On May 24, Exhaler took the stage at Levitt Pavilion and stunned during their set for a packed crowd. After winning the DU Programming Board’s (DUPB) 2026 Battle of the Bands (BoB), Exhaler opened for Fly by Midnight and Between Friends. 

The weather couldn’t have been more perfect for a night of EDM, Pop and Indie Rock. Despite it being somewhat cloudy, the sun found its way onto the onlooking crowd for the majority of the first and second acts of the show. The warm, refreshing rain during Fly by Midnight’s set added to the concert’s positive energy.

Exhaler started the night off rocking with “Standpipe,” a single the band released in 2024. The band’s strong stage presence quickly drew the crowd’s attention.

Exhaler continued to rock the Levitt Pavilion’s socks off. The band played an array of tremendous songs ranging across multiple genres and somehow found a perfect sweet spot in between each of them. Their set featured a cover of The Police’s hit song “Message in a Bottle,” as well as their own original songs like “Post-Nasal Drip” and “Cognac,” that all got the crowd pumped.

Exhaler played perfectly. In fact, they were the tightest band onstage that night. Each of the members were in sync throughout the entirety of their set. The band filled the atmosphere with their unique sound and great energy.

Exhaler set the bar high for the next two performers. Fly by Midnight played uplifting pop music to get the crowd even more excited for the headlining duo: Between Friends.

Between Friends played a setlist that featured very heavy bass notes that seemingly burrowed into your heart. Fans of Between Friends danced and bounced around during their set. Exhaler was a standout performance of the night. Their stage presence, synergy and raw emotion during the set was overwhelming. The experience was wonderful for both the audience and the musicians, who spent their set smiling and having a blast on-stage.

DUPB’s MusicFest continues to amaze. The annual celebration never ceases to bring fun memories to concert-goers and musicians who hit the stage. After a jam-packed night full of upbeat music and entertainment, folks are sure to look forward to next year’s MusicFest.