The University of Colorado's Program Council has a knack for breaking musical acts at its annual WelcomeFest concerts. That's why the student group invited rising MTV stars Chiddy Bang to head up this year's event on Saturday night.

Last August, Pretty Lights headlined WelcomeFest and his career blew up shortly thereafter. Girl Talk, 3OH!3, Asher Roth, Maroon Five and Minus the Bear are also WelcomeFest veterans.

And we all know what's happened with 3OH!3.

If you go

Who: CU WelcomeFest, featuring Chiddy Bang, Pnuma Trio, XV and Air Dubai

When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Farrand Field, CU campus, Boulder

Cost: Free; must be a CU student with valid Buff OneCard

programcouncil.com

It's no surprise that Chiddy Bang's looking forward to Saturday's WelcomeFest on Farrand Field. The student-only show also features the Pnuma Trio, rapper XV and local band Air Dubai.

Behind the scenes

WelcomeFest is one of Program Council's biggest shows of the year and it sets the pace for CU's fall concerts.

"This is the third WelcomeFest I've done," Program Council Director Justin Greenstein said. "This is a really great event that gives students something to do their first week on campus.

"This is really a showcase of the best up-and-coming music that students

Chiddy Bang plays CU s Farrand Field on Saturday.
can view for free. It gives them a glimpse of Boulder's musical culture and what Program Council does."

Greenstein and his staff have been on a winning streak when it comes to picking WelcomeFest bands. That's why the student group wanted to break a hot new act this time around.

Chiddy Bang's selling out shows around the world, and the act's about to break out with its very dancey blend of pop, alternative hip-hop and electro beats.

"We do a lot of field research and we ask students what they're listening to," Greenstein said. "Picking Chiddy Bang was a group collaboration. Their music is poppy, dancey and something that everybody could enjoy.

"We picked this year's bands for their diversity and to give things more of a festival bill. There will definitely be hip-hop and dancing."

Philly roots

Chiddy Bang is a Philly duo that features Chiddy Anamege and Noah Beresin. The group's been cranking out its very danceable alt hip-hop, pop and electro sounds for the past few years -- and it's paying off.

MySpace and MTV helped launch the band's accessible beats. This duo hits outside the typical hip-hop boundaries, and throws Radiohead, MGMT and Passion Pit samples into the mix.

Now Chiddy Bang's touring behind its collection of mixtapes and EPs. The act's also ready to release its debut CD, The Swelly Life.

"Noah and I met when we were freshmen at Drexel University," Anamege said. "We had this chemistry and there was something about the beats he would play me. He found a unique way to feature my vocals, so it was really easy to record.

"We mix hip-hop, electro and pop. We're from Philly and there's a very eclectic music scene there. The blend we make comes from Noah's pop and electro upbringing, and my hip-hop background and Nigerian culture."

Chiddy Bang has the right sound at the right time. The group's organic take on alternative hip-hop is the perfect college mix for pop and electro fans.

The band also has a sense for fusing just the right samples into its dance mix.

"We've got a little bit of everything in the sound," Anamege said. "We're creating some very cool, futuristic hip-hop.

"Noah really chops up everything on his computer and he plays them for me. Whatever inspires me to write, that's what we use. I had never heard of MGMT before this, but its dope to see how we worked it into the music."

Blowing up

Chiddy Bang is definitely serving up something different and the group's excited to see its music take off.

"We have this do-it-yourself attitude," Anamege said. "We came up from cooking up music in our dorm and we didn't change our style for anybody. A year ago nobody wanted to sign us, but we stayed true to our motto of no rules and dope beats.

"Our career's taking off pretty fast and it's been a hell of a ride. We got to perform at the Wireless Festival in the U.K. and sold out a club in Switzerland. Now kids all over the world know who we are -- and that's real dope."

Chiddy Bang's ready to bring all the energy of its live shows to thousands of CU fans.

"It's going to be craziness," Anamege said. "We have a lot of spontaneity onstage and we're going to bring a lot of energy to Boulder. People will walk away hearing some amazing songs."