Tonight in Smith Union, indie rock singer Sophia Allison, better known by her stage name “Soccer Mommy,” will headline for this year’s spring concert.

Originally from Nashville, Tenn., Soccer Mommy began recording music in 2015 before attending New York University (NYU). As a college student, she began performing live in New York City before returning to Nashville, where she released her first studio album, “Clean,” in 2018.

Since her debut, Soccer Mommy has toured with Phoebe Bridgers, Mitski and Paramore. She released her second album, “color theory,” in 2020 and her third, “Sometimes, Forever,” last year.

Soccer Mommy boasts a pop-inspired indie rock sound, which she said was influenced by artists like Avril Lavigne and Taylor Swift in a 2018 Uproxx interview.

Bowdoin Student Government (BSG) took control of the spring concert from the Entertainment Board (E-Board) earlier this semester, and BSG President Susu Gharib ’23 said that she is pleased with BSG’s management of the artist selection process.

Gharib said that BSG received a $75,000 budget from Student Activities for the spring concert, a decrease from the budgets of previous spring concerts. The budget includes $40,000 in artist fees and a production budget of $35,000.

For future spring concerts, whether planned by BSG or the E-Board, Gharib hopes that the artist selection process will begin earlier to give time for a survey of the student body’s preferences for the concert.

While Soccer Mommy’s selection occurred behind closed doors, student band Lily in the Weeds emerged as the winner of last week’s faculty-judged Battle of the Bands held at Jack Magee’s Pub, earning the honor of opening the spring concert along with Zaffre, the runner-up band.

“Battle of the Bands was super fun,” Lily in the Weeds guitarist Margaret Broaddus ’25 said. “Turnout was great.”

Lily in the Weeds flutist Benny Adler ’25 said that opening for the spring concert reflects the band’s growth since its inception.

“Most of us met in a jazz combo our first-year fall,” Adler said. “It’s really interesting to see that as we do more and more shows and continue to have a really good time, we also at the same time get more serious.”

Adler said that Lily in the Weeds’ sound may not resemble Soccer Mommy’s music, but that the band will bring energy to Smith Union before she takes the stage.

“The coolest part about our band is we love to get the crowd hyped,” Adler said. “We love to have a great time on stage.”

Student bands are an important part of Bowdoin’s musical and social culture, Adler said, adding that having student bands open for concert headliners reinforces their significance in campus life.

Bowdoin students are preparing to enjoy a third major concert this year as live music returns as a centerpiece of campus life.

“I think [Soccer Mommy] is a cool, different kind of concert,” said Ben Sachs ’26. “It’s more indie.”

Gharib said that she received positive emails and comments from the student body in reaction to Soccer Mommy’s selection.

Gianna Randazzo ’26 said she would have preferred a more mainstream headline act. Randazzo said she would have chosen a throwback artist like Flo Rida rather than Soccer Mommy’s more modern sound.

The event will be held in Smith Union in contrast to February’s winter concert, which took place in Morrell Gymnasium. Gharib said that Morrell Gym was too large a venue and that Smith Union will create a more vibrant atmosphere, adding that the bar in Jack Magee’s Pub may open for the concert.

The spring concert will begin at 9 p.m. tonight in Smith Union and is scheduled to end at midnight. Zaffre will perform first, followed by Lily in the Weeds and Soccer Mommy. The concert is free and open to all Bowdoin students.