You bring the burgers, hotdogs and beer – UB’s got the entertainment.
In an effort to attract more people to football games both inside and outside the UB community, the Athletics Department is continuing its Tailgate Concert Series. The series started last season, which was also the year the Bulls led the Mid-American Conference in game attendance.
Each concert will be in in the Stadium parking lot’s “Stampede Square” before home games. Artists, like this Saturday’s Easton Corbin, are set to start playing two hours before the 3:30 p.m. kickoff.
“It’s a way to really build upon the vibrant tailgating atmosphere prior to football games,” said Todd Garzarelli, the senior associate athletic director for external affairs. “We want a more diverse crowd, and for people to be entertained in the moment.”
This Saturday, before the season opener against Duquesne, the Tailgate Concert Series will feature Corbin on the main stage. DJ Anthony from local radio station KISS 98.5 will play three hours before kickoff on the other side of stadium.
Athletics began the series in 2013 to draw more than just football fans to games and it appears to be working.
“Even though I’m not a huge sports fan, I’d consider going to the game after going to the concert,” said Ian Carson, a sophomore civil engineering major.
Corbin is an American country artist, who is best known for his songs “A Little More Country Than That” and “Roll With It.” He has released two albums, a self-titled one in 2010 and All Over the Road in 2013. His style is similar to George Strait, Greg Bates and Keith Whitley.
DJ Anthony is the weekday evening host of KISS 98.5, whose favorite artists include Michael Jackson, Jay-Z and Biggie Smalls, according to the station’s website.
“I think it’s a cool, different way to get everyone pumped up for the game,” said Olivia Miller, a freshman accounting major.
Garzarelli said the DJ is there to give those who don’t like country another option.
Artists for the concert series were not picked randomly, but through a process to ensure a greater level of satisfaction and genre diversity, according Garzarelli.
“To pick artists, we looked to external folks on campus, season ticket holders, UB students and alumni,” Garzarelli said. “We also looked into who seemed to be selling, who is going to be around this area, and what is hot in music right now.”
Other artists set to play in September include country artist Joe Nichols, the alternative band Spin Doctors and rock band Three Dog Night. October will bring The Zac Brown Tribute Band, and set to perform in November is country artist Frankie Ballard, and Strictly Hip. Strictly Hip is a Buffalo based band that covers the music of Tragically Hip, a rock band from Ontario, Canada.
DJ Anthony’s set will begin at 12:30 and Corbin will take the stage in Stampede Square at 1:30 pm and kickoff begins at 3:30 pm.
email: arts@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Sean Krueger / UB Center for the Arts
Photo: UB Center for the Arts
