Alternative band returns to Vermillion for concert

Avian Sunrise will return to its roots when they play a Students Enhancing Resources for Vermillion Enrichment-sponsored concert at the University of South Dakota Feb. 2.

The concert will be held Feb. 2 at 8 p.m. in the Muenster University Center Ballroom.

“We haven’t played in Vermillion since our CD release show in April, so we’re excited to come back,” lead singer Bryan Wehrkamp said. “USD is really where we have our roots and started building this thing, so it’s fun to go back.”

This time around, the band is playing to raise awareness for the Beracka House and the Women of War House. The Beracka House, located in Sioux Falls and the Women of War House, located in Belle Fourche, S.D., are shelters for homeless veterans.

“There have been a lot of National Guard members that are also students here that have been sent overseas, so we want to let them know we’re supporting them,” senior Ally Higgins, president of SERVE, said.

Higgins said SERVE chose the two houses after the USD Veterans Club brought them the idea.

“We researched a lot of different causes, but we wanted to focus on Vermillion and the larger South Dakota community,” Higgins said. “After the USD Veterans Club gave us information about the houses, we thought it was a great way to support.”

Senior Diana Johnsen, the cultural connections co-chair for SERVE, said the concert is for a good cause that a lot of students don’t think or know about.

The entrance fee to the show is either a $5 donation or to bring one of the items listed on the show posters located around campus.

“The items students can bring as entrance fees are things the shelters need,” Johnsen said. “It’s another way to raise awareness for the shelters. There also may be a short presentation before the music starts about the shelter.”

Wehrkamp said Avian Sunrise has always been a supporter for doing charitable causes.

“We’ve always been advocates for using our music to help,” Wehrkamp said. “It’s a good cause and we plan to go down to Sioux Falls the day before and do promotion for the show. We’ll spend the day of the show in Vermillion also doing promotion for it. We would like to see this show as a success.”

Wehrkamp said the band hasn’t played a show for awhile and is looking forward to playing new material live.

“We’ve revamped our live show and are excited to play new music for familiar faces,” Wehrkamp said. “It’s something to do on a Thursday night for a good cause. I think it’ll be a solid night of music.”

Eric Gage, senior, member of USD Veterans Club said these programs have done amazing things to help veterans.

“We need to help our brothers and sisters who have served. Homelessness among veterans is a problem, and we need to acknowledge it.”

Gage said the Beracka House is a program worth giving to.

“The Beracka House is a strict program that, when the case worker comes across a veteran who is ready to make a change and find a place to live off the streets, it’s not just a handout. They have to make all their own medical appointments and things like that. As of last summer, they had not had any failed cases.”

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