The Crystal Method, Tonic, The Flaming Lips Experiment and 35” Mudder will highlight the main stage of this year’s Rock Veishea festival, the Veishea entertainment committee announced Wednesday night.

Corey Moss, music coordinator of the Veishea entertainment committee, said there has never been a show with this caliber of bands in Ames for only $2.50 to $3 a ticket.

Although members of the Veishea entertainment committee said they had many obstacles to overcome when booking the bands, they said the delay was to their advantage.

“Announcing it this late is to our advantage in that we are targeting the Cyclone Family, so there is little time for those in surrounding cities to find out about the show,” Moss said. “If this year’s concert festival is a success, next year we will be able to do something even bigger and better.”

It was originally planned that Rock Veishea would be held at Hilton Coliseum, but when the committee fired their promoter, the Lied Recreation Center became the alternative location.

“Originally we didn’t want [Rock Veishea] at the rec center because Friday night’s concert is at the rec center,” Moss said.

Rock Veishea will be Saturday, April 18 from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tickets will cost $3 if purchased in advance. Dew the Rec and Rock Veishea will cost $5 if tickets are purchased in advance, and each event will cost $5 if purchased at the door.

Opening the festival at 8 p.m. will be 35″ Mudder, followed by The Flaming Lips Experiment and Tonic. A laser show will lead The Crystal Method’s performance.

“[The laser show] is going to be amazing to see at the rec center,” Moss said. “We’re trying to create an outdoor festival atmosphere indoors, and this is the perfect diverse band lineup for that.”

According to Moss, Tonic is doing well in the music industry. It has had success on the radio with its past two singles, “You Could Only See” and “Open Up Your Eyes.”

“We were very fortunate to get them,” he said.

Rock Veishea’s lineup will also bring the first electronica band to perform in Ames, The Crystal Method, Moss said.

“The Flaming Lips Experiment is really cool because it’s the band members from The Flaming Lips orchestrating 40 boomboxes,” Moss said. “That’s been really hot on the coasts and is selling out.”

All of the bands appearing at Rock Veishea have been touring the United States this spring playing at different festivals. Tonic will be flying out of Ames the day after its performance at Rock Veishea to do a live show for MTV, Moss said.

Tickets for both events became available Monday for students only, and are being sold from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Memorial Union West Booth across from the Food Court. Students, faculty, staff, alumni and the Ames community will have their chance to purchase ticket beginning Monday, April 13.

“I can’t think of any reason why every ISU student wouldn’t want to come to this event,” Moss said.