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Dave Matthews Band to perform at Capital One Jam Fest

NCAA Corporate Champion Capital One together with the NCAA and Turner Live Events today announced the lineup for the 2013 NCAA Big Dance Concert Series in Atlanta, in conjunction with the 2013 NCAA Men’s Final Four, which includes headliner Dave Matthews Band, Sting and Grace Potter & The Nocturnals. The bands will appear at the Capital One Jam Fest Sunday, April 7, as part of the free, three-day music festival produced by Turner Live Events and the NCAA, taking place at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, April 5-7, 2013.  To access the latest performance announcements and specific times for the Capital One Jam Fest, as well as Friday’s AT&T Block Party and Saturday’s Coke Zero™ Countdown lineups, visit www.NCAA.com/Final-Four.

On Sunday, April 7, as the finale of the Big Dance Concert Series, the weekend will wrap with Dave Matthews Band headlining the Capital One Jam Fest. Dave Matthews Band – comprising Carter Beauford (drums), Stefan Lessard (bass), Dave Matthews (vocals, guitar) and Boyd Tinsley (violin) – has sold a collective 37 million CDs and DVDs combined. Renowned for its live shows, the group ranked as the biggest ticket seller worldwide of the past decade. With its latest album, Away From The World, which entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1, Dave Matthews Band became the first group in chart history to have six consecutive studio albums debut atop the chart. For the latest on Dave Matthews Band tour dates and news, check out www.davematthewsband.com. 

The Capital One Jam Fest will also present a special performance by Sting. Composer, singer, author, actor, activist ­ -- Sting was born in Newcastle, England before moving to London in 1977 to form The Police with Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers. The band released five albums, earned six Grammy awards, and in 2003 was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Since 1985, Sting has released 13 solo albums, most recently the definitive box set collection 25 Years and the compilation The Best of 25 Years. He has sold nearly 100 million albums from his combined work with the Police and as a solo artist, also earning an additional 10 Grammy awards, a Golden Globe, an Emmy, and three Oscar nominations, appearing in more than 15 films and authoring two books including the New York Times best-selling memoir, Broken Music. This summer, Sting will resume his critically acclaimed Back To Bass tour with performances throughout North America and Europe. His support for human rights organizations such as the Rainforest Fund, co-founded with his wife Trudie Styler in 1989, mirrors his art in its universal outreach.

“Capital One is excited to bring two giant names in music to Atlanta during the Final Four," said Roger Ferguson, Managing Vice President, Advertising and Sponsorships at Capital One. “Dave Matthews Band continues to produce chart topping music and, with deep roots in the South, is sure to be a big crowd pleaser in Atlanta. Sting is well-known around the world for his numerous hits and his enduring influence on popular music. It doesn't get any bigger than this.”

Additional musical acts on Sunday include Vermont-based band Grace Potter & the Nocturnals. Grace Potter & the Nocturnals’ self-made 2005 debut album, “Nothing but the Water” revealed a musically sophisticated young band inspired by the music of the late ‘60s/early ‘70s and fronted by a then 21-year-old dynamo whose nuanced singing, organ playing and songwriting belied her age.  The follow-up, 2007’s “This is Somewhere,” confirmed that the band had no interest in following trends but was instead in pursuit of timeless expression as it forged its identity. On 2010’s self-titled third album, “GPN,” toughened by a half decade of the nonstop roadwork, flexed their rock ‘n’ roll muscles and confirmed that they were in it for the long haul.  Seven years after hitting the radar, the band takes an exponential leap with the widescreen opus “The Lion The Beast The Beat.”

The 2012 NCAA Big Dance Concert Series in New Orleans featuring headliners Jimmy Buffett, KISS and the Black Keys attracted over 140,000 fans over the three-day weekend. Past performers have also included Kenny Chesney, Kid Rock, Kings of Leon, LL Cool J and Taylor Swift. The Big Dance Concert Series is an activation extension of the NCAA's corporate champions and partners marketing program, which Turner Sports and CBS Sports license and collaborate on as part of a 14-year multi-media agreement with the NCAA.

“The Big Dance Concert Series has grown in popularity each year, and I want to take this opportunity to thank our corporate champion Capital One for its support in bringing great musical acts to Atlanta this year,” said Mark Lewis, NCAA executive vice president for championships and alliances. “The Big Dance is free to the public which enables everyone the opportunity to enjoy the Final Four weekend excitement regardless of whether or not they have a ticket for the games.  We hope everyone comes out and enjoys a great Final Four weekend at Centennial Olympic Park.”