Featured Image: Students cheer at the Hunter Hayes concert in the Elam Center on Aug. 22, 2026. (Photo Credit / Preston Pooler / University Relations)

On Saturday, Aug. 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the Elam Center, the University of Tennessee at Martin’s Flight Crew and First Year Experience hosted the university’s very first Welcome Weekend Concert.

The show’s opening act featured UT Martin’s own Houston Kelly before switching over to the headline act of five-time Grammy nominee Hunter Hayes.

The Welcome Weekend Concert marked the midway point for UT Martin’s titular event meant to introduce freshmen to the campus and welcome back returning Skyhawks. After the madness of Move-In Mania and the hype of the Housing Block Party, the Welcome Weekend Concert was another enjoyable addition to the already stacked schedule of events. 

As the doors to the Elam Center opened at 6:30 p.m., people began to flood into one of the most iconic buildings on campus as Houston Kelly and his band played their hearts out for the crowd. They played songs such as “He’s Still There,” “I Didn’t Know” and a cover of “Should’ve Been A Cowboy.” Kelly’s crowd interactions kept them hyped up throughout the entire opener and set the mood for the headlining act. The band gave all in attendance the passion and soul that put Kelly in the spotlight on the most recent season of NBC’s The Voice.

Assistant Director of First Year Experience Benjamin Ort said that Kelly’s involvement as the opening act is reflective of the university’s goal of caring about students.

“We talk a lot about, at UT Martin, that we’re the campus that cares. We’re the campus that gives students unique opportunities,” said Ort. “And to me, I just feel that’s in line with our mission, is giving him a unique opportunity like this to perform for his fellow Skyhawks.” 

After the band’s final ballad, Kelly’s own “Sweet Tea,” the Skyhawk thanked the audience for their time before the lights turned out and they left the stage.

After a brief intermission, a build-up of music began as the crowd chanted one name: Hunter. Hunter Hayes and his band were then lit up by spotlights as Hayes sang the first song, “Evergreen,” from his most recent album of the same name. The crowd erupted in screams and applause as he serenaded them with songs like “Too Late” and “Wait”.

Hayes was transparent with the audience, letting them know that this was his band’s last show together for a “hot minute” so they were going to give the show their all. Occasionally, Hayes would also take time before a song began to explain the story behind it to the audience. The shared energy between Hayes and the crowd created a positive feedback loop that kept both parties in good spirits for the entire concert. To close, Hayes performed his most popular song, “Wanted,” and thanked the crowd for their love and support throughout the set.  

The performances and attitudes of both Kelly and Hayes resonated well with the audience, inspiring them to return that energy tenfold. It made for the exact welcoming and fun atmosphere that the concert was intended for. The first Welcome Weekend Concert provides a great introduction for what is sure to be an amazing semester. 

“To me, it just feels like home, and that’s what I want the concert to feel like,” said Ort when describing the vibe of the Welcome Weekend Concert. “It’s welcoming back our upperclassmen because they get to come out to it as well. But also it’s a kickoff for an experience for our new Skyhawks to see that big things can happen at this university, even though it’s a smaller university.”