Headlined by Brooklyn hip-hop artist Talib Kweli, students can hear hype for tomorrow’s fall W.I.L.D. lineup echoing through campus.

“I’m excited that all people from campus can get together and celebrate,” senior Michael Tidey said. “Work has been really bad recently with midterms. It’s about time we decompress and relax.”

Student anticipation for W.I.L.D. has reached a new high this semester, according to juniors Jordan Roberts and Dione Drew, who serve as the co-chairs of Team 31.

Roberts attributed the excitement to the reputations that Kweli and David Banner have as live performers.

“I have heard from a number people that they are [more] excited about this lineup than they have been in previous years,” Roberts said.

Unlike previous years, Team 31 has heard few complaints about this year’s W.I.L.D. lineup, which includes Nite Owl and rap artist Kid Sister. The lineup will also feature Little Brother, David Banner and Talib Kweli, all backed up by the 10-person band Rhythm Roots All-Stars.

Preceded by Banner at 7:45 p.m., headliner Kweli is set to take stage at 8:40 p.m.

“This is one of the first semesters where there hasn’t been a huge backlash about who’s coming,” Drew said. “This is the first of my five W.I.L.D.s where it seems that if students are not incredibly excited about the lineup, then they are at least not unhappy.”

As of this morning, preparations on Brookings Quad are currently underway. There will be up to 200 student volunteers, or roadies, expected to help with setup.

Although it rained during last semesters’ W.I.L.D., which featured George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars, Drew said that it is not expected to rain for this semester’s show, but that Team 31 is considering alternate plans in case of inclement weather.

“The weather right now is sunny and 80 [degrees], so we are just keeping our fingers crossed and hoping that stays, but we have some semblance of a rain plan in light of what happened last semester,” Drew said.

This W.I.L.D. will not experience any significant logistical changes from last year.

Similar to last semester, according to Drew, students at least 21-years-old can bring beer to W.I.L.D if they arrive at the quad by 6 p.m. Each eligible student can bring one six-pack case of beer, if the cans are 12 oz. or less.

Doors for W.I.L.D. open at 4:30 p.m., when the opening act Nite Owl is set to perform.

Roberts encourages students to arrive early this year.

“Get there and get there early. If people haven’t heard of her, Kid Sister is going to be high energy,” Roberts said. “Don’t be afraid to get there before 5:30.”

The first 1,000 people to arrive at the venue will receive free Sony EX earbuds courtesy of Sony, the concert tour’s sponsor. Additionally, free Chipotle burritos, barbeque food and 400 Kanye West-styled shutter shades will be available on a first come first serve basis.

Team 31 is also trying to promote early arrival through T-shirt sales. Sophomore Ross Festenstein, head of T-shirt sales, said that Team 31 is informing customers about the free giveaways that will be available at the beginning of the show.

Festenstein, who headed the T-shirt design team along with senior Aaron Sidorov and freshman Jim O’Boyle, said that there are four shirt designs available to purchase throughout campus.

“Every student can possibly find a T-shirt that appeals to him or her,” Festenstein said.

This year Team 31 sold two differently-designed American Apparel brand T-shirts for $15 and two different cotton T-shirts for $10. The two American Apparel shirts are hip-hop themed while the others are designed to appeal to more of a mainstream music audience.

The black shirt with a white outline of Talib Kweli has already sold out. Other designs include bunnies inspired by the bunny statue right outside Mallinckrodt Center and a drawing of Brookings Hall with headphones over the building.

“The whole idea is to make them on American Apparel shirts because they are very more environmentally friendly.” Festenstein said. “The Wash. U. bunny is one of the central figures of the school, and I wanted to get a modern twist.”

Festenstein said that they have ordered 600 shirts to sell and the shirts have been selling well so far.

Senior Steven Hollander purchased two Talib Kweli American Apparel shirts, one for him and one for his sister. He said the W.I.L.D. shirts are superior to those from previous years.

“I think [the shirts] are awesome, and the students who made them are extremely talented,” Hollander said. “I would say that these are classier and something that I could buy for my sister.”

In addition to starting the W.I.L.D. weekend today with Second Stage, a concert of student bands performing outside the DUC, for the first time ever, there will be a W.I.L.D. after-party in the Gargoyle.

Sponsored by LiveFeed, a St. Louis-based grassroots organization that is committed to promoting hunger awareness through the entertainment industry, entry into the Gargoyle will cost $5 and all profits will go to LiveFeed.

Opening W.I.L.D. act Nite Owl will be performing at the after party.

“I think [the after party] is a win-win if you want to keep on continuing being at a concert-type atmosphere and contribute to a great cause in the St. Louis community,” Roberts said.

As for now, Drew said that she would be preparing for the show until the doors open at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow and that everything was going according to schedule.

“I am keeping a list of everything that needs to be done the day of the show, so that way nothing gets forgotten, nothing slips through the cracks. At this point everything that needed to be done before the show is done,” Drew said.

With additional reporting by Johann Qua Hiansen