If you've ever set up an outdoor stage in Texas, you know the weather gets a vote. For a few days leading into Friday night at TCU, the winds were whipping so hard that our production setup had to stop more than once for safety. If you read last week’s blog about the storm in San Diego, I know what you’re thinking. Nobody wants a video wall turning into a kite, let alone a stage. So we waited things out in Fort Worth, we watched the gusts on the spinning anemometer above the Stageline setup, we got back to work and then pulled back and waited some more.
Then on Friday evening, the winds died down enough, and The Chainsmokers walked out on Kelly Lawn, with TCU’s football stadium serving as the perfect backdrop. Shortly after they started, we got word from security that we had hit capacity. Amazing. It was classified as the biggest crowd yet for a Student Government Association (SGA) concert at TCU. More than 7,500 students were packed onto that field, and for every bit of a 75-minute upbeat set the place was singing along and rocking like it was the last night of the semester.
Walk into any student activities office or campus dorm these days and you might think every college wants nonstop EDM and dance music. Sometimes that's the case, and a big dance act like The Chainsmokers can still pull an entire campus onto a lawn. But listen to what that crowd was singing. It was a set full of songs these students grew up on, and that's the part of the college touring market people keep underestimating. Throwback and nostalgia acts still have a real grip on campus, and this week proved that point. That same Friday night, about five hours west in Lubbock, Texas Tech threw its free Homecoming concert with the Goo Goo Dolls and Texas-based Bowling For Soup, right alongside the parade, the pep rally and the bonfire, the night before the Red Raiders hosted Arizona State. Two big Texas campuses on the same night, one with a dance act from the 2010s and the other with two rock bands from the '90s and 2000s, and the same idea behind both of them.
Here's what stuck with me. "Closer" came out in 2016. Most of the seniors on that lawn were in middle school. To them, that song is a throwback, the same way the Goo Goo Dolls’ "Iris" is a throwback to me. And the parents and alumni in town for the fall weekend knew every word too. That's the sweet spot many college programmers are chasing, especially in the thick of homecoming season: one act that the 19-year-olds and the 49-year-olds will both show up for.
The two bands playing in Lubbock aren't coasting on old fans alone. "Iris" ruled radio in 1998, and a whole new generation found the tune again after Deadpool & Wolverine. Then it was a wave of TikTok videos, with Fortune mag calling it part of a "90s kid summer" for kids who weren't born yet when it came out. Bowling For Soup got their own bump when a Nashville duo called davvn rewrote "1985" as "2002" on TikTok, and Jaret Reddick liked it so much he jumped in and worked with them. Only in 2026 does a song about missing the '80s get a sequel about missing the 2000s.
Plain White T's keep riding the same wave. "Hey There Delilah" never really goes away on TikTok, from fan covers to a viral tandem bike video, and this past July the band cut a new version with LØLØ, whose TikTok answer song from Delilah's side of the story blew up years ago. Jeff Hyman just had those guys at Catholic University in September and Sean in our office had them at Central Missouri. Long story short, they are still college relevant. Jesse McCartney has also had his moment when he was brought out for "Beautiful Soul" at a MetLife Stadium show last year and the clips flew across every phone in the building. Campuses noticed long before that. Jesse played dates with us at Central Oklahoma, Curry College, Northwestern State and my hometown college here at FAU. Pollstar even ran a story back in 2018 on how Jesse was keeping his fan base and the quad happy, and gave Degy a shout-out as one of the agencies that helped build his college run. Check it out.
There's real data behind the feeling, too. Luminate found that '90s music was the fastest-growing decade on streaming, up 8 percent, with the 2000s right behind at 7 percent, and part of the reason is that older millennials now have teenagers of their own and are passing their music down. It’s clear to me that the parents in the crowd at homecoming taught the students in the crowd these songs in the car. That's why these shows work.
The All-American Rejects might be the best comeback story of the bunch, and they did it without a viral sound. They did it with creative, unique and entirely raw pop-up shows. They started taking fan requests and turning up at house parties, some of them at fraternity houses, and the results were part concert, part campus legend. At the University of Missouri, a packed front yard with fans singing from the roof got so loud that police shut it down after one last song ("Gives You Hell," of course). A little chaos for a few campuses, sure, but it put the band right back in the middle of the college conversation, and students who weren't born yet when "Swing, Swing" came out now talk about them like they discovered them. That kind of buzz has a price tag, and they're one of the acts commanding a higher number for programmers who want them on campus now. Jeff and I have done a bunch of AAR shows, and we’ll tell you that even with the bump, they’re worth every penny. Side note: if you get a chance to host them, ask Tyson what his nickname is for yours truly. An ode to the flip flop, and I’ll leave it at that.
Hip-hop has its own version of the college movement. Waka Flocka Flame never fails to turn a campus quad into a party, and he's a great fit for a school working with a mid-size budget. We've had him at seven schools since the start of 2025, from Stockton and Jacksonville State to Saint Louis University, UT Martin and USC Aiken. For a school that can buy a slightly bigger show, T-Pain and Ludacris come in at a higher number, and they're every bit as relevant to students, despite being considered ‘seasoned’ in the touring circuit. T-Pain's hooks are all over every throwback playlist on campus, and we've had him at Saint Louis University, the University of La Verne and twice at Grand Valley State. Ludacris has the hits plus a whole generation who knows him from the Fast & Furious movies. I had him not too long ago at the University of Central Oklahoma, and Nick DiRoma had him at Western Michigan. Most of the students in those crowds weren't born yet when "Stand Up" came out, and it doesn't matter one bit.
Boys Like Girls spent 2026 on their Soundtrack of Your Life Tour, celebrating 20 years of their debut album. "The Great Escape" is still a stadium-sized singalong, and they're the kind of band a fall concert committee books thinking it's a safe pick, then watches it become the night everybody talks about.
The Maine have quietly built one of the most loyal fan bases in that scene, playing headline rooms across the country this year and working on their tenth album. Their fans travel, they buy merch, and they know every word, which is everything you want from a show that needs to fill your lawn.
You can't talk about this wave of throwbacks without the proper nod to the Vans Warped Tour. My buddy Kevin Lyman brought it back for the 30th anniversary in 2025, and the 2026 run grew into five two-day weekends, adding Montreal and Mexico City as the first international stops, with Orlando still to come next month. Kevin built Warped into the place a lot of these bands grew up, so it's fitting that he's the one bringing them all back into the spotlight. If you don’t know Kevin’s story, look him up. He’s an icon in this business, the Godfather of branding in music, and one of the best people and educators you’ll come across.
On the flip side, When We Were Young took 2026 off and plans to be back in Las Vegas next October based on reports. It wasn't alone, with Punk Rock Bowling, Boston Calling and Hangout also sitting out the year. So the big destination festivals are catching their breath, but the acts are as busy as ever, and a lot of that work is happening on campuses, military bases and city stages where Degy lives most.
You've read about The Chainsmokers and many more throwback favorites above. Here are five more that have been all over the Degy college calendar, and each one is a safe bet to please the students and the parents in the same crowd.
3OH!3 played Western Michigan for us on September 26, and we had them at Northwestern State in August and over at PennWest California in April. "Don't Trust Me" still gets an entire lawn jumping, and they've been a college staple for the Degy team for years, from Ferris State and Saint Louis University to Lynchburg and Bard College.
Flo Rida might be the most dependable campus party in the business. We had him at Stony Brook in March, at Embry-Riddle in Daytona Beach last November, and I've had him at the University of Florida, Nevada-Reno, Saint Louis University, La Verne and FAU. "Low" and "Right Round" are the songs every age group in the building knows. If you’ve got the budget, go for it!
Juicy J played Lycoming College in April for Jeff, after Rhodes College and Western Michigan's Miller Auditorium in spring 2025. From Three 6 Mafia to his solo hits, he's got two decades of songs that students and their older siblings both know, and he's an Oscar winner, which is a fun fact for any programmer to drop in a pitch meeting.
Wiz Khalifa headlined the University of North Alabama for us in April. "Black and Yellow" and "See You Again" hit two different moods, and both get a whole arena on its feet.
Hot Chelle Rae did a spring double for us in April, PennWest California and Randolph-Macon College, on the back of dates at Georgetown, Scranton, Florida and Virginia Tech. "Tonight Tonight" is a pure singalong, and they're one of the easiest yeses on a budget for a school that wants that throwback feel.
I'll be honest, after a few days of watching wind gusts and weather apps, seeing 7,500 people singing along on Kelly Lawn was the best kind of relief. Thanks to Kelly Lee & the whole TCU team and our fearless, professional production crew for keeping everyone safe and getting it done. Now I want to hear from you. Which throwback act would you put in front of your alumni and your freshmen on the same night? Send me your picks. While I rock out to some Counting Crows in my office (my personal throwback), I'll be back to see you next weekend!
For more than 25 years, Degy Entertainment has been helping buyers find the act that fits the moment, whether that's a homecoming crowd, a county fair or a base full of service members, putting on nearly 3,000 events a year across more than 30 countries. Our talent buying and middle-artist booking teams work with colleges, fairs and festivals, corporate events, military installations, parks and recreation departments and private events.
Looking for an act that two generations will both show up for? Reach out to Ari Nisman anytime or learn more at Degy Entertainment.
Why do throwback acts work well on college campuses?
Throwback acts appeal to students who grew up with the music and to parents and alumni who remember it from their own youth. This shared familiarity lets one act draw multi-generational crowds, which is especially valuable during homecoming and family weekends.
What is a homecoming concert and why do programmers book throwback acts for it?
A homecoming concert is a campus event held during homecoming weekend, often alongside parades, pep rallies, and bonfires. Programmers choose throwback acts because they bring together current students, recent alumni, and older alumni around songs everyone knows.
Are EDM and dance acts still popular on college campuses?
Yes. Big dance acts can still fill a campus lawn, as The Chainsmokers did at TCU. However, many programmers find that nostalgia and throwback acts create broader appeal across age groups.
How does nostalgia music grow among younger students?
Songs often return through streaming playlists, TikTok trends, and film or TV placements. Luminate data showed ’90s music as the fastest-growing decade on streaming, partly because older millennials are sharing their music with their own teenagers.
What makes a pop-up show different from a traditional campus concert?
Pop-up shows are informal, unscripted performances held in unexpected places, such as house parties or fraternity yards. They build campus buzz and grassroots energy, though they require careful coordination with campus and local authorities.
Do throwback acts cost more than emerging artists?
Pricing varies by act. Acts with renewed buzz or strong nostalgia appeal may command higher fees. Programmers often balance budget against audience reach, and mid-size budgets can still book popular throwback acts like Waka Flocka Flame.
What is the Vans Warped Tour and why does it matter to college programming?
Vans Warped Tour is a traveling punk and alternative festival that introduced many bands to young audiences over two decades. Its return in 2025 and 2026 reflects continued demand for the bands and fans it helped build.
How should programmers plan for weather at outdoor campus concerts?
Plan for wind, rain, and other conditions in advance. Monitor forecasts, set safety thresholds with production crews, and have a clear decision process for pausing or moving a show. Production teams often adjust setups in real time to protect staff and equipment.
How do student government concerts differ from other campus events?
Student Government Association concerts are typically funded and organized by student leaders, often with campus administration support. They tend to be large, student-focused events that rely on strong attendance and a clear budget plan.
Why do parents and alumni influence campus concert choices?
Parents and alumni often attend homecoming and family weekends and share music with students. Their enthusiasm for an act can reinforce student demand and help a show draw a broader crowd.
What should a programming board consider when choosing a throwback act?
Consider the act’s current touring activity, the age range of your audience, budget and routing options, the act’s recent campus history, and whether the act fits the event’s theme or tradition.
How can a campus book a throwback act on a mid-size budget?
Work with an experienced booking agency to identify acts priced for your school, explore co-op routing with nearby campuses, and compare options across genres. Mid-size acts with strong recent campus performance history often offer good value.
Why do festivals and destination events matter for college booking trends?
Festival schedules shape which artists are available and at what prices. When large festivals take a year off, more artists become available for campuses, military bases, and city stages, which can influence booking decisions.