Almost two months after Ohio University’s Vice President for Student Affairs Kent Smith tweeted that rapper B.o.B would perform at The Convo, the lineup has been finalized.
With two weeks until the curtain opens, the show’s organizers have selected the DJs behind the Dave Rave dance parties to join Grammy nominee B.o.B. and “Like a G6” emcees Far East Movement at the year’s biggest concert.
“We were just looking for someone that could provide some music during the downtime (between acts),” said Brian Heilmeier, the graduate assistant for campus programming, who invited the DJs to play at the event. “I’d talked to a few people and asked who they recommended, and (Dave Rave) kept coming up.”
Comprising local DJs and OU alumni Dave “Time Traveler” Alexander and Brandon “B-Funk” Thompson, Dave Rave is best known for its techno dance parties at The Union and The Red Brick Sports Pub. The Convo concert will be the biggest venue the DJs have played yet, Alexander said.
The May 20 show will also be the first concert in the athletics facility since Jason Mraz and Michelle Branch performed there in 2003.
“I went to the Sugar Ray concert when it was in The Convo (in May 1999),” he said. “It’s the biggest venue in the area, and it’s a really exciting opportunity for us.”
Alexander and Thompson will also bring along longtime friend and DJ Aaron “A-ROC” Thomas to spin a few songs in the arena. Thomas, who performs at The Pigskin during the week and Broney’s Alumni Grill on the weekends, has been playing Top-40 tunes at local events for more than 10 years.
“I’m gonna start off the first 20 or 30 minutes, and then Dave and Brandon are going to kick in with the Dave Rave music and give it a lot of flavor,” Thomas said. “Just the stuff I spin at the bar: all up-tempo, really high-energy music, just to get the people into it.”
Dave Rave is also hosting multiple dance parties and DJ showcases this quarter, in addition to playing the DJ tent at 8Fest May 21.
“It’s been a pretty big year for us, a lot of hard work, and it’s culminating with playing in The Convo,” Alexander said. “We’ll see how Dave Rave works in front of a big crowd.”
Dave Rave — which is officially the last act to be added to the bill — will collect about $300 for The Convo gig, Heilmeier said.
There is still a considerable amount of $25 tickets available, said Andrew Holzaepfel, associate director of OU’s Campus Involvement Center and booking agent for the Performing Arts Series. The concert is also sponsored by the University Program Council, the Black Student Cultural Programming Board, the National Pan-Hellenic Council and the Student Activities Commission.
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