Alternative rock band Guster will perform at Northwestern on Dillo Day May 29. Mayfest made the announcement at Battle of the DJs Friday night.
“They have the perfect upbeat, outdoor, sunny-day sound,” said Katie Halpern, Mayfest co-chair. “Guster is totally danceable. It’s totally lounge-able. Whatever people want to be doing on the Lakefill, it’ll probably be nice.”
Guster performed for an A&O concert five years ago. The Boston-based group is known for the singles “Barrel of a Gun” and “Amsterdam.” Their most recent album, 2006’s Ganging Up on the Sun, peaked at 25 on the Billboard Top 200 and won Album of the Year at the Boston Music Awards. They are set to release their sixth studio album in September.
One factor in bringing Guster was Mayfest’s push to make Dillo Day more eco-friendly. Adam Gardner, guitarist and vocalist of Guster, started the non-profit organization Reverb, which encourages artists to use environmentally-friendly plastics and biodiesel for tour buses.
Mayfest had previously announced Regina Spektor and Nelly as headliners of the annual outdoor festival.
“The thing we thought was missing with Nelly and Regina was a band with guitars and instruments,” said Michael Gebhardt, Mayfest co-chair.
Although the headliners appeal to different audiences, Halpern said “all three of them will go with the Dillo Day spirit that is about celebration, fun and a sort of hedonistic day.”
In the past, Dillo Day has typically featured only two headlining acts. Mayfest is able to bring three this year because of co-sponsorships. Spektor was co-sponsored with Hillel, and Nelly was funded in part by the Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Association.
“We want to have big draws the entire day,” Halpern said. “We know people have their own off-campus activities, but Dillo Day is really about what happens on the Lakefill.”
Updated 5/23/10 1:42 p.m.