Emerson Drive drives the music at Union Board’s main event of the year

Union Board lassoed the country band, Emerson Drive, to headline this year’s Day of Woden concert on Wednesday.

"We had been receiving requests for a country band for some time," said Dan Painter, Hillsdale junior and UB music coordinator. "And we felt that this particular genre had been somewhat neglected in the recent past within our events."

Greg Balcom, Cadillac first-year, is one of many students who are glad country-twang is coming to Albion.

"It is about time that we actually have some country music bands playing at Albion (College)—especially considering that none of the other bands have been country," Balcom said.

Emerson Drive arrived on the country music scene in 2001 and has recorded two Top Five hits: "Fall Into Me" and "I Should Be Sleeping." The band’s new single, "A Good Man," is currently playing on country radio.

Emerson Drive was Billboard’s Top Country Artist of the Year in 2002 and the Canadian Country Music Association named it Group of the Year for two consecutive years.

The concert begins at 8 p.m. with opener Jeff Allen followed by Emerson Drive. UB is holding all of this year’s Day of Woden festivities on the quad. If there is rain, it will be moved to the Dow Center.

The afternoon will begin with activities like inflatable laser tag, an obstacle course, moonwalk and paintball gallery at 4 p.m. There will also be balloon artists, body art painters and spray paint artists. A Baldwin-catered picnic will be served from 5 to 7:30 p.m. before the concert.

Because this year’s headlining act is not as well known as previous Day of Woden bands, UB released the information that Emerson Drive is playing earlier than in previous years.

"We’re realizing that (Emerson Drive) is not very well known and because of this we want to give students the opportunity to check out their Web site or talk with other people on campus and start thinking about the concert," said Jennifer Schreer, associate director of programs and events and the Kellogg Center.

Students on board must bring their college ID to the picnic. One free meal ticket will be available to off-board students with a valid college ID, faculty and staff members in the campus programs and organizations office through Tuesday at 5 p.m.

Additional tickets may be purchased in CPO. Adult tickets are $7.50, tickets for children younger than 9 are $4 and children younger than 2 can enter free of charge.