Tickets are going fast for Darius Rucker’s “True Believers Tour” in Morgantown, Thursday, April 10.

Showtime is set for 7:30 p.m. The Eli Young Band and special guest Corey Smith will also perform. Tickets are on now at the West Virginia University Mountainlair and CAC box offices, ticketmaster.com and by phone at 304-293-SHOW and 800-745-3000.

Darius Rucker first attained multi-platinum status in the music industry as former lead singer and rhythm guitarist of Hootie & the Blowfish. Since Rucker crossed genres to country and bluegrass, he has earned a whole new legion of fans. In 2013, Rucker reached incredible heights with his cover of Old Crow Medicine Show’s “Wagon Wheel,” taken from his latest album “True Believers.” The song shot to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country chart and has been nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Country Solo Performance at this year’s awards.

Since reintroducing himself to the world as a country artist, Rucker has had a remarkable few years. In 2008, he released “Learn to Live.” The album’s first single, “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” made him the first African American with a No. 1 Country song since Charley Pride in 1983. “It Won’t Be Like This For Long,” and “Alright,” would follow, with “Alright” earning him the New Artist Award from the Country Music Association. His 2010 follow-up, “Charleston, SC 1966,” included two more number ones — “Come Back Song” and “This.” Recently, Rucker was nominated for the CMA’s Musical Event of the Year award for his performance of “Stuck on You” with Lionel Richie, and in October, Rucker was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.

Joining him on the tour are four musicians who met during their college days in Texas. The Eli Young Band has emerged from nights spent performing in small clubs before hundreds to concert venues in the thousands. Their group earned their first platinum record with 2013’s “Crazy Girl.” The single is a perfect introduction to “Life At Best,” their latest album that takes the band’s wide-ranging multi-genre influences and distills them into a focused, engaging vision: edgy country with hints of heartland rock bands such as Tom Petty and classic Eagles. Their last album, “Jet Black & Jealous,” debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard Country Albums chart in 2008. In the same year, The Eli Young Band also earned a nod from the Academy of Country Music for Top New Vocal Group of the Year. The group has earned critical acclaim from People, USA Today, Billboard, The New Yorker, American Songwriter and Country Weekly, and has appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.” The band’s latest single “Drunk Last Night” is currently No. 8 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.

Morgantown favorite and down-to-Earth singer-songwriter Corey Smith will open the True Believers tour. Born and raised in the town of Jefferson, Ga., just a few miles northwest of the musical hotbed of Athens, Smith has carved out a successful career by writing and singing, not about the idealized country imagery of trucks and bonfires, but instead his lyrics paint the experience of growing up far from big-city sidewalks. He has released seven studio albums—including 2011’s Top 20 release “The Broken Record.” His concerts, documented in “Live in Chattanooga,” have audiences singing along to such fan favorites as the coming-of-age anthem “Twenty-One,” the nostalgic time warp “If I Could Do It Again,” and group hug “I Love Everyone.” His latest single, “Ain’t Goin Out Tonight,” is an infectious tune from his upcoming new album, produced by Keith Stegall, who has worked with heavyweights Alan Jackson and the Zac Brown Band.

Showtime is set for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, at the WVU Coliseum. Tickets range from $28 to $58, depending on seat location and availability. Floor tickets are general admission—standing room only. WVU students will receive $10 off all ticket prices with a valid WVU ID at the campus box offices (one discounted ticket per valid ID). Tickets are on sale now at the Mountainlair and Creative Arts Center box offices, online at ticketmaster.com, or by calling 304-293-SHOW and 800-745-3000.

This event is produced by WVU Arts & Entertainment. For additional event information, call 304-293-SHOW, or visit events.wvu.edu. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/wvuevents and follow us on Twitter at @wvuevents for the most up-to-date show information.

-WVU-

dr/3/19/14

CONTACT: David Ryan, Arts & Entertainment
304-293-8222, David.Ryan@mail.wvu.edu

Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.