For Vandal Athletics Tickets, please visit GoVandals.comEVENTS & SHOWS
LIL JON
Featuring Harry Mack
APR 10
Parent and Family Weekend
ICCU ARENA
Lil Jon
For the last decade plus, the words “YEAH,” “OK” and “WHAT” have been synonymous with multi-platinum, Grammy award winning artist Lil Jon. He has been one of the most prominent figures in music and pop culture alike, performing for hundreds of thousands of fans with Usher & Ludacris, Afrojack, Steve Aoki, Pitbull, TLC (on FOX’s American Idol), Yandel, LMFAO and Sydney Samson just to name a few.
In 2014, Lil Jon proved once again he’s a powerhouse artist teaming up with DJ Snake for their smash hit “Turn Down For What,” which created a massive worldwide craze. The string of hit songs haven’t stop after that including “Bend Ova” feat. Tyga, “Prison Riot” with Flosstradamus, “Get Loose,” (out on DIM MAK) and singles “Live The Night,” with Hardwell “Savage,” with Borgeous and Riggi & Piros and “Take It Off” featuring Yandel and Becky G.
His success as a mainstay in the DJ-world is evident with a current residency at Hakkasan Nightclub (MGM Grand) along with Jewel Nightclub at Aria Resort & Casino. Previously, Lil Jon had a DJ residency for over five years at the Wynn/Encore (Surrender, Tryst, XS), even being named the Las Vegas Resident DJ of The Year. He has traveled the globe DJing worldwide in places such as, but not limited to France, Germany, South Korea, China, India, Dubai, London, Mexico and Australia.
His consistent hit making has earned him legions of fans from Los Angeles to New York to the Midwest and of course his native region, the South. This is no more evident as Lil Jon won BMI’s Songwriter of the Year award as well as scored eight Billboard Awards (for the two hit Usher tracks “Yeah!” and “Lovers and Friends”), a Grammy, a Radio Music Award, a BET award, two MTV Video Music Awards, and an American Music Award.
Harry Mack
Multi-talented artist and rapper Harry Mack is best known for his unique, jaw-dropping visual freestyle rapping. He first came to fame when his Venice Beach Freestyle video went viral, which propelled him to opportunities alongside the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$, Soulja Boy, Ellen DeGeneres, Jennifer Hudson, Complex Music, RedBull Music, and NBA on TNT.
Harry's background in jazz drumming is a reflection of his life-long fascination with improvisational music. His unique approach to hip-hop revolves around the spirit of rhythmic improv. Blending the excitement of instrumental jazz improvisation with the impactful messages of hip-hop lyricism, Harry constantly strives to push the boundaries of his own abilities, while reaching for new approaches to rap expression.
with Grant Ekdahl and Oddy
APR 18
International Ballroom
UI Pitman Center
Walker & Royce are a New York–rooted duo known for crafting dance music that is as playful and punchy as it is relentlessly effective on the dance floor. Comprised of Sam Walker and Gavin Royce, the pair blend deep house and indie dance foundations with quirky accents, bouncy synths and a propulsive energy that has earned them global acclaim. Since first teaming up in 2011, they have released music on influential labels including Dirtybird, Crosstown Rebels and Higher Ground, scored Pete Tong’s Essential New Tune, collaborated with artists like Green Velvet, Claude VonStroke and Chris Lake, and launched their own imprint, Rules Don’t Apply Records. Their debut album, Self Help, cemented their reputation for high-energy, personality-driven tracks that feel like a packed house party, while their constant experimentation keeps their sound fresh, fearless and built for clubs, festivals and late-night headphones alike.
2026 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival
University of Idaho
April 22-25
Save 20% with a series pass.
University of Idaho’s Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival (LHJF) is one of the largest and oldest educational jazz festivals in the world. With hundreds of student performances, outstanding evening concerts with world-class jazz artists and nearly 100 workshops, clinics and special exhibits, LHJF honors the music, dance and history of jazz music and one of its most honored artists, Lionel Hampton. This year’s performers include:
Jazzmeia Horn • Tito Puente Jr. • Warren Wolf • Lionel Hampton Big Band • Something Else! • Summer Camargo • World Beat Ensemble • Hamp’s Jazz Ambassadors • UI Jazz Band I • UI Jazz Choir I • UI Chamber Jazz Choir • Palouse Jazz Project
50% off for UI students.
Limited availability.
Wednesday
April 22
UI Admin Auditorium
HAMP’S GALA
FREE!
Our traditional evening kick-off concert featuring Lionel Hampton School of Music ensembles.
FREE, but ticket required.
Thursday
April 23
ICCU Arena
SUMMER CAMARGO • TITO PUENTE JR.
WORLD MUSIC CELEBRATION
Summer Camargo
Rising Star Trumpeter of the Year - 2025 Downbeat Critics Poll
Summer Camargo is a 23-year-old jazz trumpeter, composer, and Conn Selmer/Bach artist from Hollywood, Florida. A Juilliard alum and Jerome Greene Fellow, she was named one of DownBeat's "25 for the Future."
Summer performs regularly at Dizzy's, Birdland, and with the Mingus Big Band, and is the youngest member of the Saturday Night Live band. She is also a band member in Broadway's new musical, Just in Time.
Tito Puente Jr.
Mambo, Salsa and Latin Jazz
Legendary percussionist and Latin jazz royalty, Tito Puente Jr. carries on the vibrant legacy of his legendary father with his own spirited flair. A dynamic performer at casinos, symphony halls, and jazz festivals worldwide, he has played over 300 shows in the past five years.
His album In My Father's Shoes inspired a BET Jazz special, and Got Mambo? highlights his signature blend of classic Latin rhythms and contemporary innovation.
Featured with: UI Jazz Band I, Jazz Choir I & World Beat Ensemble
Friday
April 24
ICCU Arena
JAZZMEIA HORN • WARREN WOLF
HAMP'S JAZZ AMBASSADORS
Jazzmeia Horn
Grammy-nominated, multi-award-winning jazz vocalist
GRAMMY-nominated vocalist and composer Jazzmeia Horn stands at the forefront of modern jazz, blending timeless tradition with fearless innovation. A graduate of Dallas' Booker T. Washington High School, she continues to inspire audiences worldwide with her powerful voice and message-driven artistry.
Her 2024 album Messages (Empress Legacy Records) explores love, resilience, and self-expression through 10 original compositions that affirm her mission: music for healing, truth, and freedom.
Warren Wolf
Master Vibraphonist with SF JAZZ Collective
Warren Wolf is a Baltimore-based multi-instrumentalist, recording artist, and educator. An international performer, he has toured extensively across North America, Europe, Asia, and South America. A member of the SFJAZZ Collective and Christian McBride's Inside Straight, Warren has released ten albums, including projects on Mack Avenue Records.
He teaches at the Peabody Conservatory and the San Francisco Conservatory and endorses Musser instruments and Innovative Percussion mallets.
Hamp's Jazz Ambassadors
The Lionel Hampton Jazz Ambassadors is an exceptional ensemble made up of talented college musicians. This international group includes students from universities across the United States and abroad. Prior to the festival week, they only meet virtually, but come together at LHJF to collaborate, showcase their skills, and celebrate the joys of jazz.
Featured with: UI Jazz Band I, Chamber Jazz Choir & Palouse Jazz Project
Saturday
April 25
SOMETHING ELSE! • LIONEL HAMPTON BIG BAND
ICCU Arena
HAMP’S JAZZ AMBASSADORS
Something Else!
Soul Jazz
Something Else! is a powerhouse septet led by alto saxophonist Vincent Herring, featuring Jeremy Pelt, Wayne Escoffery, Paul Bollenback, David Kikoski, Essiet Essiet, and Lewis Nash. Their debut album Soul Jazz (Smoke Sessions Records) celebrates the groove-driven spirit of the 1960s soul jazz era with electrifying new energy. Drawing on works by Horace Silver, Herbie Hancock, Roy Hargrove, and more, the band fuses virtuosity with irresistible feel-reviving this classic sound for today's audiences.
Lionel Hampton Big Band, Featuring Jason Marsalis and Joe Doubleday.
"One of the longest-running orchestras in jazz history"- The Grammy Awards
Co-led by former Hampton band members, the Lionel Hampton Big Band brings Hampton's hard-swinging jazz to life with energetic performances of his classic hits.
Continuing his legacy, the band honors the jazz icon's collaborations with greats like Louis Armstrong and Benny Goodman.
Hamp's Jazz Ambassadors
The Lionel Hampton Jazz Ambassadors is an exceptional ensemble made up of talented college musicians. This international group includes students from universities across the United States and abroad. Prior to the festival week, they only meet virtually, but come together at LHJF to collaborate, showcase their skills, and celebrate the joys of jazz.
This is the Turning Point
APRIL 28
6 p.m. (GA: Doors open at 5:30 p.m.)
ICCU Arena
The University of Idaho TPUSA chapter will host the This Is the Turning Point Tour featuring Michael Knowles and Matt Walsh. The event is part of a national tour that encourages open dialogue and emphasizes the importance of using one’s voice in support of free speech.
Ticket Info: General admission tickets will be distributed at the door on a first-come, first-served basis, so guests are encouraged to arrive early to secure a seat. College students will have a separate entry line and will receive priority over general admission guests.
Security policy: No bags allowed.
COMEDY OF ERRORS
APR 30 - MAY 10
Hartung Theater
After both being separated from their twins in a shipwreck, Antipholus of Syracuse and his servant Dromio of Syracuse go to the city of Ephesus and are confused when locals seem to recognize them. Unbeknownst to the two Syracusans, their twins live in Ephesus. Havoc ensues in the city through a comedic series of incidents of mistaken identities.
Young the Giant
with Rec Hall
MAY 7
FINALS FEST
ICCU ARENA
Young the Giant
Over the past fifteen years, the multi-platinum Southern California band has flourished through distinct sonic eras, progressively solidifying itself as one of the most consistent and influential rock bands of the 21st century.
On their sixth full-length album and Fearless Records debut, Victory Garden, Young the Giant reconnects with the core experience of 100% band collaboration, writing and recording together as a unit in one room. Written largely during writing retreats in Idyllwild and Joshua Tree and produced by Brendan O’Brien (Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden) at Henson Studios in Hollywood, Victory Garden is a cohesive album experience that both inspires and enthralls.
Lyrically, the album is rooted in radical empathy, showcasing the band’s songwriting instincts at its most immediate and heartfelt. Musically, Victory Garden showcases the seasoned artist’s collective performances at their intuitive height. The result is a prolific record that beckons a new season of creative fertility for the band and presents Young the Giant as confident, refined, and fully inhabiting its voice.
Rec Hall
Rec Hall is an indie band from Southern California formed by lifelong friends John Bary, Lance Meliota and Ben Tyrell. The trio, often described as “beachy,” fuses funky rhythms and post-punk tones to form their own unique sound. The band recently hit the road with lovelytheband, opening their national Conversations With Myself About You tour, performing their debut single “She Doesn’t Get It” along with other new songs. Since returning from that tour, Rec Hall has been hard at work writing and recording new music. They are currently gearing up for the release of their first EP and looking forward to more touring. To date, “She Doesn’t Get It” has garnered over 12.5 million streams and was the #1 requested song 4 weeks in a row on KROQ’s Locals Only. The trio was also selected for Alt Nation’s Advanced Placement on Sirius XM and was featured on Ted Stryker’s nationally syndicated “Out of Order” show.
Commencement Suites and Club Seating
General Admission is Free, Reserved Club Seats are $25/seat and Suites are $600/suite. Suites hold 12 people and include light refreshments.
Doors will open 1.5 hours before the morning ceremony. and 1 hour before the afternoon ceremony.
Morning Ceremony
College of Art and Architecture
College of Education, Health and Human Sciences
College of Law
College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences.
Afternoon Ceremony
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
College of Business and Economics
College of Engineering
College of Natural Resources
College of Science
OCT 13
ICCU ARENA
The midwest, particularly the part of the midwest Eric D. Johnson hails from, is a largely flat expanse. Zipping through it on the highway, you'll see cities and towns rise up in the distance, but blink and you'll miss other man-made rejoinders to horizontal living dotting the landscape, hill after hill, built from the refuse of the past: landfills. Some of these hills make for great sledding spots, parks, and trails. Others turn organic waste into compost. The Landfill, Fruit Bats' June 12, 2026 album from Merge Records, is something else entirely: a mountain dominating the landscape of Johnson's heart.
This being a Fruit Bats record, one scales that mountain to take in the view, to see the future spread out as wide and endless as the midwestern plains. "But the mountain that gives us this vantage point," Johnson says, "is made out of the trash that we've created, the collective weight of the past ad where it's taken us." When he details that view on title track and lead single "The Landfill" - "a holy vision / of what could be / and couldn't be / and could have been" - it's thrilling to hear him sent soaring by a full complement of instruments. But what's truly stunning is how, in his recontouring from could to couldn't to could have been, he has lost none of the vulnerability that was brought to the foreground of his songwriting by 2025's solo outing, Baby Man.
