The public university will celebrate the graduating class of 2020 with a two-day music festival within Minecraft featuring 40+ EDM artists including Sam Feldt, Cash Cash, Vini Vici, and many more.
With the coronavirus lockdown in place, people are unable to come into contact with each other and partake in activities. In regards to educational institutions, students are unable to attend classes normally, with online courses being the best option to continue their studies. Even worse, college students are now unable to attend their graduation ceremonies.
See also: A list of current and upcoming livestreams to tune in during lockdown
However, as the ongoing pandemic puts people to meet up in the digital world through online hangouts and virtual spaces, a team of seniors and alumni from UC Berkeley are throwing an online graduation ceremony for students to celebrate their achievements in the most epic way possible.
What started out as a simple graduation party for the graduating class of 2020, the team of graduates are hosting the Blockeley Music Festival within Minecraft. The two-day event is the biggest music festival within the video game to date featuring a lineup of over 40+ of the biggest EDM artists including Sam Feldt, Cash Cash, Vini Vici, Bakermat, Michael Calfan, Brooks, EDX, Dannic, and many more.
Founded by students Elliot Choi, Luis Juarez, Nick Pickett and Bjorn Lustic, and produced by production team OS Studios, the festival features a 1:1 replica of the UC Berkeley campus within the game built by a team of volunteer engineers and builders.
DJ/producer duo BEAUZ, who are key members of the project (with 1/2 of the duo being an alumnus of UC Berkeley), has this to say:
“When Elliot and his team reached out to ask us to join such a groundbreaking event. A 1:1 replica of Johan’s campus to celebrate 2020 graduations? We had to do whatever we could do to help make this happen.”
Comedian Trevor Noah gave a shoutout to the festival during his Daily Social Distancing show during his talk on college life in the time of the coronavirus.
The festival will kick off this Friday, May 16 at 4pm PST – Saturday, May 17 at 10am PST. All proceeds made from the festival will support COVID-19 relief funds.
Nightclub brand ONE THIRD, a partner of the music festival, will be broadcasting the event in China exclusively through their Official Douyin livestream channels.
See also: American Football headlining Nether Meant music festival
The festival is the latest in a wave of music festival livestreams held in virtaul spaces and video games. Last month, Minecraft hosted the Nether Meant music festival with emo rockers American Football headlining the event. Fortnite have hosted multiple DJ sets from the likes of Dillon Francis, Steve Aoki, Deadmau5, Marshmello as well as Travis Scott, whose concert within the game has gained over 30 million views.
