Shaquille ‘DJ Diesel’ O’Neal to Headline Penn State’s LightsUP Festival

Shaquille O’Neal will bring his DJ Diesel act to Penn State next week for a free concert on the HUB Lawn. 

The Basketball Hall of Famer will headline the sixth annual LightsUP festival on Friday, Aug. 28, with indie pop and alternative duo Between Friends opening the event at 6:30 p.m. 

The festival is organized by Penn State’s Student Programming Association and Movin’ On and is free for all University Park students. 

O’Neal, who started his pro basketball career in Orlando before becoming a four-time NBA champion as a center for the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat, began performing as DJ Diesel in 2014 after developing an interest in electronic dance music and dubstep. He has since performed at major festivals including Tomorrowland and Lollapalooza. 

The 15-time NBA All-Star started his music career as a teenager and in 1993 released his first rap album, “Shaq Diesel,” featuring the Fu-Schnickens collaboration “What’s Up Doc? (Can We Rock)” and other singles like “(I Know) I Got Skillz.” As DJ Diesel, he is known for songs including “STFU,” “Bang Your Head” and “No Fear.” 

Between Friends is made up of siblings Brandon and Savannah Hudson. The duo reached the quarterfinals on Season 8 of “America’s Got Talent” and gained attention with its 2019 EP “we just need some time together.” 

The group’s music includes “affection,” “JAM!,” “Bruise,” “Smiley” and “iloveyou.” Its album “WOW!” marked its first anniversary earlier this month. 

O’Neal’s appearance at Penn State comes months after his restaurant chain opened its doors in downtown State College. Big Chicken opened Feb. 5 at 480 E. College Ave. in the ground-floor retail space of the oLiv Hetzel apartment building. 

The State College location was announced in March 2025 and became the first Big Chicken restaurant in Pennsylvania. The restaurant serves chicken sandwiches, tenders, wings, fries, mac and cheese and other menu items.