RL Grime brings the bass to Flavet Field on UF’s last day of classes

On UF’s last day of class, bassheads, festival wookies and fans of electronic dance music experienced a strobe light-filled, bass-heavy music experience.

On April 24, electronic artist RL Grime and opening EDM duo Lost Kings performed on Flavet Field for the last Student Government Productions concert of the Spring 2019 semester. About 1,500 people attended the free concert put on by SGP.

SGP paid RL Grime $50,000 to perform, which included providing two video walls for the performance, according to his contract.

Gates opened at 6:30 p.m. and Lost Kings took the stage at 7:10 p.m. The event was open to the public. No ticket was needed to attend.

SGP director of photography, Cassandra Kuhn, said she anticipated a good turnout because of the music genre.

“It's the last day of school, so it'd be a nice break for everyone before exams, after classes,” the 19-year-old said.

She said there were no difficulties setting up.

Finance senior and SGP chairman Andrew Kelly, 22, reiterated that everything went according to plan.

The Los Angeles DJ started his set at 8:10 p.m. with his song “Era.” Once the sun set, some concert goers used light-up hoops, LED fiber optic whips and other brightly colored objects to dance to the beat of the music.

RL Grime mixed his hit “Shrine” with Queen’s “We Will Rock You.” Throughout his set, he also mixed his songs with various rap and hip-hop tracks by artists including Travis Scott, Drake, Kid Cudi, Sheck Wes and Kanye West.

“I know we’re at UF right now, but sing along to this song,” RL Grime said as his song “UCLA” played.

Nicole Edgar, a 21 year-old UF sociology student danced in the crowd with a hula hoop –– a practice known also as hooping –– as Lost Kings’ set started.

“I was really happy when I heard he was doing a free show and in my hometown,” Edgar said.

The opening act, Lost Kings, is composed of two DJs –– Robert Abisi and Nick Shanholtz –– who are based in Los Angeles.

Shanholtz stood on the DJ booth waving his hands as the crowd followed suit.

UF architecture lecturer Stephen Bender, 49, said he attended the event because he has listened to EDM since its early stages, but he expressed dissatisfaction with Lost Kings’ set.

“They're flying through tracks,” Bender said.

Bender said he is used to ’90s electronic music where tension is built up continuously.

“These guys count every drop? I mean, what a buzzkill,” he said.

At the end of his set, RL Grime praised the crowd for their energy and sent them off for the rest of the night.

“UF, take care of yourself. Take care of each other,” he said.

About 1,500 people attended the last Student Government Productions concert of the year featuring electronic dance music artists RL Grime and Lost Kings.