BUIES CREEK – Campbell University will once again host an American Idol winner when Phillip Phillips performs at 7:30 p.m. on April 2 at Turner Auditorium.
Tickets go on sale to Campbell faculty, staff and alumni Feb. 4 and to the general public on Feb. 6. Admission is free for current undergraduate students.
Phillips, the 21-year-old singer/guitarist whose debut single “Home” hit the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 list with 278,000 downloads sold, is the second Idol champ to perform in Buies Creek. Season 7 winner David Cook played a sold-out show at Campbell in 2009.
“We’re excited to have another American Idol winner, especially someone like Phillip who has had so much success on the radio beyond the show,” said Chris O’Connor, director of student activities at Campbell. “The David Cook show was sold out in a matter of hours, so it’s exciting to have another performer of that caliber coming to Campbell.”
Phillips first began making music when he was 14, and played in an acoustic band with his sister and brother-in-law through high school and even as he enrolled at Albany Technical College in George to study industrial systems technology.
With encouragement from his family and friends, Phillips took a break from working in his family’s pawn shop and auditioned for American Idol in summer 2011 — and soon found himself tearing through performances of songs by artists like Creedence Clearwater Revival, Otis Redding, and Wilson Pickett on the Idol stage.
Phillips channeled that soulful spirit into acoustic-driven rock with an earthy, authentic sound on his debut album, “The World from the Side of the Moon,” released in November.
“I’m still so amazed at how this has worked out,” Phillips said. “I knew I’d always have music no matter what happens, but I never imagined that it would get to this level. I’m so excited to just get going and have a great time doing it.”
The April 2 concert will be presented by Campbell University’s Campus Activities Board and Student Government Association. Tickets will be $15.
TICKET INFO
Tickets will be available to undergraduate Campbell students at 9 a.m. on Feb. 4 at the Wallace Student Center information desk. Student tickets are free, but students must be present to obtain a ticket (a student may obtain tickets for up to six other students, but they must bring those students’ IDs). Students may also purchase one ticket per ID for a friend during the pre-sale (there is no limit after the public tickets go on sale on Feb. 6). Student tickets will not be available online.
Tickets will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. on Feb. 6 online at https://www.campbell.edu and at the Wallace Student Center information desk. Tickets are $15 each.