Ben Rector to perform at Great Hall

Singer-songwriter Ben Rector will bring his pop-tinged tunes to the Great Hall on August 23.

Courtesy of SUB

Singer-songwriter Ben Rector will bring his pop-tinged tunes to the Great Hall on August 23.

Caroline Shaw

You may have heard his single “Brand New” on the radio. Singer-songwriter Ben Rector will perform in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union on Wednesday, Aug. 23 at 8 p.m.

Ben Rector released his most recent album, “Brand New,” in August 2015 under his own record label, Aptly Named Recordings.

With piano, guitar and vocals, Rector has put together an album that listens like a story of life. It calls back to the humble beginnings of the musician and his journey to where he is now. The music is crafted with honest lyrics and a youthful sound.

This relatable nature has gained him a notable following online and now on the airwaves, as “Brand New” is his debut radio single. 

Not only has Rector independently sold over 440,000 albums and 7 million tracks, but he also boasts several awards and television appearances.

In 2006, Rector was the youngest person to win the Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest’s Pop category.

In January 2016 he was featured on “The Today Show.”

A few months later he released the music video for “Brand New.” Instead of spending his budget on a big production, he picked a few fans to spend the day at Six Flags.

Rector has a style and sound that is all his own and is sure to bring all of who he is to the Great Hall on Wednesday as part of Welcome Week.

Tickets are $18 with a student ID and $28 for the public. Tickets can be purchased at the M-Shop box office or online via Midwestix.com.