Tonight, the sounds of rock 'n' roll will replace the crack of the bat when Augustana takes the stage at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park for what will be the first-ever outdoor concert at Penn State's baseball stadium.
The show, planned and organized by the Student Programming Association (SPA), starts at 7:30 tonight. State College's own Cloverleaf will open the concert.
General admission tickets are free with valid student ID and will be available at the Medlar Field box office starting at 9 a.m.
This isn't the first time a concert has been attempted at Medlar Field. Bob Dylan was scheduled to play there in September 2006, but wet conditions caused the show to be moved inside the Bryce Jordan Center.
AccuWeather is forecasting mostly cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid-60s during the time of tonight's show.
SPA entertainment chairman Bill Brandt said the organization chose Augustana for the show as a result of brainstorming sessions to decide on a band that would appeal to a large number of students.
"I think it's great that Augustana is coming to Penn State because they appeal to a wide range of audiences," Alyssa Callahan (junior-public relations) said.
Augustana, originally from San Diego, achieved mainstream recognition with 2005's All the Stars and Boulevards, propelled by the success of the single "Boston."
"I think they refer to themselves as folk rock or Americana rock," SPA marketing adviser Susan Lechtanski said. "It's a little edgier than traditional folk rock."
Cloverleaf's drummer, Garrett Bogden, said his band jumped at the chance to play an outdoor concert with Augustana.
"We've gotten a lot of really cool opportunities, but I'm looking forward to this more than anything," Bogden said.
This won't be the first time Cloverleaf has performed with Augustana.
"We played with Augustana once in Pittsburgh at a tiny club before they got established," Bogden said.
Augustana has grown since that show, moving from tiny clubs to bigger shows and now, a baseball field. Callahan said Medlar Field, located next to Beaver Stadium, will be an unusual place to see a show.
"Medlar Field is a great place for the show because it's off campus and noise won't be an issue," Callahan said. "Kids can rock out all night long without disturbing anyone."
The stage will be located along the left field line in the 5,406-seat stadium, Brandt (junior-mechanical engineering and German) said.
"Part of the reason we booked it at Medlar Field is because we're expecting a pretty good turnout," Brandt said.
Lechtanski recommended students pick up tickets earlier in the day.
"They are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis," Lechtanski said.
