Union Board throws outdoor concert

National singer-songwriter Ari Hest and Bloomington bands The Swell and After Mars will play in Dunn Meadow from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday in a summer concert arranged by Union Board. \nHest, who hails from New York City, will perform at the concert as part of the promotional tour for his forthcoming debut album, "Someone To Tell," which will be released by Columbia Records Aug. 10. \nBloomington is Hest's third stop in his six-day tour of the Midwest. Hest has visited Bloomington several times and played on campus and at the Bluebird. This is the first time he will play at IU during the summer.\n"I don't know what to expect (from a summer crowd)," Hest said. "I am curious to see what kind of an audience will come."\nHest has sold more than 20,000 albums in the past four years. He performed more than 700 shows, headlining on college campuses and clubs across the country. He has opened for bands Guster, O.A.R., Maroon 5 and singer-songwriter Jason Mraz.\nHest said he is confident his concert and songs will be well received in Bloomington.\n"My bass player, Rob Calder, is a local cult hero," he said. "That is an additional perk."\nRecent IU graduate John West, who is the guitarist and lead vocalist of local rock band The Swell said he is excited about the concert.\n"I like playing outdoors, and I have a show that night at Uncle Fester's," he said. "I love a day full of gigs."\nThe Swell will play songs from their forthcoming record, which will be released in September.\nApril Lewandowski, co-director of concerts at Union Board, said the idea of summer concerts has been emerging for a long time.\n"Summer concerts are not typical," she said. "This idea was not big last year."\nLewandowski said this concert is a novel way of showing Union Board's appreciation to the students and providing options for summer entertainment.\nJeffrey Hasson, concerts co-director of Union Board, said the concert is a good way of introducing Union Board to incoming freshmen.\n"The freshmen at the orientation can see what Union Board has to offer," he said.\nHasson also highlighted the popularity of the roster of bands scheduled to perform at the event and emphasized the chance for younger viewers to enjoy their music outside of a bar setting. \n"The Swell and After Mars are local bands that are popular in the bar scene," he said. "This is a good opportunity for those who don't get a chance to listen to them at the bars."\n"Ari is a good musician, and he has played at Bloomington before," Hasson continued. "He is coming with his full band, so that is an added bonus."\nLewandowski said she has heard great things about Ari and hopes all the summer students will come to the concert.\n"I'd love to see everyone on campus come," she said. "But the most important thing is that the audience should enjoy the concert."\nLewandowski said concert organizers are bracing itself for inclement weather.\n"It is a rain or shine event," she said. "We are looking into getting tents in case of rain."\nWest encouraged students to attend.\n"It is a good time to check out a band you have never heard before," he said. "The Dunn Meadow is a lovely place to spend your evening."\n-- Contact staff writer Sheeba Madan at smadan@indiana.edu.