On Friday, the University Programs Council (UPC) hosted musical artists Cherub and D.R.A.M in the amphitheater.
The concert lasted from 8 to 10 pm and was free to the public. Rumors circulated that UPC brought Cherub and D.R.A.M as replacements for the Welcome Week concert that rappers Future and Lil Yachty cancelled last month.
UPC’s Director of Concert Committee, third year Maddie Budreau, detested these rumors.
“We actually locked down D.R.A.M and Cherub earlier…this year with the intention of them being our Springfest performers,” she explained.
“With last minute scheduling conflicts, D.R.A.M needed to postpone the show. Which worked out great actually, because we were still able to get Misterwives last minute to fill in as headliners for Springfest,” Budreau continued.
“With Future canceling, at least it timed out nicely that we so happened to already have a Fall show planned. To negate all the rumors: NO, the D.R.A.M and Cherub show was not our replacement show for Future and Lil’ Yachty. We knew they were coming in the Fall at the end of last semester.”
Cherub is an indie alternative pop duo composed of Jordan Kelley and Jason Huber from Nashville, Tennessee. The two opened for D.R.A.M and in-between songs stopped to remind students to always be kind and positive in today’s world.
The lead singer told the crowd that “love is always the way..make friends and keep them for life.”
Cherub closed their performance with “Doses & Mimosas,” their most listened-to song on Spotify. It has reeled in nearly 60,000,000 listens.
UVa students then eagerly awaited the arrival of Virginia native rapper. D.R.A.M also made witty and positive comments during his show. He stated that he felt good to be in Charlottesville and reminded attendees to always “spread love” in response to the protests that occurred in the college town in August.
D.R.A.M pumped students up when he asked: “Are you ready to graduate and change the motherf****** world?!”
D.R.A.M performed hits like “Cha Cha” off his EP along with his breakout single “Broccoli.” Students filled the amphitheater steps and the grass area in front of the stage to watch the show.
“The audience turnout for the amp was phenomenal (apparently the best we’ve seen in the past few years). I honestly really liked the contrast of genres, from electronic pop to hip-hop,” Budreau said.
“It seemed like that was able to draw out more people, while some were there more for Cherub, and others more for D.R.A.M. From what I could tell, students seemed genuinely really into the show, which made the environment more energetic and fun. I can’t believe it was that packed, which I think really made the experience,” concluded the UPC Concert Committee Director.
