VEISHEA committee announces 2011 lineup

Country quartet Gloriana will perform for the Saturday Live @ VEISHEA concert. Photo courtesy: VEISHEA entertainment committee

By Allison Suesse
Ames247 writer

Let the countdown to the VEISHEA celebration begin.

The VEISHEA committee announced the official concert lineup for the 2011 event Friday. The Live @ VEISHEA concert lineup has been expanded to include more artists than years past performing on both Friday and Saturday nights. See the lineup below.

This year’s lineup will include an eclectic mix of artists that will suit most students’ musical preferences.

“We wanted to find a variety of genres that would fit most students’ needs,” said Amy Peyton, VEISHEA entertainment co-chairwoman.

She said everyone likes certain genres, and the co-chairpersons agreed there should be a variety.

Will Postler, entertainment co-chairman, agreed with Peyton. He said the “must-see” band will be based on genre preference. He said three notable acts this year include pop-rockers Neon Trees, country band Gloriana and hip hop artist Big Boi. Poster said hip-hop is “an area of music that hasn’t been addressed in the past” at VEISHEA.

“[Big Boi] has a much bigger presence than other artists in that area,” Postler said.

Live @ VEISHEA Friday: Big Boi, Cloud Cult, Love and Theft, Andy Grammer

Live @ VEISHEA Saturday: Gloriana, The Ready Set, Neon Trees, The Downtown Fiction

–Artists will preform on the north side of campus in parking lots near Molecular Biology

This year, VEISHEA co-chairpersons devised an updated events structure and ticket policy, which Postler said he hopes will be more friendly for students. Instead of offering one night of Battle of the Bands followed by one headliner, students will be able to experience an entire evening of artists. Battle of the Bands will be held at 7 p.m. April 14 in the Maintenance Shop in the Memorial Union.

Read more about the new ticket policy here.

“Last year’s Saturday is both nights,” Poster said, describing the 2011 events restructure.

In addition to musical acts, this year’s VEISHEA celebration will feature a free performance by comedian Donald Glover among other entertainment including a hypnotist, magician and the VEISHEA Says I’m Funny competition.

This year’s Cyclone Idol will be hosted by Coolio, of 1990s’ “Gangster’s Paradise” fame.

“We decided we wanted a more notable name to host Cyclone Idol,” Poster said. “We were hoping it would boost student involvement.”

In years past, emcees have not been as notable as rapper Coolio, and Poster said having him at VEISHEA will create a general awareness of the event.