July 26, 2012

OXFORD, Miss. -- The Student Programming Board, Ole Miss Athletics Department, Ole Miss Alumni Association and Department of Campus Programming are proud to announce award-winning singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley will perform in The Grove during Welcome Week on Wednesday, August 22.
 
Bentley will be accompanied by The Cadillac Black. Start time for the concert will be announced at a later date, and admission is free and open to the public.
 
With the help of college students, Bentley will kick tailgating season off at three SEC campuses to celebrate the new music in a limited Country and Cold Cans: Back to College Tour with special guest The Cadillac Black. The tour begins at The University of Georgia (August 20) and continues to The University of South Carolina (August 21) before culminating at Ole Miss.
 
"We are excited to have the opportunity to bring Dierks Bentley to the Ole Miss campus," said Wil Yerger, Director of the Student Programming Board. "The concert will be a great addition to Welcome Week and a fun way to start the fall semester."
 
"What a great way to start the year," said Ross Bjork, Athletics Director. "It's wonderful to provide the Ole Miss community, our students and fans with free, big time entertainment such as Dierks Bentley, and we hope it warms up The Grove for an exciting fall sports season."
 
"For our students and alumni, this is the perfect kickoff to the fall semester," said Tim Walsh, Alumni Association Executive Director. "The Alumni Association is elated to help offer these types of events, and we hope it draws a large number of alumni and friends back to campus."
 
Bentley will release a four song EP titled Country and Cold Cans at iTunes on August 21. Produced by Jaren Johnston, the EP was inspired by the crowd-favorite title track and tour by the same name that recently wrapped legs in the US, Canada, and Australia.
 
"We thought we'd celebrate the end of summer and back to school with an EP of new material that's about cutting loose," said Bentley. "I'm really happy with the tracks, and I think our crowd will dig it."
 
Bentley's current sixth studio album Home debuted at #1 on Billboard Country Albums chart earlier this year and has already earned three #1 hits at country radio "Am I The Only One," "Home" and "5-1-5-0" for a career total of 10 #1 hits as an artist and songwriter.  For more information and for a full list of upcoming tour dates, visit www.dierks.com.
 
For more information, please contact the Department of Campus Programming at (662) 915-1044 or uofmdcp@olemiss.edu.