Ames folk rockers The Nadas have set a goal.

“We want to be playing where they have skyscrapers,” said Dave Haldin, the band’s manager.

And if getting there means making sure debut shows in big cities are not plagued by lame crowds, Haldin’s crew should be set.

The Nadas have planned a bus trip Friday that will escort 71 of the groups most loyal fans from Ames, Des Moines or Iowa City to the legendary Schuba’s Tavern in Chicago.

“Schuba’s is one of the better places to play in Chicago,” Haldin said. “We have been trying to get in there for a long time and now that we have, we really want to impress them.”

Club owners and native Chicagoans are not the only ones The Nadas hope to impress. Haldin said a representative from Aware Records is expected to be in the crowd.

In recent years, Aware has discovered acts such as Matchbox 20, Verve Pipe, Semisonic and Stir, all bands Haldin feels are comparable to The Nadas.

“They know all about us,” he said.

Although it will be the band’s first show in Chicago, The Nadas have received plenty of support from media in the area.

The Chicago alternative radio station WCBR has been spinning both “Ghost” and “Daisy” and will be interviewing the band the morning of the show.

“Cool things are happening out there,” Haldin said.

Two buses will depart from People’s Bar and Grill at noon on Friday and will arrive in Chicago around 7 p.m. The buses will make stops at the Adventureland Inn in Des Moines and at The Highlander in Iowa City for passenger pickup.

“The buses are luxury liners with all the free beer you can drink,” Haldin said. “We may be blasting some Nadas on a boombox as well.”

The Nadas are playing the early show at Schuba’s, which is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Tickets to The Nadas and to the late show with John Langford are included in the $35 cost of the trip.

The bus is scheduled to depart from Chicago at 1 a.m. “I just hope we don’t leave too many people behind,” Haldin joked.

A few seats are available and can be purchased by calling Haldin at (515) 542-3241.