San Luis Obispo, California. An idyllic college town–with rolling hills and soft sunsets, mellow indie rock echoing from a lone speaker during a sunrise dip in the ocean, and the melodic buzz of the weekly farmers market. If anything, the city seems geared toward those who want to relax, take a deep breath, and listen to the unreleased EP of a band you’ve never heard of.
Yet, despite the seemingly slow lifestyle (no pun intended), the city is home to an unlikely population of EDM listeners, spearheaded by the student-run organization Up & Up. I had the chance to sit down and talk to two of the Up & Up leads, Kailey Dodson and Kate Lowpensky, as we explored the impact house music has made on Cal Poly culture.
Brought to our campus in 2023, Up & Up is the lovechild of Dodson and Lowpensky. The concept is a unique one—every semester, colleges around the country compete in a 48-hour presale. The top five schools to sell the most tickets earn an EDM concert, with past headliners including Dom Dolla, Subtronics, and Levity. Student Ambassadors put on the entire presale, marketing, boothing, flyering, and show, giving those on the team a firsthand experience in event planning.
Today, Up & Up is a staple in campus culture. We’ve seen the DJ’s on Dexter, collabs with local businesses, and story reposts from ambassadors—but the origins of the group’s success emerged from much more humble beginnings.
Although brought to campus two years ago, it went virtually undetected and unknown for nearly a full year. In that time, Lowpensky and Dodson worked tirelessly to assemble a team of ambassadors, secure funding, and get the word out. In Spring 2024, the team saw an unprecedented first victory, beating out historical winners like Santa Barbara, Oregon, and Miami Ohio. Our sleepy surf town in Central California was thrust into the national spotlight, giving Cal Poly recognition beyond STEM achievements.
It was also a win for EDM music, and the culture encompassing it. “It’s really cool to see people getting into EDM,” said Dodson, “they’re taking a chance on artists they’ve maybe never heard of, or a genre they never would have seen themselves involved in.”
As Cal Poly’s recognition begins to grow, the ambassador program expands as well. The team is made up of 15 ambassadors, from all social circles across Cal Poly. From fraternity brothers, small business owners, writers, to DJs, the group doesn’t have much in common. However, they’re bonded through their love for sharing live music with the SLO community.
“It doesn’t matter what year you are, or what your major is,” said Lowpensky, “you just pitch any idea if you’re excited about it, and your opinions are valued.”
The past two shows—Disco Lines in spring ‘24, and Matroda in fall ‘24—saw sold-out crowds, resale tickets going for triple the price, and a collective buzz of excitement surrounding the event. In fall, the free tickets released were all gone within a minute of being posted. It’s an all-day affair, and a chance to see major artists without breaking the bank. With tickets costing around $30, it creates an accessibility to live music uncommon in today’s inflated music scene.
But for Cal Poly, this is so much more than a concert. It gives the students here a hold in the EDM community, a team to root for, something to unite over. “We’re not really a sports school,” said Dodson, “so at least we can have one team to cheer on.”
This spring, DJ duo SIDEPIECE will be headlining Madonna Expo. This isn’t their first run-in with SLO, as they graced us with their presence at Shabang Music Festival last May. For those of you who remember (and for those of you who don’t–we won’t judge!), they make hits like “On My Mind” to the every DJ’s favorite “A Milli Remix.”
In a nutshell, they emulate a “cheeky” vibe, said Dodson. “They’re an easy artist for anyone to get into, especially in the EDM scene.”
Thanks to groups like Up & Up, the EDM scene in SLO is growing exponentially. Creating an avenue to exposure allows newfound fans to “be welcomed into this amazing community of lovely and caring people,” said Lowpensky.
At its core, Up & Up brings people to music, and music to people. It’s a sense of community, a place for people to belong, and a way for students to share their passion for artistry and creativity with each other.
“I’m surrounded by such kind, like-minded people,” said Lowpensky. “Everyone just wants to bring the PLUR vibes to SLO.”
To get involved with the group, or learn more about the upcoming presale, visit @upandupslo on Instagram.
Makena Locsin is a writer on our Content Team. She wrote the article. Layla Bilal is a member of our Art Team. She made the graphic.
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