Season nine “American Idol” winner Lee DeWyze will perform at the Phillips Center for Performing Arts on Monday at 7:30 p.m.
The free concert, sponsored by IRHA and Student Government Productions, is a part of IRHAPalooza, a concert put on every year during Residence Hall Week.
DeWyze was voted America’s Idol in May after being one of two contestants to never land in the “bottom three” — the three contestants with the fewest number of votes for the week — on elimination days.
The paint-salesman-turned-recording-artist’s debut album, “Live It Up,” sold more than 100,000 copies in the U.S.
John Kelly, director of IRHAPalooza, said he chose DeWyze because he is an up-and-coming artist within IRHA’s price range and because he just won “American Idol.”
“I think it’s going to be really cool five years from now, when Lee is on every radio station, to know we brought him here to UF,” he said.
This year’s concert will be indoors with 1,700 seats available.
Tickets will be available to students starting at noon Monday at the Phillips Center box office. After 6:30 p.m., the remaining tickets will be open and free to the public.
Opening for DeWyze is Michael J., a local artist Kelly found at Applebee’s while singing karaoke.
Although the concert is free, everyone is encouraged to bring canned food to donate.
