The CFSB Center announced it will host the opening night of the Willie Nelson and Family tour featuring Alison Krauss & Union Station and Jerry Douglas May 1.
Wesley Hughes, manager of accounting activities at the CFSB Center said having the opportunity to host a country music legend such as Nelson on the opening night of his tour is something Murray State takes great pride in. Being able to book such a large name for students to see is a priority of CFSB staff.
“Honestly, the Lovett Live series plays a huge part in getting legends like Willie Nelson or the soon-to-be legends like a Zac Brown,” Hughes said. “Every single month we are putting the ‘baby acts’ that these agents have taken on in front of a college crowd. The agent that may be booking a Raven Cliff or a Sara Haze is also the one that is setting up the tours for artists like Willie Nelson and Alison Krauss, Little Big Town or Bob Dylan. So by us taking care of those small acts no one knows yet, we are on the agents’ mind when they need a place for the big acts to stop.”
Although there is no student discount available when purchasing tickets, ticket prices are not too expensive, Hughes said. Prices range from $29.75-$59.75 with the higher priced tickets expected to sell out.
“The great tickets are going fast, but there isn’t a bad seat in this venue compared to the bigger arenas,” Hughes said. “Even our ‘nose-bleed’ seats are still a top price level ticket for those bigger arenas.”
The CFSB Center staff is expecting a large turnout of not only students, but also community members.
They hope students realize the significance of having such historic artists like Nelson and Krauss at their fingertips and how it will benefit them. They believe concertgoers will take advantage of the opportunity to experience one of country music’s outlaws in person.
“Murray State offers a great education both in the classroom and through the activities that are available for students to experience,” Hughes said. “This is just another example of how Murray State has come through in offering the students an experience that they can remember years from now as one of the experiences that helped shape them beyond the classroom.”
While concertgoers should not expect any kind of fancy production with lights and effects, they should expect a show full of artists who truly play for the enjoyment of music and have a passion for the music they play.
Story by Breanna Sill, Assistant Features Editor