Two of country's rising stars will perform Ball State University's Homecoming concert at 7:30 p.m. in Emens Auditorium.
Dierks Bentley with opening act Cross Canadian Ragweed will play a mixture of hits and other songs during their latest stop on the "High Times and Hangovers II" tour.
Bentley recently became the youngest member of the Grand Ole Opry when he was inducted Oct. 1. His current album, "Modern Day Drifter," debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's country album chart earlier this year and has been certified gold by the RIAA. His single, "Come a Little Closer," is holding steady at spot 11 on the country singles Billboard chart.
Dierks and Ragweed toured together in 2004. After the time spent together, drummer Randy Ragsdale said he looks forward to the tour.
"It's like one big band that shares a show," he said. "It's pretty cool."
One of the adjustments the band has to make is to family life. Ragsdale has a six-year-old son and infant daughter. Instead of the days of staying up all night, the band would get on the bus and "haul ass" to get to the next city, he said.
He said he was not sure if family life has changed him, but if it did "it's for the better," he said.
A tour with "High Times and Hangovers" stopping at a dry campus may seem like an odd combination, but not to Ragsdale.
"It's just like the preacher's daughter being the wildest daughter in the crowd," he said. "Just because it's dry doesn't mean anyone knows what a hangover is and how to party.
"I bet we'll still fit in," he said.
Ragweed released a special edition of its album, "Garage" Oct. 4 and debuted at No. 4 on Billboard's country album chart. Ragsdale said the band considered itself rock, but was not surprised by the success on country charts.
"We're a rock band with country," he said. "We grew up [listening to] Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, the good ole boys," he said.
As of Thursday, Emens had about 1,000 seats available in the rear of the floor section and the majority of the balcony. Tickets are $23 and $17 for students and $26 and $20 for non-students.
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