Childish Gambino and Ciara to Headline HEAT Music Festival at UC Riverside

The Neighbourhood, Portugal. The Man, Dzeko and Torres and Madeon also to perform at student-oriented concert

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A packed house is expected at the 2014 Heat Music Festival at UCR. Photo by Vicki Garza

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Rapper Childish Gambino, R&B singer Ciara and indie rock bands The Neighbourhood and Portugal. The Man headline the HEAT Music Festival at the University of California, Riverside on Saturday, March 1, 2014.

Also appearing are a pair of up-and-coming electronic dance music (EDM) talents, Madeon and Dzeko and Torres. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the music will run from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

“Heat has always had a good mix of genres, hip hop, R&B, EDM and indie rock, and I think we have a similar lineup this year,” said Todd Wingate, director of the Highlander Union Building, which is putting on the festival.

A total of 10,000 tickets will be given away to UC Riverside undergraduate and graduate students with a current student I.D. beginning Monday, Feb. 3 at noon at the Highlander Union Building information desk. Students must show their I.D. to pick up the ticket and show it upon entering the venue.

In addition, 2,500 “affiliate tickets” will go on sale on Feb. 3 through the HEAT website. The tickets, which cost $28.50 each, must be picked up by a staff, student or faculty member with a current UCR I.D. Affiliate ticket holders will not need to show a UCR I.D. to enter the concert. There is a limit of two affiliate tickets per person. UCR Alumni Association members will be able to purchase tickets as well and will need to present their UCRAA membership card and a photo ID when picking up them up.

Wingate said that as is the case with past festivals, this year’s lineup came as a result of student feedback.

“This is a student-driven event. We put out a survey during the summer asking what artists students would like to see and received 3,500 responses. We ranked the results, then look at the artists in terms of availability, cost, and the reality that they would play here.”

Another issue is the nearby Coachella festival, which limits some of the performers. “Anybody playing at Coachella is contractually limited and can’t play here,” he said, adding that a huge EDM concert in Australia also pulls some performers away.

The festival will see some significant changes from recent years, most notably that it is now a stand-alone event rather than a part of the campus’ Homecoming celebration. This change means fewer conflicts with UCR athletics events and more parking for visitors.

In addition, the festival will feature two large stages, rather than the one large and two smaller stages of past years.

“We just outgrew the HUB Plaza space, so we will have one stage on the HUB Lawn and another near Pierce Hall,” Wingate said.

Finally, there will not be a beer garden at the show. “This is a student-oriented event and the majority of students who will be attending are not of legal age to drink,” Wingate explained. “We chose to invest the funds we would have spent on the beer garden to enhance the experience for everyone.”

Once again the UCR trollies will be running from 9:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. to help guests get back to their homes or cars following the concert.

The performers for the 2014 HEAT Music Festival are: (Click the thumbnail photo to see the full size images of the performers.)

Madeon

The 19-year-old French EDM performer gained international popularity in 2011 when his video “Pop Culture” exploded on YouTube. He has performed at the Coachella Festival, the Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Lollapalooza in Chicago and the Electric Daisy Carnival in New York. He also served as the opening act for Lady Gaga during her Born This Way tour. He appeared on three tracks on her 2013 album ARTPOP.

Ciara

The multi-talented, 28-year-old R&B singer, songwriter and producer will come to HEAT as she finishes work on her sixth album. She is known for her beautiful soprano voice and sassy vocals. Her 2013 album, eponymously –titled “Ciera,” was well received, reaching No. 2 on the US Billboard 200 weekly chart and 19th overall among US R&B albums released in 2013.

Dzeko & Torres

Julian Dzeko and Luis Torres are an EDM duo from Toronto, Canada who spent 2013 touring throughout North America, including stops at Coachella, Tomorrowland and Ibizia festivals.

The Neighbourhood

Also known by the abbreviation “THE NBHD,” the alternative rock group from Newbury Park, CA released their first full-length album “I Love You” in 2013. Their single, “Sweater Weather,” reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Alternative Chart in June 2013. The stop at HEAT is part of their Le Tour Noir spring Tour.

Portugal. The Man

These indie rock veterans hail from Wasilla, Alaska. Their most recent album, the 2013 release “Evil Friends,” was produced by Danger Mouse and is the band’s seventh studio album. It reached No. 9 on Billboard’s UCR Alternate Rock Chart and 28 overall.

Childish Gambino

Childish Gambino is the stage name of actor, comedian and hip-hip artist Donald Glover. Perhaps best known for his role on the NBC sit-com “Community,” Glover’s hip-hop music stands on its own, touching on subjects including bullying, suicide, addiction, romance and family. His most recent album, “Because the Internet,” was released on Dec. 10, 2013. His show at UCR is part of his “The Deep Web” tour.

Archived under: Arts/Culture, Inside UCR, Childish Gambino, Ciara, heat music festival, Highlander Union Building, press release, todd wingate

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