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.

Dawson-Boyd Arts Association announces that tickets are now on sale for the Riverfest Weekend show, Folsom Prison Experience, at Memorial Auditorium on Saturday, June 24 at 7:00pm. Described as “an immersive tribute drama,” Folsom Prison Experience is a musical that merges live concert, stage drama, audience participation and interactive theater. The show recreates one of the most important days in Johnny Cash’s storied musical career – January 13, 1968 – when he and his entourage put on two shows for the inmates of California’s Folsom Prison.

At the center of the production is Church of Cash, the award-winning Johnny Cash tribute band featuring Jay Ernest as The Man in Black. Folsom Prison Experience was written by Ernest and his friend and collaborator Tom Pickard.

The critical and commercial reactions to Johnny Cash’s iconic 1968 live recording, At Folsom Prison, are well documented – a No. 1 smash that catapulted Cash to crossover stardom and cemented his reputation as an artist who didn’t play by the conventional rules.

Audiences are encouraged to become a part of the production by wearing inmate attire and consider themselves part of that same captive crowd that cheered during Cash’s 1968 concert.