Get ready to rock.
Despite worries there may not be a fall concert because of Robertson Memorial Field House’s demolition, the Activities Council has scheduled four bands to play the Peoria Civic Center Theater on Dec. 3.
One Republic will headline and feature The Spill Canvas, Augustana and The Hush Sound as opening acts.
“Not only are these four really good bands, they’re bands that people recognize,” Special Events Reserve Fund Co-Coordinator for ACBU Nick Fahnders said.
One Republic’s single “Apologize” made history when it became the most legally downloaded song in U.S. digital history, with more than 4.3 million downloads.
Augustana is widely known for “Boston,” and The Spill Canvas broke into Top 40 Radio this year with “All Over You.”
“One Republic is a really good choice because they are really popular among the college population,” junior nursing major Krissy Braun said. “I’ve also heard of Augustana, and I’m open to all music, so I’m really excited.”
Tickets go on sale to students, faculty and staff on Monday at 10 a.m. in the Student Activities Office in the basement of the Michel Student Center. They are $5 for students and $15 for faculty and staff, and can only be purchased with a Bradley ID.
Tickets go on sale to the general public on Nov. 11.
“We have a block of 800 tickets ready for students,” Director of Student Activities Michelle Whited said. “An individual can walk in with 10 IDs so all 10 people can sit together.”
The theater seats 2,100 people and it has reserved continental seating.
“The point is to get as many students as possible on campus to come,” Fahnders said. “Ultimately it would be awesome to have every seat filled by a Bradley student and not the general public.”
ACBU is trying to provide transportation to the Civic Center so it’s less inconvenient for students to attend, he said.
“We’re getting really positive feedback even though it’s on a Wednesday night,” Fahnders said. “People are saying they’re willing to get out of class early and schedule things around [the concert]. Hopefully they stick to their word because it should be really fun.”
Braun said she’s excited for the concert to be at the Civic Center, because “it gets students off campus and in a different surrounding.”
The only other band in consideration for the concert was Plain White T’s, Fahnders said.
“It was about the same price, but with four bands you get more bang for your buck,” he said.
The bands cost a little more than $50,000,which is on the higher end of what ACBU usually pays for a fall concert, Fahnders said.
Whited said the concert is going to be more expensive overall, because it isn’t on campus.
“We have to pay rental, Civic Center labor and Civic Center catering. But the payoff for us is that it’s less work and we don’t have to find 50 student volunteers and we’re able to host it during the middle of the week,” she said. “The Field House was a challenge to do anything in because it was such an old building.”
One Republic, The Spill Canvas, Augustana and The Hush Sound aren’t just partnering up for the Bradley date.
“Tag This Tour” began Oct. 23 and plans to feature online social networking contests between One Republic and fans.
“We wanted to do something for the fans to let everyone be involved in the tour,” One Republic singer Ryan Tedder said. “We can’t let on just yet what’s in store, but we want our fans to be prepared to have some fun with it.”
Whited said she’s not sure what the future is for upcoming Bradley concerts until the new arena is built.
“We haven’t looked at spring,” she said. “Our goal is to host concerts [at the Civic Center]. But it’s a matter of availability and who the bands are. I’ve been to the other places that would be possible, and the Civic Center is nicer and closer to campus.”
