Indie rock group Cold War Kids and electronic artist Steve Aoki are officially on the lineup for this year’s Dillo Day, Mayfest announced Tuesday.
This is the first year an electronic act will be Dillo Day’s final performance, Mayfest concerts chair Zach Robinson said.
“It’s something that we wanted to do last year, but didn’t end up working out,” the Bienen senior said. “We figured that with the popularity of electronic dance music rising and how big it is on campus, we thought that Steve Aoki was a great fit for our Dillo Day closer.”
While electronic music will close the night, Cold War Kids, a band from California known for songs including “Hang Me Up to Dry,” will play during the day.
“As with past day headliners, we feel that Cold War Kids not only have a name, but their music kind of embodies the spirit of Dillo Day,” Robinson said.
Last year’s daytime headliner was another indie rock band, The New Pornographers.
Cold War Kids has created three studio albums in its career: “Robbers & Cowards,” “Loyalty to Loyalty” and their 2011 release “Mine Is Yours.”
The band has previously toured with Death Cab for Cutie, and according to its Facebook page, the band “strives to make honest songs about human experience in orchards and hotel rooms, laundromats and churches, sea ports and school halls.”
“Cold War Kids are picking up kind of where New Pornographers and Regina Spektor left off,” Robinson said. “We like to have generally an indie band or a rock band that fits the sunny vibe that we all want and hope for on Dillo Day.”
Steve Aoki has collaborated with artists including Tiesto and Afrojack. His latest album, “Wonderland,” came out in January 2012.
Robinson said some of the factors that encouraged Mayfest to consider Steve Aoki for Dillo Day were that his schedule was open for that day, it saw his growing popularity on campus and his recent performance at Ultra Music Festival.
Mayfest Co-Chair Darrin Bedol said Steve Aoki will satisfy electronic dance music fans and Cold War Kids will please rock music lovers. The remaining acts in the Dillo Day lineup, Bedol said, will include other genres of music.
“Definitely something we focused on this year was rounding out the lineup really well,” the Communication senior said.
Mayfest Promotions Co-Chair Vivek Sudarsan said this year the nighttime headliner was partially paid for and sponsored by Cricket Wireless. The company recently partnered with NU to sponsor the University’s athletics department, the Weinberg senior said.
