A group of students are banding together to bring the Monster Energy Up & Up Festival to Austin. They are competing against over 70 other colleges to sell the most pre-sale tickets in a 48-hour period from Feb. 18-20.
The top five schools will earn a tour stop from Ship Wrek, an electronic music duo made up of Collin Maguire and Tripp Churchill, known for their futuristic, fast-paced beats.
“I think it’s really good for UT because even beyond UT-Austin, I think Austin’s electronic dance music scene has really been growing in the past few years,” business freshman Andrew Xiao said. “(The Up & Up Festival is) the most direct way that UT students have been able to get involved.”
Maria Obsuna, advertising junior and lead ambassador for Up & Up UT Austin, said she discovered the competition over winter break while doom scrolling on Instagram and reading about students harnessing social media, planning events and reaching out to people. The student-led aspect of the festival appealed to Obsuna, who applied to be a campus ambassador for Up & Up.
“I know there’s a lot of Moody students that are interested in working in entertainment (and) film, and even if you’re not studying that … there’s a lot of people that are probably into going to concerts, going to raves,” Obsuna said. “I’m pretty sure (Austin is the) number one music spot in all the nation.”
To promote the festival, Obsuna and her team of 12 ambassadors tapped into spirit organizations and Greek life, creating a philanthropy system where discounts from promotional codes went back to a charity of their organization’s choice. The team also coordinated parties with organizations and tabled on Speedway, giving out free Monster energy drinks and merchandise.
Xiao and finance sophomore Taishi Shiao, DJed a party co-hosted by the Filipino Students Association, Lambda Phi Epsilon and Up & Up UT Austin student ambassadors.
“I’m glad they’re doing something for the EDM scene,” Shiao said. “My freshman year, I was trying to get my friends to go to a rave or any house concert, and it (was) a struggle. But now, I ask my friends, (and) not all of them will say yes, but they’ll be more inclined to go because they’ve been so exposed to (EDM and house music).”
In addition to the competition for ticket pre-sales, Up & Up UT Austin hosted a competition to be an opener for Ship Wrek, if they come to UT. Andy Noh, radio-television-film senior, won the competition, which involved submitting a short mixtape that Up & Up Instagram followers voted on.
“If (Ship Wrek) actually come(s) to our school and I actually get to open for them, that (will feel) very surreal,” Noh said.
Pre-sale tickets cost $30 on the Up & Up Festival website. For the first 100 people, tickets are free. According to the website, cards are only charged if a school wins, with refunds available at a later date. Winners will be announced on Friday.
Economics junior Evania Shibu said she plans to purchase a pre-sale ticket.
“Austin has so much live music to its core,” Shibu said. “I think that’s what makes Austin, Austin, so that’s why I want to buy a pre-sale ticket. Any kind of festival (that) comes to Austin for students is a good thing.”
