The
Dave
Matthews Band [
tickets
] will lead a host of marquee names helping Virginia Tech students,
faculty and family deal with the tragic shootings that occurred at the
university in April.
Tickets to "A Concert for Virginia Tech," set for Sept. 6 at the school's
66,000-seat Lane Stadium, will be given away free to all current students,
faculty and staff, and all performers appearing at the event will waive
their usual fees. Commemorative merchandise will be sold to help cover the
costs of staging the show.
In addition to DMB, the schedule will include singer/songwriter
John
Mayer [
tickets
], rapper
Nas
[
tickets
], and country singer/pianist
Phil
Vassar [
tickets
]. According to a press release, the concert was conceived as "a way
to help the university community move forward" as the university begins its
2007-2008 academic year, the first new term at the school since senior
Seung-Hui Cho shot and killed 32 students and teachers, and wounded 25
others, before turning his gun on himself following an April 16 rampage.
"We have a profound respect for the incredible resolve and unwavering sense
of hope the university community has shown, and are honored to have the
opportunity to share this evening with Virginia Tech," said DMB drummer
Carter Beauford in a prepared statement.
"We're extremely grateful for the compassion and generosity of these artists
who wished to create a very special event where our students, faculty and
staff can come together to celebrate the spirit and resiliency of our
university community as we begin a new academic year," added Virginia Tech's
president, Charles Steger.
More information on the concert can be found through the university's
website
.