Dawson-Boyd Arts Association is presenting comedian Mike Brody on Saturday, Feb. 4, at 7:00pm at Hilltop Bar, Grill & Event Center with a meal option beginning at 6:15pm.

It’s going to be a great show and we thought a sneak peek might get your week started off right!

There are a limited number of tickets available for both the meal and the show due to the size of the venue; tickets for both the show and meal must be reserved in advance. The box office will be open on weekday mornings beginning Wednesday, January 25 from 9am-noon.

The pre-show meal includes a burger bar with fixings, salad & chips. Cash bar will be available throughout the evening.

Tickets for the show only may be purchased online. For more information or to reserve tickets for the meal and the show, call the box office at 320-312-2311.

Audiences at the December 3 concert (Dennis Warner and the D’s!) will be treated to holiday music, treats and a chance to bid on the silent auction fundraiser at Memorial Auditorium.

Donated items include original artwork, hardangar, holiday baskets, handmade mittens and lefse. Bidding begin at 6:30pm.

Here are the items:

• Framed white & blue framed hardangar handwork – from the Phil & Jean Maus collection
• Signed & numbered framed etching print of a Viking ship on the high seas – from the Phil & Jean Maus collection
• Holiday baskets from Pioneer PBS – one for adult; one for youth
• Lefse by Mavis Hutt
• Handmade woolen mittens
• Extreme Chocolate Basket – donated by the DBAA Board

Proceeds from the auction will be designated to improvements to the newly-refreshed auditorium lobby.

Saturday, October 29   |   6:30pm
Prior to The OK Factor concert
In the Dawson-Boyd Commons

We’ve added a silent auction to the fun tomorrow night! The silent auction fundraiser AND coffee from Marc’s on Main will be located in the Commons area. Bidding will continue through the end of intermission.

Please come prepared to enjoy live music by Six Appeal, drink good coffee and bid on quality work by Meander artists!

• Oatmeal pitcher from Tokheim Stoneware – 7″ tall – holds 1.5 quarts
• Sami bracelet by Patrice Guyen
• Raku fired tile by Julie Berndt

Also – the streets are open around Memorial Auditorium! Pine Street, Chestnut Street and 9th Street will all be open this weekend. Big love to the street construction crews!

We are excited to share our line up for Riverfest Weekend in Dawson – and the good news is that both shows are FREE!

At 12:00pm [NOON] this Saturday, June 26, The Dollipops will perform at Riverside Park. Bring the kids for this family show with music and laughs!

At 2:00pm, Divas through the Decades will take the stage and perform a musical tribute to some of the most influential female vocalists in American pop music. Music, choreography, costumes & high energy will make this show a highlight of your weekend!

Bring a chair and enjoy these shows in the shade of the trees at Riverside Park – at the south end of Main Street in Dawson.

Thanks to our event sponsor – Dawson Co-op Credit Union!

Spread the word – fun for all ages!

Please join us for Dawson-Boyd Arts Association’s Annual Meeting for fiscal year 2020. The meeting will not be long – but it will be great to see your faces again!

Two options to attend:

• Memorial Auditorium – socially-distance seating & masks required
• Via Zoom meeting – you will receive a link by email to join the meeting

*Note: if you are not currently receiving emails from Dawson-Boyd Arts Association, we do not have your email address. To participate via Zoom, please send your email to: [email protected]

By Luanne Fondell
Performing Arts Director

People often ask, “How do you find your artists?” Now that the Arts Association has put together 19 seasons, we can say that sometimes we find the artists, sometimes our audience members find the artists and sometimes, the artists find us.

In the case of Carrie Newcomer and pianist, Gary Walters, performing on November 16, here’s the story: I first heard of Carrie Newcomer from our daughter, Elisabeth. Elisabeth moved home to live with us in 2017 – the last year of my husband’s life. She may not have known it then, but the addition of this artist into our family’s music library would become a source of strength and inspiration in the months ahead.

Room at the Table

Elisabeth had attended one of Carrie’s concerts in Chicago and it made a deep impression on her. She talked about this artist’s kindness and gentle manner, as well as her music and message to the audience to search for the good in each other and make good change in the world. Songs like “I Heard an Owl” or “If Not Now.” She said that there was a time when the audience sang along on “Room at the Table” and it was not the least bit weird.

And so, Carrie Newcomer’s music entered our playlists. In the kitchen, in the car, on our phones, on road trips back and forth to Mayo Clinic. And our favorites emerged: “You Can Do This Hard Thing” and “Sanctuary.” We would get in the car after appointments and my husband would say to me, “Who should we listen to? Neal & Leandra? Peter Ostroushko? Chuck Suchy? Ingrid Michaelson? Carrie Newcomer?” He often called them by first name as if they were close friends. And whether the news from each appointment was good or bad, we returned to these musicians again and again as part of our “driving away” ritual – to celebrate or to be restored or to be comforted.

One day Elisabeth said, “Why don’t you bring Carrie Newcomer to Dawson some time?” I did a little research, mostly out of curiosity, assuming that this Grammy-winning artist, based in Indiana, would be out of our league. Thankfully, I was wrong. The next step was to ask the Arts Association board members to listen to her music and decide whether to add her to our season. The reactions were overwhelmingly positive. Contract signed. Carrie Newcomer scheduled for the 2018-2019 season.

Not so fast

Dawson-Boyd Arts Association announces its opening concert of the 19^th performing arts season at Memorial Auditorium in Dawson – a Scandinavian Folk Music concert during Meander Weekend on Saturday, October 5 at 7:30pm. Featured performers will be Paul and Marikay Dahlin, Art Bjorngjeld, Char and Bruce Bostrom and Ross Sutter. These musicians will present a variety of Scandinavian folk songs, tunes and dances. Ross Sutter is a familiar performer and folk music educator in the west-central Minnesota community playing guitar, button accordion and dulcimer; Art Bjorngjeld plays button accordion and fiddle; Char Bostrom is on fiddle; Bruce Bostrom is on moon harp and various percussion instruments.

Also performing will be Paul Dahlin of Minneapolis, along with his wife Marikay. Paul Dahlin is a premiere Swedish-style fiddler, educator and founder of the American Swedish Institute’s Spelmanslag, or “fiddlers’ team.” He is devoted to the study, preservation and performance of Swedish traditional music.

Prior to the concert, a Swedish meatball meal will be served beginning at 6:00pm in the School Commons. Menu includes: meatballs, mashed potatoes & gravy, salads, Knackebrod, pickled herring, lingon preserves, coffee, beverage and Scandinavian almond cake. Meal tickets are $15 per person. Order Online: Click here!