{"slides":[{"media_title":"Cole Swindell Happy Hour Sad Tour","media_tagline":"Presented by Pepper Entertainment","event_body":"Multi-Platinum selling and award-winning superstar Cole Swindell will bring his 2025 headlining Happy Hour Sad Tour, to the Alerus Center on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, produced by Pepper Entertainment. Joining the four-time ACM Award winner on his Happy Hour Sad Tour are special guest Priscilla Block and Greylan James. \n\nSwindell’s Down Home Crew will have the opportunity to purchase tickets for the Happy Hour Sad Tour during the “Down Home Crew Presale” beginning Tuesday, April 8 at 10 a.m. local. Tickets start at $39.50 plus applicable fees and go on sale to the public on Friday, April 11, at 10 a.m. \n\nThe Happy Hour Sad Tour, named after a new song on his upcoming 5th studio album, Spanish Moss, scheduled for release on June 27. Spanish Moss also includes Swindell’s current Top 5 and rising single “Forever To Me,” which he co-wrote (with Greylan James and Rocky Block) in honor of his engagement and wedding to his new bride Courtney last year. The Top 5 single is as relevant for his life now as it now marks and honors the upcoming birth of his first child this fall, a daughter. \n\nAbout Cole Swindell:\n\nCountry music superstar and multi-award winner Cole Swindell released new music from his upcoming fifth studio album, Spanish Moss, for Warner Music Nashville including his current Top 10 and rising radio single “Forever To Me,” and most recently the digital-only releases of “Spanish Moss,” “Kill A Prayer,” “One Day” and  “3 Feet Tall,” which Country Now called a “Song of the Year contender” and “one of the most important songs Cole Swindell has ever released.” Spanish Moss will be available June 27.\n\nSwindell, who Rolling Stone has called “a proven hit-maker,” charted three back-to-back, Platinum-certified, multi-week No. 1 hits off his fourth studio album, Stereotype: “Single Saturday Night,” “Never Say Never” (with Lainey Wilson) and the five-week 3x Platinum chart-topper “She Had Me At Heads Carolina” that garnered three ACM Awards for Single of the Year and Song of the Year (as songwriter and artist), an iHeart Music Award for Country Song of the Year and received a nomination for Musical Event of the Year for “She Had Me At Heads Carolina” with Jo Dee Messina for the 57th CMA Awards. He released a special duet remix of his smash “She Had Me At Heads Carolina” featuring Messina that has produced multiple award nominations and is included on his deluxe album Stereotype Broken, which also includes his 2023 Top 10 single “Drinkaby.” \n\n \n\nAbout Pepper Entertainment\n\nFounded in July 2006, Pepper Entertainment (PE) is an independent promotions company headquartered in Sioux Falls, SD. With over 25 years of combined experience, Pepper has rapidly scaled to become one of the Midwest's leading promotion firms. The company specializes in a wide range of services, including live event promotions, corporate and private event talent buying, club and performing arts center programming, as well as media and marketing services.\n\nPepper Entertainment ranks among the Top 100 Worldwide Promoters according to Pollstar Magazine. The company has also earned recognition in the industry, including a nomination for ACM Promoter of the Year in both 2020 and 2024, and CMA Talent Buyer\/Promoter of the Year in 2022. Pepper has offices in Sioux Falls, SD, Minneapolis, MN, and Boise, ID.\n","media_file_type":"img","media_file_placeholder":null,"media_file_name":"https:\/\/www.aleruscenter.com\/assets\/img\/ColeSwindell-GrandForks-092725-1220px560-65be725ee8.jpg","media_link":"https:\/\/www.aleruscenter.com\/events\/detail\/swindell","ticket_link":"Buy Tickets<\/a>","event_date":"Sep<\/span> 27<\/span>, 2025<\/span>","promos":"home","event_time":"7:00pm","media_thumb":"https:\/\/www.aleruscenter.com\/assets\/img\/ColeSwindell-GrandForks-092725-740px710-2b8259feaf.jpg","venue_id":"1","venue_title":"Alerus Center","venue_uri":"venue-main-name","category":{"name":"Other","id":"0"}},{"media_title":"Halestorm and Lindsey Stirling","media_tagline":"","event_body":"ON SALE NOW!\n\n \n\nHalestorm, the GRAMMY-winning band initially formed by siblings Lzzy and Arejay Hale with guitarist Joe Hottinger and bassist Josh Smith, have announced Everest, their sixth studio album out August 8 on Atlantic Records.  Today the band also announced “nEVEREST,” a US tour this fall with Lindsey Stirling and Apocalyptica.  Tickets go on sale this Friday, May 2 at 10 AM local time at LiveNation.com or at the Transystems Box Office.\n\n \n\nThe newly announced nEVEREST tour follows an epic run first supporting Iron Maiden in Europe and dates with Volbeat in the US with a one night-only-performance at Black Sabbath’s final show in Birmingham, England.  See below for a full list of upcoming dates.\n","media_file_type":"img","media_file_placeholder":null,"media_file_name":"https:\/\/www.aleruscenter.com\/assets\/img\/Website-Banner-6d3ece0471.png","media_link":"https:\/\/www.aleruscenter.com\/events\/detail\/halestorm","ticket_link":"Buy Tickets<\/a>","event_date":"Oct<\/span> 2<\/span>, 2025<\/span>","promos":"home","event_time":"6:30pm","media_thumb":"https:\/\/www.aleruscenter.com\/assets\/img\/Website-Tile-907c7f8dbb.png","venue_id":"1","venue_title":"Alerus Center","venue_uri":"venue-main-name","category":{"name":"Other","id":"0"}},{"media_title":"Throne MMA","media_tagline":"","event_body":"Throne MMA returns to the Alerus Center for an intense night of fights featuring slick submissions, and jaw-dropping knockouts!\n\nDoors will open at 6:00pm. Fights start at 7:00pm.\n\nTickets available now!\n\n-----------\n\nThis event was originally scheduled for May 3. All previously purchased tickets for the May 3 fights will be honored for the new date (October 10). If you are unable to attend, refunds are available at your original point of purchase.\n\nIf there are any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the Transystems Box Office at (701) 792-1417 during business hours (10am-5pm Monday through Friday).\n","media_file_type":"img","media_file_placeholder":null,"media_file_name":"https:\/\/www.aleruscenter.com\/assets\/img\/Website-Cover-Image-10df1c01b0.png","media_link":"https:\/\/www.aleruscenter.com\/events\/detail\/throne2025","ticket_link":"Buy Tickets<\/a>","event_date":"Oct<\/span> 10<\/span>, 2025<\/span>","promos":"home","event_time":"7:00pm","media_thumb":"https:\/\/www.aleruscenter.com\/assets\/img\/Website-Thumbnail-1287e1c02d.png","venue_id":"1","venue_title":"Alerus Center","venue_uri":"venue-main-name","category":{"name":"Other","id":"0"}},{"media_title":"Gabriel Iglesias: The 1976 Tour","media_tagline":"","event_body":"Presale is available now! Use code COMEDY for early access!\n\nVenue pre-sale begins Wed, June 4 at 12:00pm.\nGeneral on sale begins Fri, June 6 at 12:00pm.\n\nGabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias is one of the world’s most successful stand-up comedians and one of the highest grossing touring comedians of all time. He is one of the most\nwatched comedians on YouTube with over 2 billion views and over 34.6 million fans\nacross social media. He was the 3 rd highest grossing comedian of 2024 according to Billboard. Iglesias has been included in The Hollywood Reporter’s “Top 40 Comedy Players” issue alongside comedy giants Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock and Lorne Michaels and was also honored with the cover of Variety’s comedy issue. The comedian has had the distinct honor of being one of the few to headline and sell-out Madison Square Garden in New York, Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and The Sydney Opera House in Australia. On TV, Iglesias is the star and executive producer of the Netflix original comedy series, Mr. Iglesias, which is currently streaming 3 seasons. Iglesias plays a good-natured public high school teacher who works at his alma mater. He takes on teaching gifted but misfit kids to not only save them from being “counseled out” by a bully bureaucrat Assistant Principal, but also to help them unlock their full potential. The show won best Primetime Comedy at The Imagen Awards, which recognizes positive portrayals of Latino actors\/actresses in the entertainment industry. In addition to his comedy series, Iglesias has released four stand-up comedy specials with Netflix. The first in 2016 with I’m Sorry For What I Said When I Was Hungry, which was filmed at the sold-out Allstate Arena in Chicago to 20,000 fans. The second, One Show Fits All, was filmed in front of a sold-out audience at the Toyota Center in Houston and debuted in January 2019. The third, Stadium Fluffy premiered in October 2022 and was taped in front of a crowd of 55,000 fans at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, where Iglesias made history as the first comedian to perform at and sellout the largest MLB stadium in the US. \nIn April of 2024, Iglesias reupped with Netflix for a new two-special deal. The first of the new specials, Gabriel Iglesias: Legend of Fluffy, taped at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Florida this summer and premiered worldwide January 7 th , 2025, earning a top ten spot on Netflix’s global most watched list. On March 11th , 2025, Iglesias cemented his place in Hollywood as he received his very own handprint ceremony at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre where he was recognized for his impressive achievements in his career. He joins a small group of artists and talent to receive this honor. Last December, Iglesias co-starred Tim Allen in the second season of Disney+’s The Santa Clauses. Most recently he can be seen on NBC’s Lopez Vs. Lopez opposite George Lopez which premiered on NBC\/Peacock.\n\nFeature film credits include co-starring roles in Magic Mike, Magic Mike XXL and A Haunted House 2. Gabriel’s voice has been heard in many animated films including the recent Space Jam: A New Legacy as “Speedy Gonzales” streaming on MAX. In 2017, Iglesias voiced the role of “Head Clerk” in Pixar’s Academy Award nominated animated film Coco. He also voiced “Babo” in Ugly Dolls, “Rufus the Dog” in Sony’s Golden Globe nominated animated holiday film The Star and “Cuatro” in Fox 20th Century Film’s Academy Award nominated animated film Ferdinand. Gabriel is one of a handful of comedians with a theatrically released stand-up concert comedy film, TheFluffy Movie.\n\nOn the small screen, Fluffy’s Food Adventures, a non-scripted comedic docu-follow\nseries completed a 3-season run on FUSE TV in 2017. Gabriel was a recurring guest star on the ABC sitcom Cristela, and also guest-starred in an episode of ABC’s hit comedy Modern Family. Comedy Central aired Iglesias’ hit series Stand-Up Revolution for 3 seasons. Comedy Central also aired Gabriel Iglesias: Aloha Fluffy in an unprecedented two-night comedy special to over 15 million viewers. The special was a follow-up to his previous DVD specials, Hot &amp; Fluffy and I’m Not Fat...I’m Fluffy, which have sold millions of copies. \nGabriel Iglesias is the youngest of six children, raised by a single mother in Long Beach, CA. It was during his childhood that he developed a strong sense of humor to deal with the obstacles he faced. In 1997, he set out to hone his comedic skills, and performed stand-up anywhere he could find an audience; including biker bars and hole-in-the-wall joints. Gabriel’s stand-up comedy is a mixture of storytelling, parodies, characters and sound effects that bring his personal experiences to life. His unique and animated comedy style has made him popular among fans of all ages. Iglesias is repped by CAA, Arsonhouse Entertainment and Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum.\n","media_file_type":"img","media_file_placeholder":null,"media_file_name":"https:\/\/www.aleruscenter.com\/assets\/img\/Website-Banner-ICON-3e8d8f1b5c.png","media_link":"https:\/\/www.aleruscenter.com\/events\/detail\/fluffy","ticket_link":"Buy Tickets<\/a>","event_date":"Oct<\/span> 23<\/span>, 2025<\/span>","promos":"home","event_time":"8:00pm","media_thumb":"https:\/\/www.aleruscenter.com\/assets\/img\/Socials-with-ICON-6d32ae0d93.png","venue_id":"1","venue_title":"Alerus Center","venue_uri":"venue-main-name","category":{"name":"Other","id":"0"}},{"media_title":"MercyMe Live 2025","media_tagline":"","event_body":"Giving fans more of the phenomenal in-person experience 10x-Platinum band MercyMe is known for, “MERCYME LIVE 2025” is slated to continue this fall with nine-time GRAMMY® nominee Natalie Grant and newcomer Sam Wesley.\n\nThe pre-sale for this fall’s “MERCYME LIVE 2025” begins next Tuesday, May 6 at 10 a.m. local time, while the public on-sale starts Friday, May 9 at 10 a.m. local time. Ticket options and more information are available at mercyme.org and the Transystems Box Office at Alerus Center. MercyMe will take the stage at Alerus Center on Thursday, October 30.\n\nABOUT MERCYME:\n\nIt continues to be a landmark time for the multi-platinum selling, GRAMMY® nominated, multiple American Music Award, Billboard Music Award and Dove Award winners MercyMe. They were named Billboard’s Top Christian Artist of the 2010 decade, and in 2020 received their eighth American Music Award nomination. A major motion picture based on the life of frontman Bart Millard who wrote the mega-hit song “I Can Only Imagine” after the loss of his father, opened at a remarkable No. 3 at the box office on Mar. 16, 2018 (Lionsgate, Roadside Attractions). In conjunction with the movie release, Millard penned a memoir and the band released a collection of hits titled I Can Only Imagine – The Very Best Of MercyMe. In 2018 MercyMe was named Top Christian Artist at the Billboard Music Awards, was the top winner at the fan-fueled K-LOVE Fan Awards including a win for Artist of the Year, and was the GMA Dove Award Winner for Artist Of The Year. Since their debut in 2001, the band has sold more than 9 million units in CD, single and DVD sales, garnered more than 49 No. 1 multi-format radio singles, and had four consecutive mainstream radio hits. MercyMe made history in 2014 as “I Can Only Imagine” surpassed 2 million digital downloads, making it the first song in Christian music to go platinum and double-platinum in the digital domain. The song has now gone 5x platinum. In 2009, Billboard named MercyMe’s “Word Of God Speak” the No. 1 Song of the Decade and the group the No. 1 Artist of the Decade in both the Christian Songs and Christian AC Songs categories, recognizing them as one of the industry’s most notable talents. They have sold out venues throughout the US and Canada, including Radio City Music Hall, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and have appeared on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Good Morning America, GMA3, The Today Show, CBS This Morning, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News and in the pages of Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, USA Today and more. Their eleventh album, ALWAYS ONLY JESUS, is available now.\n\n \n","media_file_type":"img","media_file_placeholder":null,"media_file_name":"https:\/\/www.aleruscenter.com\/assets\/img\/Website-MercyMe-UPDATED-66eca49d8c.png","media_link":"https:\/\/www.aleruscenter.com\/events\/detail\/mercyme","ticket_link":"Buy Tickets<\/a>","event_date":"Oct<\/span> 30<\/span>, 2025<\/span>","promos":"home","event_time":"7:00pm","media_thumb":"https:\/\/www.aleruscenter.com\/assets\/img\/MM-Website-and-Email-a96f9efbf3.png","venue_id":"1","venue_title":"Alerus Center","venue_uri":"venue-main-name","category":{"name":"Other","id":"0"}},{"media_title":"Styx with special guest Loverboy","media_tagline":"Presented by Pepper Entertainment","event_body":"Rock legends Styx and Loverboy are teaming up for a must-see tour, promising fans an unforgettable evening of classic hits and electrifying performances. They will be making a stop at the Alerus Center on Tuesday, November 11. Tickets start at $49.50 plus applicable fees and go on sale Friday, April 4, at 10 a.m.\n\nAbout Styx\n\nThe seven men comprising Styx--James “JY” Young (lead vocals, guitars), Tommy Shaw (lead vocals, guitars), Chuck Panozzo (bass, vocals), Todd Sucherman (drums, percussion), Lawrence Gowan (lead vocals, keyboards), CRASH OF THE CROWN producer and co-writer Will Evankovich (guitars), Terry Gowan (bass, vocals)--have committed to rocking the Paradise together with audiences far and wide by entering their second decade of averaging 100 shows a year, and each one of them is committed to making the next show better than the last. Styx draws from over five decades of barn-burning chart hits, joyous singalongs, and hard-driving deep cuts. Like a symphony that builds to a satisfying crescendo, a Styx set covers a wide range of stylistic cornerstones. From the progressively sweeping splendor that is “The Grand Illusion” to the hunker-down fortitude of all that is the “Blue Collar Man,” from the regal reach-for-the-stars bravado of “Come Sail Away” to the grainy all-in gallop of that rugged “Renegade” who had it made, the band draws on an unlimited cache of ways to immerse one’s mind and body in their signature sound.\n\nAfter more than two decades together on the road, this incarnation of Styx is looking forward to performing as many shows as it can as long as it can. “Music is this amazing force that comes from a higher place. I'm humbled for this band to have the great success that it has,” says co-founding guitarist\/vocalist James “JY” Young. “The legacy of this band will be that it brought joy to millions of people,” notes drummer Todd Sucherman. Observes keyboardist\/vocalist Lawrence Gowan, “We’ve always tried to explain why this is this happening. It’s obviously a multitude of factors, but the main one is that our show is really good! And if it’s really good, they’re going to come to see it again.” Styx hopes it’s a wave that never crests. “Every night, we go on that magic carpet ride together,” observes original bassist Chuck Panozzo, who joins the band on tour as often as he can. “We just want to keep on doing this,” asserts Tommy. “We want to let life take its course and let this music continue to be the soundtrack to it. And this band will continue to evolve as long as we live and play this music.”\n\nAbout Loverboy\n\nFor more than 40 years, LOVERBOY has been “Working for the Weekend” (and on weekends), delighting audiences around the world since forming in 1978, when vocalist Mike Reno was introduced to guitar hot shot Paul Dean – both veterans of several bands on the Canadian scene – at Calgary’s Refinery Night Club. Along with Reno and Dean, LOVERBOY still includes original members Doug Johnson on keyboards and Matt Frenette on drums, with Ken “Spider” Sinnaeve (a former member of Dean and Frenette’s pre-LOVERBOY band Streetheart), replacing the late Scott Smith on bass, and continues a healthy touring schedule around the world. \n\nAbout Pepper Entertainment\n\nEstablished in July of 2006, Pepper (PE) is based in Sioux Falls, SD. As one of the fastest scaling, independent promotions company in the Midwest, PE, collectively, exceeds 25 years of experience spanning a broad scope of industry specialties, such as; Live Promotions, Corporate & Private Event Talent Buying, Club & Performing Art Center Programming & Media & Marketing Services. Pepper currently ranks 27th of the Top 100 Worldwide Promoters according to Pollstar Magazine and was nominated for ACM Promoter of the Year in 2020 and CMA Talent Buyer\/Promoter of the Year in 2002.  Pepper holds offices in Sioux Falls, SD, Minneapolis, MN and Boise, ID.\n","media_file_type":"img","media_file_placeholder":null,"media_file_name":"https:\/\/www.aleruscenter.com\/assets\/img\/Styx-GrandForks-111125-1220px560-bab73848da.jpg","media_link":"https:\/\/www.aleruscenter.com\/events\/detail\/styx","ticket_link":"Buy Tickets<\/a>","event_date":"Nov<\/span> 11<\/span>, 2025<\/span>","promos":"home","event_time":"7:30pm","media_thumb":"https:\/\/www.aleruscenter.com\/assets\/img\/Styx-GrandForks-111125-740px710-6c5a3c0cfb.jpg","venue_id":"1","venue_title":"Alerus Center","venue_uri":"venue-main-name","category":{"name":"Other","id":"0"}}]}