It isn’t often a Top 40 artist calls the University Activities Commission and requests to play a concert, but it’s just what Ingrid Michaelson did in the middle of August.

A month later, people lined up before sunrise to buy tickets for her Nov. 17 show at UW-Eau Claire.

Alyssa Sass, a senior chemistry major, is a dedicated fan of Michaelson’s indie-pop music. She waited outside the ticket window at 5:45 a.m. to secure herself a seat.

“It was so worth it,” Sass said.

The UAC concert committee is excited about having a big name like Michaelson in Zorn Arena, the committee’s co-chair Carrie Biesinger said.

“We were actually contacted through Ingrid Michaelson,” Biesinger said. “She’s apparently a really big fan of Bon Iver and wants to play at Eau Claire.”

Michaelson got her start when she recorded her second album, Girls and Boys, and streamed it on Myspace in 2006. A “Grey’s Anatomy” music producer found her music, and soon the song “The Way I Am” hit 37 on the Billboard Hot 100. Since then, Michaelson has released four more albums under her Cabin 24 Records label.

She is known for her up-beat hits “Be OK,” “The Way I Am” and “You and I.”

Sophomore Rebekah Anderson, an art education major, and a big fan of Michaelson’s engaging music.

“She really has her own sound.” Anderson said. “Her songs are fun and whimsical.”

The Staten Island singer/songwriter released her latest album, Lights Out, in April.

Her last two albums come with slightly darker tones than her earlier, brighter works. The hit “Girls Chase Boys” sat at number 26 on Ryan Seacrest’s Top 40 on Monday, just under Coldplay’s “A Sky Full of Stars.”

According to the UAC website, the concert will be a “stripped down” version of the album. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show on Nov. 17 are still on sale at the service desk for $15 for students and $25 for the general public.