Vanderbilt Programming Board’s 2026 Rites of Spring music festival will feature co-headliners A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and Natasha Bedingfield. The festival will take place April 18 on Alumni Lawn. According to the event schedule, Battle of the Bands winner Spring Training and runner-up Creek Beagle are set to start off the concert, followed by rising R&B artist Ravyn Lenae.
Rites of Spring has undergone several changes in recent years, including a shift from a two-day event to a one-day event following budget constraints and campus construction in 2024. The 2025 concert was canceled entirely due to inclement weather.
Artist Dubose, known professionally as A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, is a Bronx-born rapper recognized for hits such as “Drowning” and “Look Back at It.” He rose to prominence in the late 2010s and has remained a consistent presence on the Billboard charts.
First-year Lane Gooding said he is excited to see A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie again after seeing him perform in high school.
“I’m really excited to see [Boogie] again. He’s a great performer, and I think he’ll put on an incredible show,” Gooding said.
Bedingfield, a British singer-songwriter, is widely known for early 2000s hits, including “Unwritten” and “Pocketful of Sunshine.” Her music has recently experienced renewed popularity, with “Unwritten” re-entering global charts and going viral on social media in 2024.
Sophomore Josh Bagley said he is especially excited to see Bedingfield because of the nostalgia.
“I’m so excited to see Natasha Bedingfield — her music is so nostalgic, and I think it’s going to be such a fun and energetic performance,” Bagley said.
Lenae, a Chicago-based R&B artist, has gained traction in recent years with her R&B style. Her single “Love Me Not” became a breakout hit, reaching the top five on the Billboard Hot 100, making her one of the fastest-rising artists in contemporary R&B.
VPB representatives previously told The Hustler that artist selection is influenced by factors such as student input, availability and budget considerations.
