Memorial Day weekend will be taken over by LMFAO. The original party rockers will take the stage at Avila Beach Golf Resort this Friday, May 27, with Shwayze and Cisco Adler and opening acts Chris Young The Rapper and Audiobit.
The sold out concert is one of the bigger names hosted by the Avila Beach Golf Resort, but Katie Manley, the venue’s director of events, said this concert is neither the first nor the last of its kind.
“All of our concerts are putting us on the map,” she said. “This one should be really exciting. They’re a pretty big deal.”
The outdoor venue, which bridges the gap between the beach and the golf course, holds 3,000 people, most of whom are expected to be college students. With that in mind, Manley expressed some concern for alcohol among an underage crowd.
“We know it’s an issue, but our plan is to stop it at the door,” she said. “Even if you’re of age, if you show up intoxicated, we’re not going to let you in.”
The venue does have a bar for of-age attendees, but no outside alcohol will be tolerated Friday evening.
However, Leonard Cohen the president of the Avila Business Association said he isn’t concerned about alcohol or concert attendees disturbing the peaceful atmosphere of the other businesses or the beach.
“I don’t think it’s going to be a big deal,” he said. “The younger folks can get a little obnoxious, but that’s something the authorities usually take good care of.”
Despite alcohol restrictions and hard-to-find tickets, Cal Poly students cleared their schedules to kick off a long weekend with the hip-hop artists who brought “Party Rock Anthem” to spring quarter.
Business administration senior Jenna Salah said she’s most looking forward to seeing Shwayze.
“He’s my absolute favorite,” she said. “I’m so excited. This is a great way to start the end of my time at Cal Poly.”
Headliners LMFAO are stopping at Avila on a world tour that includes shows in San Francisco and London.
The Avila Beach Golf Resort is working to get itself on the map as a concert venue. Manley said the resort’s events cater to every facet of the San Luis Obispo community, as well as those outside of it.
“We really are trying to become the concert venue of the Central Coast for every demographic,” she said. “We have events like this for the college kids, and then other shows for older audiences.”
Last week Sheryl Crow played at the same venue, and this weekend the resort will also host the Jimi Hendrix Experience, a cover band to the iconic rock ‘n’ roll artist of the ’60s.
“This show is really the kickoff to our summer season,” Manley said. “We do about nine shows over the summer, including beerfest this weekend. (This Friday) will really get the ball rolling.
If “getting the ball rolling” is defined by selling out tickets, which are currently being sold on Craigslist and eBay for more than $100, then Manley and the resort did just that. Cal Poly students are now hoping to get one of the 150 tickets being sold at the door.
“We can get there really early if we have to,” civil engineering freshman Alan Blevins said. “I’d just really love to get in.”
With more than 3,000 people “attending” the event on Facebook, tickets are few and far between.
The doors open at 5 p.m. Friday, and opening acts start at 6 p.m. More information can be found at the Avila Beach Golf Resort’s concert website, avilabeachconcerts.com.