Acclaimed rock band The National will be performing at Calvin College on Saturday, April 12 in the Van Noord Arena.
Comprised of lead singer and songwriter Matt Berninger, guitarists Aaron and Bryce Dessner, bassist Scott Devendorf and drummer Bryan Devendorf, The National is an independent rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio that is now based out of Brooklyn, N.Y.
Student tickets for the concert will go on sale on Thursday, Jan. 23 at 6 p.m. at the box office. Tickets will be $15 with a Calvin ID. Tickets for the public will become available for purchase on Friday, Jan. 24 at 9 a.m. and will be $40.
This will be the first appearance of The National at Calvin. An opener for the act is yet to be determined.
The concert, which will also be the finale of the Festival of Faith and Writing, is part of The National’s tour to promote their sixth studio album, “Trouble Will Find Me,” which was released to critical acclaim last May. According to Greg Veltman, student activities coordinator, the album was the band’s best yet.
“‘Trouble Will Find Me’ is their best work up-to-date,” Veltman said.
Veltman also believes the band is worth seeing for the art of their music.
“They produce good art,” Veltman said. “The aesthetic of The National is attractive, and students should listen to good art.”
Ken Heffner, director of student activities, is excited to bring The National to Calvin.
“They’ve been on our radar for a while,” Heffner said. “We’ve always wanted them and [the band] is highly regarded by students.”
According to Heffner, the band also fits the mold of the “narrative-driven, male-fronted rock” groups that have performed at Calvin in the past, such as Wilco and The Mountain Goats.
Due to the band’s growing popularity, Heffner believes that the concert will be a success.
“They’ve kept getting bigger,” Heffner said. “Based on their track record, they may be able to sell out the Van Noord.”
Heffner and Veltman additionally stress that students who are away for Interim will still be able to buy tickets for The National and The Head and the Heart once the new semester starts in February.
