Bass will be bouncing off the walls at the O’Connell Center Homecoming weekend — and there might be cake flying, too.
Grammy-nominated DJ Steve Aoki will headline the 102nd Gator Growl in October. It’s a stark contrast from the previous twos headliners, country artist David Lynch and shirtless pop sensation Jason Derulo.
Aoki is an electronic dance music artist whose iconic hits include “Pursuit of Happiness.” He has produced songs with musicians such as Kid Cudi, Backstreet Boys and Louis Tomlinson. Aoki performed at a Gainesville parking lot in 2021, drawing a crowd of 2,500 people.
Aoki’s signature stunt is throwing a cake into the audience at his concerts, often hitting a designated fan. Gator Growl organizers hinted at the tradition on social media leading up to the headliner reveal, saying in an Instagram post things “might get a little messy.”
Homecoming at UF has been a prized annual activity since its inception more than a century ago. Gator Growl, which calls itself the “largest pep rally in the nation,” is led by students during Homecoming week — amplifying the already vibrant school spirit through musical performances in the school’s 10,000-seat basketball stadium.
Aoki’s most recent work includes his newest album, “HiROQUEST 3: Paragon.” The album’s goal was to blend genres nostalgic to Aoki while still maintaining his “signature dancefloor energy,” according to Music Corporation of America.
“I still need to represent the universal, global sound that has made me who I am… merging those sounds with EDM,” he told Alternative Press in 2022.
Gator Growl is Oct. 17 at the O’Connell Center at 6 p.m. Students can get tickets starting Aug. 29.
Other homecoming week festivities include a parade scheduled for noon on Oct. 17 and the homecoming football game itself, which will take place the following day, Oct. 18, against the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Contact Angelique Rodriguez at arodriguez@allator.org. Follow her on X @angeliquesrod.
