Contact: Sasha Steinberg

STARKVILLE, Miss.— Multi-platinum dance-rock group DNCE will headline the Mississippi State University Student Association’s 18th annual Bulldog Bash.

Taking place Sept. 15—the day prior to MSU’s Southeastern Conference home football game against Louisiana State University—the state’s largest, free outdoor concert will be held at the intersection of Jackson and Main streets in downtown Starkville.

Local musicians will perform throughout the afternoon. A Maroon Market also will take place from 2-6 p.m. Interested local artists and food vendors may email bulldogbash@sa.msstate.edu for more information and to reserve a booth.

The winner of the Student Association’s Battle of the Bands concert competition will perform at 7 p.m. on the Clark Beverage main stage.

Formed by frontman Joe Jonas in summer 2015, DNCE rose to worldwide stardom with the release of the single, “Cake By The Ocean.” Included on the group’s 2016 self-titled debut album, the three-time certified platinum-selling breakout smash became one of the most played songs of the year. The band took home the win for “Best PUSH Artist” at the 2016 MTV European Music Awards and “Best New Artist” at last year’s MTV Video Music Awards. For more, visit www.dnce.com.

Proceeds from Bulldog Bash 2017 will benefit the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District’s Emerson Family Resource Center.

Sponsors for this year’s event include 5-Hour Energy, Aramark Corp., City of Starkville, Clark Beverage Group Inc., Copy Cow, HELiX Starkville, Insomnia Cookies, Lakeside Student Living, The Links at Starkville, MSU Alumni Association and MSU Office of the President, and Rick’s Café Americain.

For more information about Bulldog Bash 2017 including sponsorship opportunities, see www.msubulldogbash.com or contact the Center for Student Activities at 662-325-2930 or visit its office in Colvard Student Union, Suite 314. Follow on Twitter @MSUBulldogBash.

The MSU Student Association is online at www.sa.msstate.edu, Facebook @MSUStudentAssociation, and Twitter and Instagram @MSU_SA.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.