AMES, Iowa -- Student organizers of Iowa State University's annual Veishea celebration, set for April 13-19, have announced concerts for this year's event.
Musical headliners will perform on the north side of the Iowa State campus in parking lots near the Molecular Biology building. Paid admission will be required to enter the outdoor concert venue on Friday and Saturday nights, April 17 and 18.
Friday night, the annual Battle of the Bands competition will draw 10 acts from 7 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Headliner Trapt (hit: "Headstrong") will take the stage after midnight. (More info: www.trapt.com). Trapt will have Red (www.myspace.com/dropofred) and Halestorm (www.myspace.com/halestorm) as opening acts.
Saturday night's Live @ Veishea entertainment lineup (7 p.m. to 2 a.m.) will feature the following top performers:
- Cartel, the five-member pop punk band from Conyers, Georgia, whose debut album "Chroma" made them an instant hit. Their second, self-titled album, "Cartel," was recorded and produced in 20 days during MTV's "Band in a Bubble" experiment. More info: www.myspace.com/cartel.
- Jamey Johnson, nominated for three Grammys for best male country vocal performance, best country song and best country album, "That Lonesome Song." Live @ Veishea is just one of more than 200 tour dates scheduled this year for Johnson, best known for his current hit, "In Color." Johnson also co-wrote the CMA and ACM 2007 Song of the Year, "Give it Away," recorded by George Strait. More info: www.jameyjohnson.com.
- The alternative/experimental band Straylight Run, whose hits include "Existentialism on Prom Night" and "Hands in the Sky." More info: www.myspace.com/straylightrun.
- Alternative/indie/electronica band Ludo, whose sophomore album, "You're Awful, I Love You" was released in 2008. Fans of the St. Louis-based rockers (hits include "Love Me Dead" and "Go-Getter Greg") compare the band to Weezer, Queen and They Might Be Giants. More info: www.ludorock.com.
- The Morning Light, known for catchy, funny, piano pop rock often compared to the sounds of Jack's Mannequin, Jimmy Eat World and Death Cab for Cutie. The Pittsburgh-based band has been touring since 2007. More info: www.myspace.com/themorninglight.
- And Friday night's Battle of the Bands winner.
A maximum of 10,000 tickets (valid for concert admission on both nights) will be available for sale to Iowa State University students, faculty, staff and alumni beginning March 30. Tickets will be sold at the Memorial Union Maintenance Shop from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday on the days noted below. Tickets will be exchanged for wristbands at the concert venue.
From March 30 to April 10, anyone with a valid Iowa State University ID will be able to purchase up to two tickets at $5 each.
From April 13-17 (event-week sales), anyone with a valid Iowa State University ID will have the opportunity to purchase up to an additional five tickets for $8 each.
ISU alumni will be able to purchase tickets by contacting the ISU Alumni Association beginning Monday, March 30. ISU Alumni Association members may purchase up to two tickets at $8 each. ISU alumni who are not members of the Alumni Association may purchase up to two tickets at $10 each. Again, tickets will be exchanged for wristbands at the concert venue, and one wristband is valid for concert admission on both nights. To purchase tickets online, log on to www.isualum.org/veishea09 or call the Alumni Association at 1-877-ISU-ALUM. Tickets will be sold first-come, first-served. Tickets must be picked up at the ISU Alumni Center's second-floor reception desk by Saturday, April 18. The Alumni Center is located at 420 Beach Ave., and is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Alumni Center will be staffed limited hours (1 to 5 p.m.) on Veishea Saturday, April 18.
Concerts will be held at the outdoor venue, rain or shine. Tickets are non-refundable.
In addition to the main stage concerts, Veishea week at Iowa State also will feature a variety of FREE entertainment, including comedians, a hypnotist, the Cyclone Idol and "Veishea Says I'm Funny" student competitions and more to be announced soon. Visit www.veishea.iastate.edu for updates.
Veishea began in 1922 as a way to showcase the achievements of Iowa State students and to present the original five colleges at then-Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts to the public. Today, traditional and new events bring together members of the Iowa State University/Ames community, alumni and friends to one of the largest student-run festivals in the nation.