2023 Tour

Saturday, September 2, 2023

Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Utah State Aggies

Van Hayden rolled into Iowa City bringing their high energy performance to tailgates all around Kinnick Stadium on September 2, 2023. This was the most anticipated tailgate event for the Iowa Hawkeyes football season and it did not disappoint. Hawkeye fans rocked out alongside the band as they played their unique twists on Van Halen classics such as Jump! (Punt!) and Panama (Iowa). The Vanbulance was rockin' and rollin' down Melrose Avenue to the cheers and adoration of Hawkeye fans.

The following were tour stops around Iowa City before the kickoff of the Utah State versus Iowa Hawkeyes football game.

Saturday, September 30, 2023

Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Michigan State Spartans

Van Hayden performed at the 100th year of tailgating for the Raecker family. We were honored to be a part of their unique and timeless Iowa Hawkeye history. Learn more about the Raecker tailgate from the amazing story covered by local news.

KCCI News Channel 8 out of Des Moines. 100 years and counting: Iowa family has century-old tradition of going to Hawkeyes football games

KWWL News Channel 7 out of Waterloo. For Hawkeye fans, the traditions and rituals connect generations through decades and centuries

We were also thrilled to pull the Vanbulance right next to Kinnick Stadium for NBC Sports to film us as we rocked out to our favorite Van Halen tunes. To top it all off, the Hawks won the game later that evening. We've said it a million times, it's great to be a Hawkeye!!

Friday, October 6, 2023

Iowa Homecoming Parade

Van Hayden performed in The University of Iowa homecoming parade. The parade kicked off at 5:45 PM in downtown Iowa City. You can watch the full parade here or else see our recap video below. Thanks to Derek (our driver), Chris, Kristy, Ren, Grace, and Dee Dee for helping to hand out stickers, rookie cards, and get the parade crowd all wound up for some great Van Halen music!!

Van Hayden's Homecoming 2023 Recap

After the parade, we sped quickly (and safely) over to perform at the College of Engineering post-parade party. It was great making homecoming memories with fellow alumni of the College of Engineering at Iowa. Thanks, Brian Morelli, for making it happen!!

Saturday, October 7, 2023

Homecoming
Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Purdue Boilermakers

Wow, we met Herkey and Hawkeye Elvis all on the same day!! We took some fun videos and tons of photos to capture our Homecoming memories for years to come. Thank you Hawkeye fans for yet another great day of tailgating!! Plus, it was a Hawkeye win, so that kept the celebrations going well into the evening.

Van Hayden's Performance of Suspicious Minds with Hawkeye Elvis

Saturday, October 21, 2023

Minnesota vs. Iowa Hawkeyes Football Game

We love you Iowa City! Last tour of the season started bumpy & ended amazing, all because of you! Thank you for your support, hospitality & Hawkeye spirit!

Here were the scheduled stops where we performed before the Iowa vs. Minnesota football game on Saturday, October 21st.

• 8:30am - Triangle Court Oh dear, we missed this stop due to technical difficulties.
• 9:30am - Rugby Fields Oh dear, we missed this stop due to technical difficulties.
• Noon - The Wedge with Hawkeye Elvis
• 1:00pm - 331 Melrose Court

Another amazing day for tailgating! However, we were unable to keep that Pig!! Floyd of Rosedale is a trophy and tradition that the Van Hayden Band has watched for many years and we were sad that our music and tailgating fun did not help the Hawks keep the pork in Iowa City for yet another year.

We also had some difficulties with the Vanbulance battery at the break of day, so all of our exciting plans to warm up as many Hawkeye fans before the game didn't quite pan out the way we expected. All that said, NBC Sports stopped by one of our tailgates and filmed the band along with many of our loud, amazing fans. Check out the video and listen to the broadcasters talking about our sweet "Punt!" lyrics!