The Dixie State University Student Association revealed the headliner for Dixie Fest, Portugal. The Man, during Casino Night.
After announcing the Casino Night prizes, which ranged from toasters to iPads, Cajun Syrett, a junior communication major from West Jordan, presented a video that announced Portugal. The Man will be headlining Dixie Fest on April 20 in the Burns Arena.
The two-minute video displayed DSUSA’s events over the years and trailed into the big announcement.
Student Body President Ezra Hainsworth, a senior communication major from St. George, said, “This is your opportunity to be a part of something big, something rare, something awesome — this is Dixie Fest.”
The video then went on to play “Feel It Still,” the popular single from the band’s 2017 album, “Woodstock.”
The students cheered after the realizing Portugal. The Man will be headlining this year’s Dixie Fest.
When the projector screen in the Gardner Ballroom lit up to display the name “Portugal. The Man,” students immediately started yelling and clapping.
Michael Chacon, a junior marketing major from Layton, said, “Coming into Casino Night, I was so excited — not only because they brought back my favorite event, but also because they were going to be announcing Dixie Fest.”
Chacon said though he already knew who was going to be headlining Dixie Fest, which he found out from his friends, he was still excited to see the reveal and the excitement amongst the other students who didn’t know.
“I was not expecting them to show a video” Chacon said. “I was thinking someone was just going to get over the mic and make the announcement, but I think it was really cool the way they did it; it was different.”
The song “Feel It Still” debuted No. 1 on the Billboard list of Alternative Songs chart and stayed No. 1 for 20 weeks. The song became the band’s first single to make it to the charts.
The album, “Woodstock,” was produced by Mike D, a founding member of the Beastie Boys, and featured popular songs “Rich Friends,” “So Young” and “Tidal Wave.”
Portugal. The Man, who has collaborated and performed with Grouplove, and Richie Havens, is the latest big name act DSUSA has brought to Dixie Fest.
Tickets range from $15 to $20 based on seating and are available online now at tickets.dsutix.com.
