Vertical Horizon, an American Alternative soft rock band, will light up the nighttime stage at TroyFest 2013.

The TroyFest Arts and Craft Festival Committee announced Wednesday that Vertical Horizon had been selected as the featured band for the Songwriters Concert that will be held at 8 p.m. on April 27.

“While the TroyFest Arts and Craft Festival has a long history of providing great entertainment, Vertical Horizon will be the first concert of this magnitude to play in downtown Troy,” said Rob Drinkard, TroyFest committee chair. “The winners of the TroyFest Songwriters Competition will open for the main stage band.”

Vertical Horizon was formed at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. in 1991 and has had several top hits including “Everything You Want,” “Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning)” and “Forever.”

“The band’s latest album, ‘Burning the Days’ is a true testament to their commitment to making brilliant music with songs such as ‘Save Me from Myself’ and ‘Welcome to the Bottom,’” Drinkard said. “Vertical Horizon promises that their concert is nothing short of a riveting experience.”

The Vertical Horizon performance will close out the TroyFest Songwriters Competition on April 27 at The Studio in downtown Troy.

Songwriters Competition entries will be accepted in three categories, contemporary/pop, country/bluegrass and inspiration. Participants may submit up to three songs in each category with an entry fee of $25 per song. Entries must be postmarked by April 12. Applications are available at www.troyfest.com/songwritersfestival.

“We invite everyone to enter the Songwriters Competition or visit The Studio to watch the songwriters perform and attend the concert on Saturday night, April 27,” Drinkard said.

The Songwriters Concert is free and open to the public. It will be held between Academy and East Walnut streets next to the Johnson Center for the Arts.