Students will get a chance to climb aboard the peace train as the genre-transcending South African band Sharon Katz and the Peace Train visits NIU.

The six-member band will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Holmes Student Center’s Carl Sandburg Auditorium.

Mary Tosch, assistant director of University Programming and Activities, said Sharon Katz and the Peace Train’s music is a blend of traditional South African music with a variety of genres including jazz, folk, rock and world fusion.

Jennifer Suerth, president of Campus Activities Board, said she was excited by the opportunity to provide music that is educational as well as entertaining.

“It’s something we haven’t done in a while,” she said. “It just seems like a really cool idea. There’s kind of a unifying peace message behind it, which is really what we need right now. With Sharon in particular, it was a real nice find. There’s a lot of educational background behind her music and that’s something we strive for.”

Tosch said several things about the band made them attractive to CAB.

“It was the music, the cultural aspects, world issues and affordability,” she said. “Sharon Katz and the Peace Train also will be doing a master class for some students in the music department, which was included in their price. All of these factors contributed to the committee selecting this act. Sharon Katz and the Peace Train has similar music to Ladysmith Black Mambazo, which has performed at NIU before with a great response. The committee is looking forward to a great performance.”

Tickets are available at the Holmes Student Center Box Office. Prices are $5 for NIU students and $13 for faculty and staff.