The Roots to play Charter Day concert
The Roots The award-winning group will play the first-ever Charter Day concert at the College of William and Mary Feb. 5, 2011. Photo from The Roots' Facebook page
Critically acclaimed hip-hop group The Roots will play William & Mary’s Charter Day concert Feb. 5, 2011, in William & Mary Hall, the College announced Saturday evening.
The announcement came during William & Mary’s Yule Log ceremony in the Wren Building, the last of the College’s traditions before traditions begin again next year with Charter Day.
The group, which currently serves as the house band on NBC’s “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” has received and been nominated for numerous awards, including several Grammys. The band has also been named by Rolling Stone as one of the 20 greatest live acts in the world.
The concert is part of an effort by the College to get students more excited about the Charter Day tradition. Charter Day marks the day on which the College received its royal charter. Last year, the College recast the tradition as a birthday celebration for the College and introduced several new student-focused events. This year will mark the 318th “birthday” of the College.
Brian Focarino ’11, one of the students who helped give Charter Day a makeover, said that organizers wanted to create an event for Charter Day weekend that would be celebratory and would draw students in. Thus, the idea for a Charter Day concert was born.
The Student Assembly provided most of the funding for the event, with assistance from AMP (Alma Mater Productions), the College’s programming board.
“I hope that students get excited and come out and celebrate the College,” said Focarino. “I hope we come together as one, big Tribe.”
The show will begin at 8 p.m. with doors opening at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 for William & Mary students with ID (limited to two per person) and $25 for the general public. Tickets are available for purchase through the Phi Beta Kappa Ticket Office online or in person.
The Roots - "How I Got Over" (LIVE) from Okayplayer on Vimeo.
