Country singer Lee Brice and opening acts The Cadillac Three and Chase Bryant will perform for a sold out show at the Aebersold Recreation Center Friday, May 1.
As of April 27, the concert sold 2,370 tickets – the largest show in years, Brandon Cannon, junior public relations major and University Program Board Director of Concerts and Comedians, said.
UPB recorded that 97 percent of ticket sales were purchased by students, Cannon said.
“That means our club is achieving its purpose-providing the largest student run events to the student body,” he said.
After three semesters of no country artists, Cannon and the rest of the UPB executive board had an idea that students would vote for Lee Brice, a recent winner of the 2015 Academy of Country Music Awards for his single “I Don’t Dance,” in a survey released to over 2,500 SRU students, Cannon said.
SRU is one of only a few colleges included in Brice’s national tour, Cannon said.
In the days leading up to the concert, Cannon and the executive board have already begun the planning process for the next show, he said.
“Surprisingly enough, the day of the show is actually the easiest part in the process.”
The student directors select the artist, assist with contract negotiations, develop a public relations campaign to sell tickets and work closely with tour managers, booking agents, production crews and UPB student committees, Cannon said.
On the day of the event, nearly 70 UPB student committee members, 48 crew members, 30 contracted security guards, campus police, local EMT services and additional local production members will be working at the concert, Cannon said.
“The UPB executive board does just about everything besides watch the show as it’s happening,” he said.
The ARC is divided into sections – the track, main floor, the outdoor line and the main lobby – with designated student and staff workers managing each portion, Cannon said.
For Cannon, UPB is much more than an organization – it is a family, he said.
“We all know that feeling of being at a concert, hearing our favorite song and remembering that moment for the rest of our lives,” Cannon said. “Right now I’m striving to make that experience a reality right here at SRU.”
“For years, UPB has presented an image of SRU that makes big name national acts look forward to performing here,” he said. “To me, that means the university and UPB have been doing something right.”
Doors open for the concert at 5:30 p.m. and the first opening act will start performing at 6:30. The event is 18 years old and over. Students and the general public will be asked to show a form of I.D. at the door.
