The brothers are back. The Avett Brothers are returning to North Mississippi to play at Tupelo’s BancorpSouth Arena for “An Evening with The Avett Brothers” on April 14 at 8 p.m.
Todd Hunt, director of the BancorpSouth Arena, said this is the first time the band will play at this venue.
“We have been pursuing the band for nearly a year due to their increasing popularity,” he said.
According to the event’s press release, tickets ranging from $29.50 to $39.50 are available to the public.
The chameleon folk-rock and country-alternative music group headlined last fall’s Bulldog Bash in Starkville, and in Oxford, The Avett Brothers have been showcased at The Lyric and played at the Double Decker Arts Festival in 2008.
Kevan Kirkpatrick, director of marketing for the BancorpSouth Arena, said The Avett Brothers have a little bit of everything and appeal to different age groups from high school students to people in their 30s and 40s.
“What’s not to want and like?” he said. “The show is on a Saturday night, so there’s nothing stopping people from coming.”
Because of Tupelo’s almost midpoint location between Starkville and Oxford, the folks at the BancorpSouth Arena are taking advantage of the opportunity.
“We anticipate a strong turnout based upon the success the band has had in both Starkville and Oxford,” Hunt said.
After playing at Bulldog Bash on The Avett Brothers’ fan base has grown significantly and previous fans’ loves have strengthened.
Landry McMillan, a junior marketing major, said The Avett Brothers brought a huge crowd to Bulldog Bash.
“There’s obviously a huge fan base in Starkville and Oxford,” McMillan said. “It’s going to be great for them to come to Tupelo and attract students from both schools, especially since they canceled a show in Oxford scheduled for mid-March.”
Formed in 2000, The Avett Brothers consists of Scott and Seth Avett, Joe Kwon, Bob Crawford and Jacob Edwards. Utilizing the banjo, guitar, stand-up bass, cello and other instruments, the ensemble’s sound, according to the event’s press release, “defies pigeonholing but might be described as a rootsy amalgam of folk, country, bluegrass, rock and pop – even a jab of punk-style dynamics here and there.”
“Their music appeals not just to Mississippi but regionally, and soon nationally,” Kirkpatrick said. “This performance is a big opportunity for Tupelo and North Mississippi because there’s not a lot of options for a big event and a band like this.”
The BancorpSouth Arena show is the first musical showcase for The Avett Brothers in Mississippi in a big, traditional venue setting.
“For this particular concert our capacity will be around 5,000 people,” Hunt said. “We can set the capacity anywhere from 3,000 to 9,500 depending on the artist’s needs.”
Even though this event will not take place until April, fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets ahead of time. Tickets are also available online.
“This is not going to be like Bulldog Bash and Double Decker; there’s a limited number of tickets,” Kirkpatrick said. “This event has taken off and has taken a life of its own.”