The five-member band O.A.R., whose music is well known across college campuses throughout the country, will be making its debut appearance at Auburn for the semester’s fall concert, the University Program Council announced today.
“We’re really glad about this because O.A.R. just came out with a new album in June,” said Chappel McCollister, director of major entertainment for the UPC. “And there’s always been a large draw for O.A.R. here at Auburn.”
O.A.R.’s newest album, “All Sides,” is the band’s ninth.
The concert is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 29, and will be held inside the Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum.
This will be the second concert held in the Coliseum, following the spring 2008 concert featuring Akon and Soulja Boy.
“We’re hoping the Coliseum will become the set venue,” McCollister said. “That way, we’ll never have to worry about rain issues.”
Only 7,000 tickets will be sold on a first-come-first-serve basis beginning Monday, Sept. 22.
The first 750 people to obtain a ticket will receive wrist bands allowing floor access.
As usual, tickets will be free of charge, but may be picked up only with the proof of a student ID.
The location for ticket sales has yet to be determined, but McCollister said it will most likely be from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. near the Student Center entrance facing Haley Center.
UPC’s search for this concert’s artist line-up began back in late April.
UPC members took into account opinions and desires from surveys of the student body, as well as costs and available concert dates.
McCollister said UPC had been looking at artists from a variety of genres, but chose to feature a more rock-leaning band since the spring concert was urban.
The UPC paid just more than $60,000 for O.A.R. and its opening band, Simplified.
This a considerable amount less than concerts held in recent years, which had costs ranging anywhere from $75,000 - $90,000.
“We’re trying to be a little more cost efficient,” McCollister said. “With this being the first semester of the tuition hike, we thought it’d be in the student’s best interest to have a cost efficient show. But we think we did a good job for the money.”
Simplified, a band native of Charlotte, N.C., is an up-and-coming band which has already had several show dates with O.A.R.
Doors will open the night of the concert at 6:30, and Simplified will begin playing at 7:30.
