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DePaul Activities Board (DAB) has opened the survey for the annual spring FEST concerts, set to take place May 24. Upon reviewing the list of potential artists, freshman Micaela Nelson said all of the choices were really good bands. While Nelson has not yet voted, nearly 2,200 of her fellow DePaul students have submitted their opinions since the survey’s release. The vast majority of the student body is well aware of the major artists FEST has brought in the past. The most recent includes Wiz Khalifa, Ludacris and Lupe Fiasco. In fact, FEST’s popularity has grown so significantly that it has sold out its 4,000 person capacity for the past few years.

Nelson hopes that this year’s FEST will provide equally-memorable performances that are lively and great for dancing.

“If you’re going to see live music, it should have a lot of energy,” Nelson said.

And Nelson knows what makes a live performance a good one. Having seen many of the potential groups at previous concerts and music festivals, she thinks a few in particular would be a great match for FEST, including Miike Snow, Danny Brown and Deerhunter.

While Nelson has a wealth of experience attending live concerts in general, DePaul senior Katy Jung has gone to FEST in the past. She remembers Ludacris’ performance in 2010 as a high-energy event in which “everyone was constantly excited.” Jung looks forward to bringing her time at DePaul to a close at FEST this spring.

“It’s the end of the year…you should be celebrating,” said Jung.

While Jung plans on attending regardless of who the artists may be, she hopes that this FEST will bring performers who are “different but still peppy.”

Thankfully for Jung, she just might get the different kind of FEST experience she is looking for. DAB Vice-President of Internal Affairs Megan Daley reported that this year the organization hopes to expand FEST by including artists from a wider array of genres and also by making it “more of a festival than just a concert.”

This is far from a new idea for FEST. In fact, Daley explains that when the FEST tradition began 28 years ago, it was an all-day event focused on involving the surrounding community. Daley reveals that this year, members of the FEST committee, led by FEST Coordinator Joe Kosin, hope to re-incorporate this idea of “appeasing the community” through gaining sponsorships from local businesses and reaching out to members of the neighborhood.

While this spring’s FEST may have some new elements, as always, it is certain not to disappoint. Even though online voting for the headlining, supporting and “After Hours” artists closed this Friday, Feb. 8, students have the opportunity to give further insight and opinions at the FEST Forum in the Loop, Feb. 25. Continue to look for updates on FEST throughout the next few months. 

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FEST Survey Choices:

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Main Act

A$AP Rocky

B.o.B

Big Boi

Big Sean

Common

Gogol Bordello

Metric

Miike Snow

Nas

Of Monsters and Men

Slightly Stoopid

STS9

The Weeknd

Third Eye Blind

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Supporting Act

Danny Brown

Deerhunter

Hoodie Allen

Iggy Azalea

Minus The Bear

Reptar

ScHoolboy Q

Sleigh Bells

The Walkmen

Theophilus London

Timeflies

Wavves

Yelawolf

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After Hours

A-Trak

Alesso

Baauer

Diplo

Feed Me

Flosstradamus

Hardwell

Krewella

Nero

Nicky Romero

                                                                     Porter Robinson