Ryan ChartrandAugustana is making a cross-country stop at Cal Poly for a free concert on Mott Lawn today at 11 a.m., sponsored by Associated Students Inc. This is the university’s first large-scale outdoor concert in more than 10 years.
Augustana has recently taken over the radio waves with its hit song “Boston,” which is off of the “All the Stars and Boulevards” album.
Earlier this year, ASI Events polled students to find out which band they’d most like to see at Cal Poly. With its rising popularity, rock group Augustana was the favorite.
“They’ve become so popular so fast,” said ASI Events student manager Grant Zanini, an agribusiness senior. “Since it was student-picked, we wanted to get them. It did take a few months of lining up to do it since their schedule filled up so fast.”
The band flew in from its last concert in South Carolina to perform at the closed, 90-minute concert for Cal Poly students. They will head back across the country by Saturday to perform in Georgia.
ASI tries to host a “big bang” event at the end of every year as a way to thank students for their support, along with showing them a good time.
“It’s just kind of a fun thing where students can get away and see something they want to see,” Zanini said.
The band formed in San Diego in 2003 and all five members span between the ages of 20 and 23, according to their official Web site.
Augustana has toured with numerous bands, including The Fray, Snow Patrol, Switchfoot, Goo Goo Dolls, The Damnwells and Counting Crows. The band will continue on its national tour through the end of August; however, today’s concert is the its only scheduled stop in California.