whether you’re there to catch a set from your friend’s band, make a tote bag between classes, or simply listen to music, Hump Day offers a reminder that sometimes, the most memorable moments on campus don’t happen in lecture halls — they happen on the grass, at the Hump.
