Hip hop, house headline Spark in the Park

Kendrick Lamar plays Spark in the Park Sept. 5.

This year’s Spark in the Park — UIC’s free back-to-school concert for faculty, staff and students — will feature Kendrick Lamar, Chicago native Chance The Rapper, Frankie Knuckles, GRiZ and UIC student opening act J. Larroc.

Two of the performers — Lamar and Chance The Rapper — performed at this year’s Lollapalooza.

“I’m pretty excited to take the stage alongside all these great acts,” said Larroc, known as Jesus Corral in the classroom, where he’s a second-year graduate student in architecture.

Spark in the Park is sponsored by Campus Programs in collaboration with the UIC Pavilion and UIC Radio.  There are no tickets on sale for the event and a valid UIC i-card is required to enter.

The festival takes place Sept. 5 at Harrison Field, corner of Harrison and Halsted streets. Gates open at 3 p.m. and early arrivals get a free Spark in the Park rally towel.

The lineup has a clear hip hop theme, starting with Compton rapper Lamar, whose successful album “good kid, m.A.A.d. city”  landed him on the main stage at Lollapalooza.

South Side artist Chance The Rapper has been gaining popularity since the release of his mix tape “Acid Rap.”

DJ Frankie Knuckles, known as “The Godfather of House Music,” and “trip-hop” artist GRiZ  round out the lineup.

An online student vote selected J. Larroc to open the show. Larroc, who considers himself an electronic/house artist, has played the House of Blues and the Congress Theatre, but says taking on a big stage is always humbling.

“I’m very thankful for the UIC community for selecting me to start off the night of tremendous music.”

Below: Spark in the Park performers include (L-R) Chance The Rapper, Frankie Knuckles, GRiZ and J. Larroc.