Aug. 7, 2008

GREENVILLE, N.C. - Award-winning country music singer and songwriter Dierks Bentley and Bud Light will present a concert inside Minges Coliseum on Thursday, Sept. 4 as part of his Throttle Wide Open Tour. The ECU Educational Foundation (Pirate Club) is responsible for bringing the event to Greenville and it is sponsored locally by Trade Wilco-Hess, Thad's Carpet One and Thad's Flooring America.

After signing with Capitol Records in 2003, Bentley released his self-title debut album that same year as well as Modern Day Drifter in 2005. Both records went platinum in the United States. The Phoenix, Ariz. native has produced five No. 1 singles on the country music charts, including his first track What Was I Thinkin. Additionally, Bentley has received recognition as the Academy of Country Music's Top Male Vocalist in 2003 and winner of Country Music Television's Breakout Video-of-the-Year in 2004 and the Country Music Academy's Horizon Award in 2005. Opening for Bentley will be Nashville recording artist Lee Brice.

"The Pirate Club Board of Directors has discussed the possibility of hosting a concert for a number of years," Mark Wharton, Executive Director of the Pirate Club said. "We are proud to have an artist like Dierks Bentley come to ECU on a Thursday night before our opening home football game against West Virginia on September 6. This is a great way to kick off the school year and should prove to be an exciting weekend."

Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased online at www.ECUPirates.com, calling 1-800-DIAL-ECU or by visiting the ECU Athletics Ticket Office. Floor seating is $25 for general admission/standing room only. All other seating is reserved - VIP Purple Area ($35), VIP Red Area ($30) and Upper Reserved ($15). VIP Purple Area ticket holders may also purchase VIP/Hospitality Room Tickets for $25 (must be at least 21 years old to enter VIP/Hospitality Room). Listed prices do not include facility fee and service charges.