UP AND UP Leads ASU’s Bid to Bring Ship Wrek to Campus

Reporter: Rei Tedoco

Courtesy: Up and Up / DOM DOLLA

PHOENIX- Arizona State University’s EDM community is once again entering the national spotlight through Monster Energy’s Festival College Series: this time led by student organization UP AND UP.

Founded as ASU’s official affiliate for the competition, UP AND UP connects students who are passionate about electronic dance music and the music industry. Since 2016, the Festival College Series has brought together more than 100 universities to compete for the opportunity to host a nationally recognized DJ. Schools are evaluated through ticket presales, marketing efforts and overall engagement.

ASU found major success in 2022 when it won the national competition and brought Dom Dolla to campus. Today, UP AND UP is working to recreate that momentum with hopes of securing Ship Wrek as this year’s featured performer.

The competition begins with 48-hour presale window, where early ticket sales heavily influence rankings. The presale runs from February 18th to the 20th. The top 5 schools in the country that sell the most tickets during the window will receive national recognition and win a rave hosted at their school in a partnership with Monster Energy and Rave. Non-ASU students are able to purchase tickets to extend support and the event will be open to the public.

Beyond ticket sales, UP AND UP prioritizes student involvement. Aspiring DJs submit original tracks for a chance to open at the featured concert. Submissions are promoted on social media, and the DJ with the most engagement earns the opening slot. Organizers say the process encourages outreach while providing a fair platform for emerging artists.

Students can apply each semester to become ambassadors, assisting with marketing, outreach and event coordination. Members describe UP AND UP as a welcoming, family-like space for anyone interested in EDM, whether they want to attend festivals like M3F or pursue careers in the music industry.

UP AND UP aims to create a safe, regulated nightlife environment while strengthening community on campus. As presale launches this week, the organization hopes to once again elevate ASU’s presence in the collegiate EDM scene continuing its mission to push the culture up and up.