A day after a not-so-cryptic tweet appeared on the Dillo Day website, Mayfest officials confirmed Monday that Ryan Hemsworth will perform as Dillo Day’s penultimate act.
“We always want to book an electronic act because electronic music is rapidly changing and it’s very exciting,” said Michael Bass, School of Communication junior and Mayfest's Director of Concerts. “We think that Ryan Hemsworth is on the cutting edge.”
Hemsworth has performed at a number of major music festivals in the past year, including Pitchfork and Sasquatch. The Canadian DJ is known for remixing a large cross-section of genres and artists, from Lorde to A$AP Ferg, from Kanye West to Cat Power.
“A lot of people are turned off by very hard, pounding, loud, abrasive bass, like a [2012 Dillo Day headliner] Steve Aoki,” Bass said. “This is a little more melodic, a little sweeter.”
After his tweet appeared on the Dillo Day website, Hemsworth has interacted via Twitter with Northwestern students asking if he's related to actors Chris and Liam Hemsworth (he's not), Mayfest officials said.
“His excitement to play has boosted our excitement,” Mayfest co-chair Xander Shepherd said. “Unfortunately not every single artist is absolutely gung-ho about a college show, but he is, and you can always tell on stage and that’s the difference.”
Bass said Hemsworth was on the “gold list” of electronic acts Mayfest looked into, and the student group discussed booking him as last year’s electronic artist.
Hemsworth is scheduled to perform at 7 p.m. on Dillo Day, immediately before headliner 2 Chainz. Chance the Rapper has also been announced to perform during Dillo Day 2014.