Aaron Lewis of Staind to Present Solo Acoustic Performance on April 4

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Center for the Arts at the University at Buffalo will present Aaron Lewis of Staind at 8 p.m. on April 4 in the Mainstage Theatre in the Center for the Arts on the UB North (Amherst) Campus. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Feb. 2.

Sometimes less is more. When Staind frontman Aaron Lewis hits the stage for his "Have Guitar, Will Travel" solo, acoustic tour, he will be stripped of the usual fanfare of rock. Armed with just his guitar, his songs and audience requests, he's bringing the concert experience back to basics, just one man and his guitar, dissolving the barricade between artist and fan.

It takes a lot of courage to pull off such a feat. But Lewis has never been afraid to confront his existence through song. His talent, his passion and his intensity are undeniable, as he continues to bare his soul, digging ever-deeper to the core. This is what his fans have come to expect -- and he doesn't disappoint. The iconic singer/songwriter, who is widely renowned as one of the most relevant and prolific artists of his generation, will roll out an unscripted evening of Staind hits along with an eclectic mix of cover songs. The dynamic performer first proved his acoustic chops on the national stage with a solid "MTV Unplugged" performance, captivating a generation. He continues this momentum on this tour, customizing each set on the spot, ensuring that no two shows ever will be alike.

Lewis has come a long way since his band first hit platinum success in the late '90s with the release of "Dysfunction," propelled by such songs as "Just Go," Mudshovel" and "Home." The Grammy-nominated musician caught a break in 1998 when they were signed by Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst through Flip Records. Staind's first mainstream rock hit "Outside," initially appeared on the "Family Values Tour 1999" compilation, followed by its inclusion on 2001's "Break The Cycle," which entered the Billboard 200 album chart at No. 1, selling more than 8 million copies to date. The timeless songs "Fade," "For You," "Epiphany" and "It's Been Awhile" established Staind as certifiable superstars -- with "It's Been Awhile" spending 16 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Modern Rock Chart.

To date, Staind has sold more than 15 million records worldwide, with its past three albums entering the Billboard 200 in the No. 1 spot. 2005's Chapter V has been certified RIAA platinum and features the single "Right Here," which marks the group's fourth No. 1 rock radio track. Flip/Atlantic Records recently released Staind's first-ever hits collection entitled The Singles: 1996-2006, along with the simultaneous separate release of a companion DVD, "Staind: The Videos."

Tickets for Aaron Lewis of Staind are $29, students $25. Tickets are available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Center for the Arts Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations, including Kaufmann's. To charge tickets, call 852-5000; in Canada, call 1-416-870-8000. For group sales, call 645-6771. For more information, call 645-ARTS. The Center for the Arts is a Ticketfast location. Students (of any school) must present valid student ID at the Center Box Office to receive discount.