The large semesterly concert sponsored by Student Events will be a two-day affair in the Levin Ballroom featuring five bands, marking a significant departure from the event's usual format.The Canadian indie-rock bands Broken Social Scene and Do Make Say Think will perform Oct. 16, and the Celtic-influenced punk rock band Flogging Molly will headline the next night, joined by Bedouin Soundclash and Zox.

Last fall and spring, performers Talib Kweli and O.A.R. performed in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center, respectively. The gymnasium can hold about 2,000 people, but officials said they were unable to match acts thefound satisfactory with potential concert dates provided to them by the Department of Athletics.

Melanie Felman '07, the group's assistant director for concerts, said that Student Events concerts must take place before the start of basketball season, and that among larger acts available before that date, Oct. 15, Student Events could not find "anything fantastic that meshed with our dates."

Because of this, Felman said, Students Events looked at performers more appropriate to the Levin Ballroom, which holds about 900 people.

"[A two-day concert] is something we've been batting around for a couple semesters," Felman said. "I think anybody who goes to the show and gives [the bands] the opportunity is going to be blown away."

Student Events will spend about $40,000 on the five acts, about the same amount spent last spring for Talib Kwali and Blackalicious, the alterative rap duo who opened that show, Felman said.

Felman said that acts are chosen each semester using several criteria: the availability of campus venues, artists' touring schedules and the approval of the Department of Public Safety and Waltham officials. She said Student Events also conducts surveys throughout the year, and that it looked at the responses of about 800 students when picking bands this summer.

She said that Flogging Molly has "a huge college following."

"I am so excited to bring them because they're one of the most requested bands on surveys we put out," Felman said.

She also said many respondents wanted "something with an indie flavor."

Felman said it is very difficult for Student Events to attract mainstream talent. "We're not going to be able to bring the Red Hot Chili Peppers here, ever," she said. "We believe it's way better to bring outstanding performers that want to be at college shows that kids actually want to see."

Broken Social Scene, whose membership sometimes exceeds 10 musicians, released its sophomore album, You Forgot It in People, in 2002, and has been among the most popular and critically acclaimed indie-rock bands since. The Toronto band combines a smart, orchestral and often dissonant sound with more conventional indie-pop melodies.

Flogging Molly combines traditional Irish music with a poppy brand of punk rock, recalling bands like The Pogues and the Dropkick Murphys.

Felman said the bands' contracts have not yet been finalized.