For The Rustlanders, this year's Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts will be quite a homecoming.

The country-influenced State College rock band has been on the road all summer, and it is playing at home for the first time since it opened for Keith Urban when he played May 9 at the Bryce Jordan Center.

"We're hoping those people who missed us will all come back," said Corry Drake, bassist and vocalist for the band. He added the crowd at Arts Fest will be a good indicator of just how much exposure the show at the BJC provided.

Jason McIntyre, main vocalist and acoustic guitarist, said the band really wants the Arts Fest performance to be "special."

"There's been a lot of stuff happening for us these days," he said. "It's nice to come home."

Since the band currently doesn't play in town a lot, McIntyre said the Arts Fest performance may encourage people to come out and see how The Rustlanders have evolved, though they don't want to reveal exactly how until show time.

"We've got a few tricks up our sleeve for the show, so it's something a little different," McIntyre said.

He added the show with Keith Urban may have been a huge show with a lot of exposure, but that it was not necessarily a "turning point."

The Rustlanders are more established in places down south, and McIntyre said the band was actually in Nashville when they got the last-minute call to play in the BJC.

"We hightailed it home," he said. "There wasn't a whole lot of time to get nervous or stressed out. We just got out there and did what we do."

The show did prove to be a way to "open doors" for the band, and it was a result of how much time and dedication the members put into generating their success.

Although it is probably not a result of the show with Keith Urban, McIntrye said a majority of the shows on the band's most recent tour have been sold out.

The Rustlanders have also had the opportunity to play historic venues where legends such as Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash have also graced the stage.

"Getting to play where they've played and cut their teeth on is just unbelievable," McIntyre said.

The band has also had ups and downs that range from playing shows for record labels to breaking an axle on their van in the middle of a rainstorm.

"It's all a part of the circus," McIntyre said.

He added he is just as excited for Arts Fest as other recent performances and that people will undoubtedly get a taste of their regionally inspired tunes.

"I've grown up here, and Arts Fest has done a lot for the town and the band," he said.