Previewing the Hilltop Music Festival

April 1, 2011, 12:58 a.m.
Previewing the Hilltop Music Festival
Courtesy of Alberto Aroeste

Tonight, between 6:30 and 10:30 p.m., head up the hill to FloMo Field for the first ever Hilltop Music Festival. The Stanford Concert Network, in conjunction with Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Theta Delta Chi and Kappa Sigma, is bringing some big names to campus for a night of awesome music.

Headlining Hilltop is Andre Nickatina, the famous Bay Area rap artist. Though Nickatina doesn’t usually do campus shows, “he heard the name Stanford and fell in love with the idea,” said Alberto Aroeste ’13, SCN’s head coordinator for Hilltop Music Fest.

Aroeste, also a brother at SAE, sees Hilltop as a big step for the Stanford Concert Network, which has received criticism in the past.

“We’re aware of what people want, and we’re getting there little by little, showing [Stanford] that we’re legitimate,” Aroeste said.

In addition to Andre Nickatina, other Bay Area rappers Smoov-E, Cryptic Wisdom, Raider Dave and Mumbls will be performing along with American Royalty and Desert Dolls. American Royalty is a “rock, psychadelic DJ” duo that was recently mentioned by electronic music blog Gotta Dance Dirty as a top up-and-coming performer. American Royalty has opened for LA’s Halloween Hard Fest, combining rock with DJ-ing and synthesizers for a unique, electric rock sound. Desert Dolls, a group from Mexico City about to launch their first tour, will be making their international debut at the Hilltop Music Festival.

“Come in your tanks and shades,” Aroeste said. He sees Hilltop as a chance for undergrads to “come out and have fun with each other and enjoy the first weekend back.” Like Snowchella, Hilltop Music Festival will be alcohol free, but anyone is welcome to bring their grills up to FloMo Field for some barbecuing before the concert. And be sure to bring some cash tonight so you can pick up an official Hilltop Music Festival t-shirt for $20.

Hilltop Music Festival is brought to you by Aroeste and a full team of fraternity members, including Theta Delt’s Cody Sam ’12 and Mark Frykman ’11, Kappa Sig’s Jeremy Fine ’13 and Josh Stone ’13, SAE’s Max Oswald ’12 and Stanford Concert Network executives, President Adam Pharr ’11 and Tech Director David Kettler ’11.

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