With another round of musical performers coming to an end on Syracuse University’s campus, let’s look back and appreciate the wide range of performers students have had access to through the spring and fall 2015 semesters. Here’s a look at some of the most noteworthy musical performances that graced the stage on The Hill this past year.

10. 50 Cent
A 39-year-old rapper probably wasn’t what most students had in mind for the headlining act at April’s Block Party 2015, but a student audience that grew up on songs like “Candy Shop” and “In Da Club” was more than willing to play along.

9. Rae Sremmurd
I doubt their staying power, but no one can deny how much “No Flex Zone” and “Throw Sum Mo” (sans Nicki Minaj) pleased an antsy Block Party crowd. It’s hard denying this trap/hip-hop duo’s influence on the 2015 music scene, so their spot on this list is more than deserved.

8. Magic Man
This band’s position on the Bandersnatch lineup this past spring was a direct response to the criticism of University Union booking too few “real” bands. Say what you will about that minor controversy, but this band’s performance in March was a great return to form for the concert series, with songs like “Paris” captivating a sold-out crowd and bringing an exciting set to SU.

7. The Knocks
Even though most of the students in attendance of this year’s Mayfest cleared away from the bitter cold by the time this act out came to perform, this duo’s set was still one to remember, with catchy as hell songs like “Classic” and “Dancing With the DJ,” warming things up quite well.

6. X Ambassadors
This upstate New York native alt-rock band was the first performer of the fall semester’s Bandersnatch series, performing hit songs like “Renegades” and “Jungle.” The hypnotizing sounds of their arena-friendly music reminded us that this is a band going far — and fast.

5. BØRNS
Warned well of the Syracuse weather, the indie pop singer-songwriter donned a parka for his set at Juice Jam 2015, sharing stories of his “Electric Love” with an electrified crowd for an energetic all-around performance.

4. Raury
Showcasing a wide musical skill set, this young Atlanta musician fused the sounds of hip-hop, R&B and folk rock for a memorable November performance at Schine Underground.

3. Kygo
On the verge of the breakout of tropical house music in the mainstream sphere (spearheaded by the breakout success of Justin Bieber’s “What Do You Mean”), Kygo shocked the crowd in attendance of Block Party 2015 with a then-surprisingly fresh take on pop-electronica. The artist experienced a full-scale breakout over the summer, but attendees caught the DJ right on the edge of his EDM celebrity.

2. Matt and Kim
This indie pop duo has been a festival mainstay for a good decade now, so it’s no surprise that their performance at Juice Jam this year went over so well, despite the otherwise underwhelming lineup. Audience interaction helped this performance a lot, as both members made sure the crowd was having as much fun as they were.

1. Billy Joel
The “Piano Man” himself performed a 23-song set at a sold-out performance at the Carrier Dome in March. The performance was Joel’s seventh at the venue, breaking the Dome’s record and earning a banner hung in the Dome in his honor.

Brett Weiser-Schlesinger is a sophomore newspaper and online journalism major. He can be reached by email at bweisers@syr.edu or by Twitter at @brettws.

Published on December 22, 2015 at 12:53 pm