R&B music producer Sweater Beats will complete the lineup for Bruin Bash 2016, performing as the pre-opener for Norwegian DJ Matoma and rap artist headliner Ty Dolla $ign.
The UCLA Campus Events Commission and the Cultural Affairs Commission officially announced him as the third and final Bruin Bash artist Thursday, over a week after the first two announcements.
The concert co-hosts originally intended to release the artists’ names in order of show appearance, said Campus Events Commissioner Jordan Dang, but postponed the pre-opener announcement until contracts were officially signed.
[Related: Ty Dolla $ign to headline Bruin Bash 2016]
Antonio Cuna, known as Sweater Beats, released his latest single “Better,” featuring Nicole Millar and Imad Royal, in August. The Filipino-American artist has toured with Chance the Rapper, Flume and Chet Faker and will embark on his first live solo tour in October.
This would be the fifth time in Bruin Bash’s 12-year history that a trio of artists are set to take the stage. Ra Ra Riot, Los Rakas and Chiddy Bang performed at Drake Stadium in 2012 – the most recent occurrence.
“We wanted to go with the traditional opener-headliner, and essentially are releasing the third pre-opener as an extra thank you to UCLA students for believing in us,” said Amy Shao, the Cultural Affairs commissioner, in an interview after Ty Dolla $ign was announced.
The past three iterations of the annual zero week concert featured only one opener and one headliner, including last year’s pairing of R&B duo NxWorries and French electronic DJ Madeon.
Both Sweater Beats and headliner Ty Dolla $ign are Los Angeles-based artists.
Aside from the musical contrast R&B artist Sweater Beats offers the concert lineup, Dang said Sweater Beats adds to the cultural mix of Bruin Bash as a Filipino-American performer.
“It’s great that we have a lineup of people with three different backgrounds,” Dang said.
Incoming first-year physics student Simon Zhang said he looks forward to seeing a full spectrum of genres performed in tandem for his first Bruin Bash.
“I think the lineup really appeals to the younger generation, to our generation,” Zhang said. “Of course there are going to be some people who don’t really like the hip-hop or EDM genres, but I think that’s the minority.”
Students who entered the lottery for floor seats were notified of their status on Sept. 7. Third-year psychology student Karen Lee said she received the email that she had been denied a floor ticket one hour after headliner Ty Dolla $ign was announced Wednesday afternoon.
“When I found out the headliner was going to be Ty Dolla $ign, I was hyped to be right there on the floor in the middle of that energy,” Lee said. “I was really looking forward to being on the floor for a rapper, but I didn’t get it.”
Students have been notified whether they received a ticket in the Bruin Bash lottery. Ticket-winners can pick up their wristbands on the IM Field from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 19. Doors for the 7:30 p.m. concert open at 6 p.m.