By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

The president of a Pelham company organizing an upcoming concert at the Pelham Civic Complex to benefit local youth sports leagues said the performance “will sell out,” and said tickets to the event are going quickly.

The Pelham-based Event Operations Group recently worked to organize a concert at the Pelham Civic Complex featuring hip-hop artists Iyaz and MANN. The concert will be held May 4 at 7:30 p.m., and all proceeds from the event will benefit local youth athletic associations.

Event Operations Group President and Chief Executive Officer Mike Jones said the concert has generated much excitement throughout Shelby County.

The show will feature seats in the bleachers of the Civic Complex’s main arena, on the drained ice rink in front of the stage and a 1,500-seat “parent oasis” section near the stage, Jones said. Event organizers will also set up a pair of dance floors in front of the stage.

The concert will begin with a DJ pre-show before the main performance, and JAMM Entertainment Services will hold an after-concert party in the Civic Complex’s banquet room. The 95.7 Jamz radio station will broadcast live from the concert.

“We really wanted to create a party atmosphere during the whole event,” Jones said. “We are using the whole Civic Complex for this event.”

Jones said Iyaz currently is taking a break from touring to film a movie, but agreed to hold the special performance in Pelham after the Event Operations Group contacted him.

“We were really fortunate to be able to get him,” Jones said, noting Iyaz and MANN will offer “clean but fun” performances.

Tickets are available at several local schools and on Pelhamciviccomplex.com. Jones said Iyaz will make a pre-concert appearance at the school with the highest number of ticket sales.

The concert will be sponsored by the city of Pelham, the city of Helena, Cox Media Group, Event Operations Group, 95.7 Jamz and Ticketbiscuit, which has helped Civic Complex officials to organize ticket sales for the event.