Indie rock band Ted Leo and the Pharmacists will be joining rapper Common at Dillo Day 2008, Diana Richter, Mayfest’s director of concerts, confirmed Thursday.

“It’s really accessible music,” the Weinberg junior said. “Once you listen to it, it’s hard not to like.”

Mayfest is working with College Democrats to pay for the show, with the College Democrats funding the majority of its cost. Mayfest approached College Democrats in early March after hearing that the group wanted to bring Ted Leo to campus. The two groups then made an offer to the band, which was officially finalized Wednesday.

“He’s still an independent artist, which means that he’s affordable,” Richter said. “But he’s still incredibly popular on campus. Every one of his shows I’ve been to has been filled with NU students.”

The concert will be the first event of its type for College Democrats, said Weinberg junior Lily Becker, the group’s president.

“We’re excited to reach out to a broader base of students who may not traditionally go to a political event,” she said. “This is also great for us because the band takes a stand on progressive issues.”

Mayfest wanted to bring Leo because he was articulate, talented and politically outspoken, Richter said.

“We’ve been thinking about Ted Leo for about five years, but it’s never worked out until now,” she said. “(College Democrats) have helped us get a fantastic act, so we’re really happy we’re working with them.”

Though Mayfest has not yet announced the other three acts they expect to perform at Dillo Day, they will try to appeal to many different music tastes, Richter said.

“We’ve got hip-hop covered, but we want it all,” she said. “It’s not so much genre as covering the entire student body, because obviously it’s not one cohesive unit.”