Township to host hip-hop, electronic acts Tuesday
Campus has been tagged with sidewalk chalk and posters — orange and green graffiti adorns the outside of Gambrell and students walk by the artful promo campaign asking one question: “What is GLOWfest?”
Whirl Time Music will introduce its electronic, hip-hop music festival GLOWfest to Columbia tonight at the Township Auditorium.
GLOWfest’s headlining group is Big Gigantic, but the one-night festival brings equally popular electronic and hip-hop acts to the stage — 3LAU, The Dean’s List, Coyote Kisses and Ben G.
A company run by seven young men, Whirl Time Music founded their operation on electronic and hip-hop music, which they felt defined our generation of music. The music group collaborated with ThisSongIsSick.com and FratMusic.com to bring popular electronic artists, like Colorado-based electronic act Big Gigantic, to Columbia for South Carolina’s GLOWFest.
Whirl Time put on its first South Carolina show at Clemson on Sept. 15, but GLOWfest has become the company’s trademark festival, hosting previous shows at University of Colorado at Boulder, Arizona State University and Indiana University. Each show featured different electronic artists, ranging from artists like “Cooler Than Me” singer Mike Posner to Pretty Lights and Avicii.
Although Whirl Time’s name — and past festivals — book the bigger-name acts, GLOWfest empowers college students across the country, allowing a surrogate student-based music company to set up the stage and handle the marketing.
Columbia’s show is a new combination of artists, ranging from two-man electronic groups to local up-and-comers.
Colorado’s Big Gigantic released its free album, Nocturnal, on Jan. 11. The group is made up of DJ/producer/saxophonist — and Colorado’s The Motet alumnus — Dominic Lalli and drummer Jeremy Salken.
With its powerful beats and exciting performances, Big Gigantic are quickly gaining fame. They have around 30 upcoming shows, including a performance at Wakarusa, a large-scale music festival in Arkansas, and sold-out shows in D.C. and Atlanta.
“Big Gigantic’s new album paired with their brand new light show they recently debuted made me really excited. This is not a show you want to miss,” said third-year public relations student and Whirl Time partner Matt Murtaugh.
The Dean’s List is a trio from Boston that has found their niche in the college scene. After over 28 shows, they continue to produce high-energy hip-hop and humorous college-related lyrics like, “We walk around campus like we own it / You walk around campus like you lonely.”
The Las Vegas-based DJ 3LAU, or Justin Blau, mashes up hits like Ellie Goulding’s “Lights” and LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem,” which may seem overdone, but his blend of techno and rap is catchy — and the perfect beat for a night of GLOWfest dancing.
Coyote Kisses, a self-branded “space funk” band from Lakeland, Fla. is a two-man show: Bryce Bresnan and Joe Sussingham.
“They have an amped-up progressive electronic vibe,” said Tiernan Barr, Whirl Time Music’s chief marketing officer.
And the least-known artist in the pack, Ben G., brings the festival back to the local scene. Ben Hiott, from “B-FAM,” is a rapper from Columbia who specializes in catchy hip-hop — clever lyrics set to a nice flow.
Columbia’s GLOWfest is setting up the hip-hop and electronic hierarchy, from the local level to the national heat-seekers who are defining the genres.
GLOWfest doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. Township Auditorium is at 1703 Taylor St. and tickets are $30 at the door.