Zuzu Wheeler - Story 1

CSU “Graced” By Country Rock Star

Wednesday night marked another concert put on by ASAP in the Lory Student Center Ballroom. Their guest? American Idol alum – and country favorite – Josh Gracin. With about 800 student tickets sold, the bevy of attendees broke out their cowboy boots and plaid button downs and swing danced the night away.

ASAP member Kurt Thomas said that CSU has not had a country concert put on in about two years.

“We like to vary our shows based on what CSU has put on in the past,” he said. “We had a hip-hop show recently, so we just like to switch it up to keep people interested.”

Sponsored by ASAP and Farmhouse Fraternity, the concert was a success, not only in ticket sales, but also with the reaction of the devoted crowd.

“Josh was very fun and entertaining,” CSU junior Brittany Duryea said. “He knew how to draw the crowd in and involve them as a group.”

With a mix of his original songs and cover songs with a country edge, including “Free Fallin’,” Gracin appealed to all audiences, not just the usual country-goers.

“He was really good performing live, which a lot of artists aren’t,” CSU junior Amanda Bourque said. “I didn’t know many of his songs, but I really enjoyed the show.”

Such a successful show involved a lot of preparation, with both booking and with the technical aspects.

“It took a few months to put this show together, though it usually depends on the size to determine how long it takes,” Thomas said. “There’s always an offer letter that goes out to the artist, and if they accept they have to sign a contract that draws out what we want them to do. With Josh, the price was right even though he’s a fairly big artist, and the scheduling worked out well.”

CSU Event Services Specialist Aaron Brunskill helped out with the technical preparation for the show.

“CSU didn’t have a sound board big enough for this show, so their crew brought their own. But I helped put everything up and take it down. Farmhouse helped set up the stage, too,” Brunskill said. “I work most of the concerts that CSU puts on, and they do a concert this size about once a semester, and there are usually always a good number of people at them.”

With tickets priced at $10 for students and $19 for general admission, a fun-filled evening came at a bargain. ASAP answers the student’s call for entertainment effectively and conveniently. Where usually big-name artists do not come to Fort Collins often, CSU provides solid ground for people to enjoy the occasional larger concert, thanks to ASAP.