The apparent lineup for the Vanderbilt Programming Board’s 2023 Rites of Spring concert was posted to Vanderbilt Student Affairs’ website on a page titled “2023 Rites Artists” at approximately 7:55 p.m. CDT tonight. It stated that A$AP Ferg, Dayglow, Sean Kingston, Muni Long, Maude Latour, Coco Jones, Yaubryon and Edgehill would perform at the annual campus concert.
By approximately 8:30 p.m. CDT, the lineup was removed from the page. As of publication, the page is no longer available. The ticket link reads that ticket sales were to start on March 13, but the page is broken. The schedule for Rites of Spring is still live as of publication, with gates set to open at 5 p.m. CDT on April 21 and April 22.
The president of VPB Music Group did not immediately respond to The Hustler’s requests for comment.
Students who saw the apparent lineup expressed a mix of excitement, disappointment and confusion about the show and its lineup. Sophomore Emma Marlowe stated that she hoped there would be more information about the event available soon because it is slated to occur in about a month’s time.
“I would love to get more information about what is going on and who [which musicians] are coming,” Marlowe said. “I’m trying to plan these next few weeks, and Rites of Spring is something that I would love to go to, but I don’t think that is going to be possible without prior notice.”
Senior Brianna Weiss shared her excitement for the apparent lineup. Due to COVID-19 restrictions in prior years, Rites of Spring was held virtually in 2020 and 2021 and returned as a full-scale, in-person event in 2022.
“This lineup is a slay!” Weiss said. “Can’t wait for my first and last Rites of Spring as a senior.”
In December 2022, VPB released a survey to students in which they could rank the top 10 artists they wanted to see at the concert out of a list of musicians. According to a Nov. 30, 2022, email from VPB Music Group, the list of potential voting options included artists that were available at the time and within VPB’s price range, but their availability was not guaranteed.
Marlowe expressed excitement to see Sean Kingston on the apparent lineup but stated she wished Remi Wolf, Pink Pantheress or Omar Apollo — who were among the voting options — were on the lineup.
“I was a little disappointed to see only one of the 10 artists that I ranked being selected,” Marlowe said.
Junior Charity Davis also expressed disappointment with the apparent lineup, stating that she knew people ranked Omar Apollo and Chloe Bailey high in the survey.
“I’m not sure if this lineup makes me want to go to Rites, and I didn’t go last year,” Davis said. “It doesn’t seem like any of the artists I know [who] people ranked high made it into the lineup, so that makes it a little more disappointing.”
According to Vanderbilt Student Affairs, student tickets for the weekend will be available for $25 until the week of the show, when they will be $35. The general public is also welcome to attend the festival, with tickets selling for $40 before the week of the show and $50 during that week. Individuals under 18 must be accompanied by an adult aged at least age 21 when entering the festival. No bags, food or drinks will be allowed in the show.
This piece will be updated as more information becomes available.
