Grammy winning singer/songwriter Michelle Branch is putting on aconcert of her own brand of folk rock for The University of Memphisstudents.
The concert, which is sponsored by the Student ActivitiesCenter, will be held Monday on the U of M campus at the RoseTheatre. U of M students can buy up to two $7 tickets with theirstudent ID. Tickets for the general public are $15.
"We have planned this concert for about two months now," saidUniversity Traditions Committee chair Chris Hawk, sophomorejournalism major. "We put on a major concert every semester and tryto rotate with genres. Last semester, we had an R&B concert,and we wanted to try and reach a different audience this semesterso we wanted to go with a modern rock concert. It was suggested byour production company that we use Michelle Branch, and it was theperfect genre we were looking for."
Branch is currently touring college campuses across the countryon the Virgin College Mega Tour, presented by Dentyne Ice andDentyne Fire. Opening acts will include singer/songwriters GavinDeGraw and Joe Firstman, who will both be supporting their debutalbums.
From her first release, Broken Bracelet in 2000, to her majorlabel debut, The Spirit Room in 2001, Branch has played a key partin the resurgence of the female singer/songwriter. In a businesswhere many females are manufactured for glitz and glam, Branchshowed how writing songs could pay off. Not only did The SpiritRoom sell 2.5 million copies, Branch toured with the likes ofSheryl Crow and won a Grammy for a duet she did with CarlosSantana.
Her latest effort, Hotel Paper, finds Branch moving forward intomaturity as an artist. Written during her tour in support of herdebut, "Hotel Room" is almost a strike to those who wrote her offon previous works because of her age.
"I never asked for comparisons to other artists, nor did Iexpect outstanding reviews," Branch said. "I did, however, demand afair and honest critique of my work, and that simply neverhappened. Hotel Paper guarantees that my growth as an artist willovershadow non-related questions that followed me. Don't ask: I'm20 years old now."
SAC will also be sponsoring an event during the afternoon of theconcert.
"We call it a 'Village,'" said Hawk. "It will be at the StudentActivities Plaza. We will have a couple novelty acts as well assome guys out there playing some acoustic guitars. Since DentyneIce is sponsoring the tour, I'm sure they'll be outside giving awaystuff."
Hawk said he is looking forward to seeing such a talented artistas Branch on campus.
"I'm also looking forward to the audience, how many people fromthe community come out and support this show," he said. "I hope weget a diverse crowd."
April Garner, senior psychology major, met Branch at a concertat the University of Central Arkansas two years ago.
"My friends and I met her in the bathroom at the concert,"Garner said. She was in touring with The Calling and Lifehouse andwas the only girl on tour, so she had to change in the frontbathrooms. She was really nice and signed our CDs. My friends loveher."
