Despite the rain, Hofstra University’s 2019 Music Fest proved to be a day of firsts for up-and-coming artists as well as a moment of reverie and recollection. Performers included new-comers The WAVE and Band, Unispan Records artist KarmaRe and headliners Shortly and DRAM. Combined, the artists provided a fresh, elevating sound, ranging from hip-hop to lyrical and energizing the eager crowd.

Hofstra Concerts’ annual Music Fest, held last Saturday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., featured rides and performances from headliners PVRIS, Kirk Knight and Cruisr, with opening acts by Aaron West and The Roaring Twenties and The Last Great Kings. 

The winner of Hofstra Concerts’ Battle for Music Fest – held Friday night in the Netherlands Core – will go on to open Hofstra Concerts’ Music Fest in May. Two three-man-bands, one stunning team of two and a solo rapper competed for the slot this year.