On Sunday afternoon, students gathered in Tercentenary Theater for the College Events Board’s annual outdoor music festival Yardfest. The College made a series of changes to the event this year, including moving it from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon and instituting no-guest and no-re-entry policies.
Yardfest featured two student artists, Extra Extra and Maybe There’s Life, along with two headliners — pop artists Bazzi and Kiiara. Hundreds of students flocked to Harvard Yard to hear the performers, eat dinner, and spend time with friends throughout the four-hour event.
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Lincoln A. Hart '21 of music collective Maybe There's Life — one of the student acts chosen to perform during Battle for Yardfest — performed part of an original rap song. The other student act, Extra Extra, also performed a number of original songs and covers before the featured performers took the stage.
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The College Events Board introduced one of the headliners after the performances by student artists. Student members of the CEB helped choose the headliners, set up and swipe students into the venue in Tercentenary Theatre, and publicize the event.
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While waiting for the headliners to perform, students helped themselves to dinner and refreshments set up by Harvard University Dining Services around the Yard, while others mixed and mingled. Some attendees played giant games including chess, checkers, and jenga that the CEB had set up around the perimeter of the event.
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Pop singer and songwriter Kiiara, who was the concert’s opener this year, started with one of her hit songs, “Feels.” She performed a long set, including her songs “Messy” and “Heavy,” before closing with her debut single, “Gold,” which topped the Billboard charts at number 13 in 2015. The crowd screamed the lyrics while she sang.
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Students danced during the annual Yardfest concert. The outdoor music festival was enhanced by spring weather, with the temperature peaking at 69 degrees on the Sunday afternoon.
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Pop singer and songwriter Bazzi performed one of his songs, "Star," in front of a galaxy background as the light faded from Tercentenary Theatre Sunday evening.
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Students danced to Bazzi's beats during the college-wide event, a rare chance to let loose amidst the bustle of everyday life as a student.
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By the end of Yardfest, night had fallen. Students waved giant glow sticks and sang along as the the stage lights illuminated Bazzi from behind when he ended the concert with a performance of his hit single, "Mine."
