Concert by WILCO planned for mid-May in downtown Lawrence

Promoter asks city commission to approve use of 900 block of New Hampshire

Plans are in the works for a major downtown outdoor concert in mid-May featuring the alternative country rock band WILCO.

City commissioners at Tuesday evening’s meeting will be asked to approve a series of permits allowing the Grammy-winning group to play an outdoor concert on the vacant lots near Ninth and New Hampshire streets.

The event – proposed by local promoter Mike Logan – would be May 14. City commissioners have to approve the event, in part, because Logan is asking that much of the 900 block of New Hampshire Street be closed to traffic. He is also seeking permission to sell alcohol at the concert, although commissioners won’t be able to rule on that issue at Tuesday’s meeting. City ordinances require an official public hearing on alcohol issues that won’t be able to be conducted until late April.

Logan anticipates the concert would attract about 4,000 people.

In a city memo, Logan said tickets for the event would go on sale as soon as he wins city approval for the concert. Ticket prices weren’t listed, and an attempt to reach Logan wasn’t immediately successful on Friday.