Upcoming Show November 8: Brulé at Memorial Auditorium

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Dawson-Boyd Arts Association presents A Native American Experience in Sight, Soul and Sound featuring the award-winning Native American music group Brulé. The group is best known for thrilling audiences with a mergence of cultural rock and theatrical instrumentations.  Now in their 20th season, Brulé’s national performances carry the same contagious excitement as Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Celtic Thunder and Riverdance—but with the emotional impact of the American Indian culture.

This electrifying show consists of a 5-piece rock ensemble augmented with an array of traditional Native American instrumentation. Paired with the stunning steps of one of the top Native American dance troupes, their authenticity brings a multi-dimensional art form to this cultural rock opera. The musical journey of founder, Paul LaRoche, adds an affecting story to the performance.

 Brulé’s time in Dawson will include a special performance for local students during the school day in addition to the evening public concert. This activity is funded in part with a grant from the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council made possible by the voters of Minnesota, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Event sponsors are Farmers for Dawson, Hanson & Dahl Funeral Home, Ken Sather Construction/Sather Building Supply, Lac qui Parle Soil & Water Conservation District and Odden & Zimbelman TV & Appliance & Sleep Center. Seasonal beverages from Gnometown Grounds will be served in the lobby.

Admission to the 7pm Friday evening performance at Memorial Auditorium is $40 for adults and $15 for students. Tickets are currently available online o or at the door or by calling the box office at 320-312-2311.

Upcoming show Oct 26: The Waddington Brothers to perform at Memorial Auditorium

Dawson-Boyd Arts Association presents a unique bluegrass and gospel performance featuring The Waddington Brothers at Memorial Auditorium in Dawson on Saturday, October 26 at 7:00pm.

The Waddington Brothers will take you on a journey through the heart of the American West sharing heartfelt songs that evoke feelings of warmth, appreciation and a genuine connection to the way life was lived by our country’s pioneers. The quartet of brothers hailing from North Dakota skillfully blends cowboy and hard-driving bluegrass music with more mellow gospel acoustical tunes to create a style that’s timelessly classic, yet refreshingly new and unique.

While the four brothers’ performing experience together traces back to 2004, the band officially came together as The Waddington Brothers in 2019. The band has earned numerous awards including taking first place at the 2023 International Bluegrass Band Competition in Nashville, Tennessee. Their sound is powerfully different and something that can only be created by four brothers with such an authentic synergy and blend.

Event sponsors are Peggy Crosby and Dave Pederson. Beverages from Gnometown Grounds will be served in the lobby. Admission to the concert is $25 for adults and $7 for students. Tickets are currently available online or at the door or by calling the box office at 320-312-2311.

Upcoming show Oct 5: launching 24th season with JoJo Green “Pop-Fusion” Concert

Dawson-Boyd Arts Association announces the opening concert of its 24th performing arts season with a concert by JoJo Green during Meander Weekend on Saturday, October 5 at 7:00pm at Memorial Auditorium in Dawson.

St. Paul indie fusion quintet, JoJo Green is a well-oiled machine that boasts a big, energetic, uniquely authentic sound. With strong influences from Motown, Muscle Shoals and The Summer of Love, JoJo Greene gives a nostalgic feeling to a fresh and exciting sound. Audiences are mesmerized by JoJo Green’s powerful vocals mixed with agile woodwinds, shredding guitars, funky bass and driving drums: a surefire crowd pleaser!

“Pop-Fusion” is JoJo Green’s own brand of combined Americana musical styles including Funk, Soul, Jazz, Country and Rock. It’s like a potluck for your ears and has something for every listener. By mixing styles, JoJo Green continuously challenges themselves to be the best musicians possible.

Event sponsors for this concert are Pioneer PBS and Meander Upper Minnesota River Art Crawl. Beverages from Gnometown Grounds will be served in the lobby. Admission is $20 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets for the concert are currently available online or through the box office at 320-312-2311. Concert tickets will also be available at the door.

Upcoming: Riverfest concert features the music of The Carpenters on June 29

Dawson-Boyd Arts Association is pleased to present a live concert experience at Memorial Auditorium during Dawson’s Riverfest Celebration on Saturday evening, June 29, at 7pm.

“Rainy Days and Mondays” features Aimée Lee and the Superstars. You won’t want to miss this stellar tribute to The Carpenters, the biggest-selling soft rock group of the 70s. If you were a Carpenter’s fan, this concert will make you smile, sway and want to sing along. Aimée Lee, the quintessential “Karen,” is joined on stage by 12 musicians who perfectly recreate that classic Carpenters sound you remember and love. Featuring classic favorites, We’ve Only Just Begun, Close to You, Super Star, Yesterday Once More, Close to You, Mr. Postman and many more.

Event sponsors of the final concert of the 2023-2024 performing arts season are Greater Community Credit Union and Dawson Area Chamber.

Admission is $35 for adults and $10 for students. Tickets for this reserved seating performance are on sale now online or you may request your tickets by leaving a message at the box office at 320-312-2311.

Upcoming show: Prairie Winds “A Musical Odyssey” coming to Dawson on April 28

Prairie Winds Concert Band – April 28, 2024

Dawson-Boyd Arts Association is pleased to present a Sunday afternoon performance of “Space – A Musical Odyssey” by Prairie Winds Concert Band. This concert band is made up of approximately 60 musicians from around the Willmar area.

The theme of the concert is “space” and features music from Out of This World and several other recognizable theme songs from space movies. As a special treat, Dawson’s very own musician, Chris Lehne, will be featured on the piano in one of the pieces titled Open Space.

According to Director Brock Duncan, “there are some tongue and cheek selections that audiences will recognize, in addition to some classic jazz standards that have a space tie-in as well.” Duncan is an accomplished musician currently in his 33rd year as the band director at Benson High School. He has a personal connection to the Dawson area as his wife, Anne (Torstenson), is a DBHS graduate.

Event sponsors for this concert are Ralph & Sue Gerbig. Coffee from Gnometown Grounds will be served in the lobby. Admission to the 3pm concert on Sunday, April 28 is $20 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets are currently available online or at the door or call 320-312-2311 to leave a message at the box office.

Upcoming show: Looney Lutherans share music and laughter on April 6

Dawson-Boyd Arts Association has a special evening filled with great conversation, food and laughs planned for Saturday the 6th of April that you won’t want to miss. The Looney Lutherans will present their musical performance at 7pm in Memorial Auditorium. They are a trio of wacky gals who use music, comedy and some help from the audience to share their age-old wisdom for living a long and lively life, the Lutheran way.

The idea for the “Looney Lutherans” was cooked up in 2006 when the founding members were appearing in the cast of the hit musical Church Basement Ladies. The company has since expanded to include additional “Loonies,” all professional actresses, writers, singers and improvisers.

Their show is comedic and family friendly – and best of all you don’t have to be Lutheran to love it!

Dawson-Boyd Arts Association will host a special “church basement supper” meal at Grace Lutheran Church, conveniently located directly across the street from Memorial Auditorium, prior to the show. Step back in time and enjoy a traditional supper consisting of tater tot hotdish, vegetable, fruit salad, buttered bun and your choice of coffee or lemonade. Price per plate is $15, cash or check only. This fundraiser meal experience will be served from 5:00-6:00pm and seating is limited to the first 150 responses. Please make your advance reservation by emailing [email protected] or call 320-312-2311 to leave a message at the box office.

Event sponsors for The Looney Lutherans are Dick Berglund; Kluver Law & Mediation Center PLLC; and Subway-Gary & Cindy Hendrickx. Coffee from Gnometown Grounds will be served in the lobby.

Admission to the 7pm performance at Memorial Auditorium is $20 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets are currently available online or at the door or by calling the box office at 320-312-2311.

We encourage you to gather your friends and family for a memorable experience that is close to home. This special evening is filled with delicious food and a performance described by previous audience members as thoroughly delightful, enjoyable, laughable entertainment. This is the perfect opportunity to support the performing arts in our local region while making new memories.

Upcoming show March 15: Ring of Kerry joined by Celtic dancers at Memorial Auditorium

Dawson-Boyd Arts Association presents an evening of Irish music and Celtic dance to kick off St. Patrick’s weekend. Ring of Kerry is a bursting-with-energy Irish music group that captures the hearts of listeners. The group takes its name from a beautiful craggy drive in southwestern County Kerry, Ireland. Its Celtic music, however, is played with a heart much closer to its American home.

Ring of Kerry will be joined by Celtic dancers for this highly engaging performance celebrating traditional roots, modern ideas and original work. The performing artists’ time in Dawson will include an afternoon student performance for both elementary and high school students. Additionally, the Irish music group and Celtic dancers will travel to Johnson Memorial Health Services for a late afternoon performance specifically tailored to our care center residents and assisted living tenants.

This activity is funded in part with a grant from the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council made possible by the voters of Minnesota, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. Event sponsors for this event are Peggy Crosby and Dave Pederson. Coffee from Gnometown Grounds will be served in the lobby.

Admission to the 7pm evening performance at Memorial Auditorium is $20 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets are currently available online at dawsonboydartspresents.org or at the door or by calling the box office at 320-312-2311.

We encourage audience members to make it a complete evening by attending the Dawson-Boyd Robotics team’s 5-7pm open house and meal prior to Ring of Kerry’s 7pm performance at Memorial Auditorium. The robotics open house takes place at Dawson-Boyd High School’s Innovation Lab where the community will have the opportunity to learn about this year’s competition and witness the robot in action. The meal consisting of pulled smoked turkey, chips, a cookie and water will be available as a free-will donation in the nearby Ag Shop.

Join us for an unforgettable evening of music, dance and technology as we celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Ireland and Robotics. These performances promise to be a delightful and enriching experience for all.

Upcoming show Jan 20: The Twins of Franklin at Madison Mercantile

The Twins of Franklin – Indie/Folk Duo – January 20th, 2024

Dawson-Boyd Arts Association announces its return to the Madison Mercantile stage for the next event in the 2023-2024 performing arts season. Dawson-Boyd Arts Association is pleased to present The Twins of Franklin on Saturday, January 20 at 7:00pm. The community space created by Kris Shelstad at Madison Mercantile continues to host a variety of area events including film screenings, concerts, plays and more.

According to executive director Tracy Hanson, Dawson-Boyd Arts Association strives to present a wide variety of performances each season that appeal to audience members throughout the region. “Bringing talented and unique performing artists to our communities while creating memorable audience experiences is important and the space at Madison Mercantile is the ideal setting for this particular performance,” says Hanson. “Collaboration is key to ensuring our communities are afforded high-quality arts events,” says Shelstad of Madison Mercantile.

The Twins of Franklin are a Minneapolis-based indie/folk duo made up of Becky Shaheen and Laura Lou. With the help of their bandmate, they put on a live performance of original songs that contain traditional folk elements with spouts of dance, pop and even anthem rock revolving around their powerful vocals.

Event sponsor is Odden & Zimbelman TV & Appliance & Sleep Center. Madison Mercantile, located at 601 1st Street in Madison, will have light food and beverages available for purchase prior to the show and during intermission. Doors open at 6:15 pm. Admission is $20 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets are currently available online at dawsonboydartspresents.org or at the door or by calling the box office at 320-312-2311. Seating is limited.

Dawson-Boyd Arts Association to participate in 15th Annual Give to the Max Day on November 16

Dawson-Boyd Arts Association is proud to participate in the 15th annual Give to the Max Day on Thursday, Nov. 16. Give to the Max is a statewide grassroot giving event that raises tens of millions of dollars each year for more than 6,000 causes across Minnesota and beyond.

Right now, Dawson-Boyd Arts Association needs your help. Following the recent lobby renovation, we plan to showcase student and community member visual art. Funds raised through Give to the Max will help fund the construction of a custom-built portable display case where local talent will be featured on a rotating basis.

To participate in Give to the Max, donors may visit GiveMN.org and search for the causes they care about most by name, keyword, ZIP code or related keywords. Give to the Max’s Early Giving period begins November 1 and continues through Give to the Max Day on Nov. 16, with random drawings throughout for more than $100,000 in prize grants for Minnesota organizations.

Additionally, each donation to through GiveMN.org qualifies Dawson-Boyd Arts Association for additional prize grants, thanks to the continued generosity of the Bush Foundation.  To follow along with Give to the Max and make a gift to your favorite causes, visit GiveMN.org beginning Nov. 1, and use #GTMD23 to join the conversation online.

Upcoming show November 11: Sing Me A Country Song – Great Country Duets, Hits and More!

Sing Me A Country Song Great Country – Duets, Hits and More! – November 11, 2023

Dawson-Boyd Arts Association presents Bobby Vandell and Colleen Raye performing their popular show entitled Sing Me A Country Song – Great Country Duets, Hits and More at Memorial Auditorium in Dawson on Saturday, November 11 at 7:00pm.

Enjoy the great country duets and hits through the years with Bobby and Colleen (familiar to many as Patsy Cline in a previous DBAA event). These two talented performers have a perfect vocal blend and natural rapport with the audience. You’ll hear songs from Johnny and June, Lady Antebellum, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Crystal Gayle, as well Kenny and Dolly, Waylon and Willie, Hank Williams, Allison Kraus and more.

This evening’s event includes a visual art exhibit in the lobby prior to the concert featuring J Menden Silver with her handmade silver jewelry of traditional designs and methods. Coffee will be served in the lobby beginning at 6pm. Let the evening wind down with pie, coffee and socializing immediately following the concert. Why cut a good time short – come join us afterwards.

Event sponsors are Farmers for Dawson, Johnson Memorial Health Services, and Gary & Ingrid Larson. Admission is $20 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets are currently available online at dawsonboydartspresents.org or by calling the box office at 320-312-2311. Concert tickets will also be available at the door.