Although Eric Hutchinson did not attend this university, his parents did, and he grew up in Takoma Park.

Eric Hutchinson has all the makings of a hometown Terp: He’s from Takoma Park. He went to Montgomery Blair High School. Both his parents attended this university.

But his show tonight at Ritchie Coliseum as Student Entertainment Events’ Winter Concert headliner will be his first at this university.

“It’s fun to be coming back home and getting to play songs for the Terps,” he said.

The singer-songwriter — who attended Emerson College in Boston — is known for his sunny, poppy sounds, including his song “Rock and Roll.” He released his fourth album in April.

Hutchinson was ranked highly in results from a SEE student survey dating back to November, according to SEE concerts director Kiera Zitelman. His fee also fell within SEE’s price range, and he was available in late February, making him a good fit for the show.

The winter concert is taking the place of the usual fall concert at the end of first semester, Zitelman wrote in an email Tuesday afternoon. This year, schedules of potential artists for the fall concert fell through, according to a statement Zitelman wrote on SEE’s blog, so she decided to delay the concert for a semester.

Previous artists who have performed fall concerts include Matisyahu in 2010 and Ra Ra Riot in 2011. Zitelman said pushing the concert back has allowed her to pick the best musician for the campus. About 500 seats have been sold for this concert, she added.

Hutchinson’s family loved music. He remembers his mom drilling him, asking which Beatle sang which song. In what was a natural progression, Hutchinson found an old guitar and taught himself to play.

He said music is his way of processing life, and he likes to explore different layers beyond the cliches within popular songs.

“Most love songs are always about, ‘I love you,’ or, ‘I hate you,’” he said. “It’s very black or white, and to me, I like to find that gray area.”

Freshman government and politics major Maxine Rich has a ticket for Hutchinson’s concert. She enjoys his music, and she said she thinks it’s always best to get the most well-known artists possible for shows.

“Artists aren’t bending over backwards to come to our university,” she said.

Opening for Hutchinson is Dale and the ZDubs, a local band Zitelman said approached her in the fall for a campus concert. Two members of the band, Eric Abrams and Justin Masters, are 2011 alumni.

Hutchinson said he loves college shows because they mix fans with new listeners, creating a great atmosphere.

“It’s about having fun, getting every person in there to forget about everything else in their life and just enjoy some music for a while,” he said.

Eric Hutchinson headlines SEE’s Winter Concert featuring Dale and the ZDubs at 8 p.m. at Ritchie Coliseum; doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the Stamp Student Union ticket office, the Ritchie Coliseum Will Call window and umdtickets.com, all until 8 p.m.