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DISCOVER! | NOVEMBER 26, 2016
16 | Sounds
JINGLE ALL THE WAY
Familiar trio to present holiday concert
RYLAN HOWE
STAFF WRITER
Damon, Dave and Ryan. Three
musicians familiar to many
in the Iowa Great Lakes.
Specifically Damon Dotson, Dave
Rowley and Ryan Sather, and once
again they will be putting on a
holiday show at the Pearson Lakes
Art Center.
The trio is set to perform Saturday,
Dec. 3, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets
range from $25 for non-members
to $20 for members and $15 for
students.
And be sure to reserve those
tickets early. The show attracts a
large crowd and often sells out.
“These three are well-known
around here and throughout the
community,” performing arts
director Amanda Schindler said.
“It’s fun to get them together.
They’re hilarious, come up with
fun stories and have a great time
interacting with each other and
the audience.”
As a holiday show, there will
be plenty of familiar Christmas
tunes, as well as some original
music, performed throughout the
night.
Some of those songs heard
every year around this time often
get a unique twist to amp up the
entertainment.
Maybe it’s a gospel or blues version
of “Frosty the Snowman,”
a funky, jazz version of “Jingle
Bells,” or a reggae version of
“Walking in a Winter Wonderland.”
“There will be a little bit of everything
and we mix in some originals,”
Rowley said. “Of course
people like to hear their favorites
so there are some perennials we
do every year that people like and
want to hear. Damon does a great
version of ‘Hallelujah’ by Leonard
Cohen and I can’t say enough
about what Ryan does with all the
At a Glance:
WHAT: Damon, Dave & Ryan Holiday Show
WHERE: Pearson Lakes Art Center, Okoboji, IA
WHEN: 7:30-9 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3
COST: $25/non-members, $20/members, $15/students
CONTACT: 712-332-7013
ONLINE: www.lakesart.org
different arrangements of songs.”
Sather said making up those
arrangements is something he
thoroughly enjoys.
“Creating a fun take on all these
familiar songs and adding our
own flavor or twists to them is so
interesting and fun to try to do,”
Sather said.
Both Rowley and Sather had
played with Damon on their
own before they all three came
together to perform their holiday
shows. Sather said they had a
great synergy. The most challenging
part is probably finding time
to practice as all three have their
full-time jobs to attend to when
not playing music.
Joining Damon, Dave and Ryan
onstage will be local saxophone
player Brian Moore as well as
Joe Cuttell, an Iowa Rock ‘n’ Roll
Music Association Hall of Fame
inductee, on guitar.
The result of having so many
talented musicians on stage is a
holiday show that has become
a staple at the Pearson Lakes Art
Center each winter.
“We have a good time and it
gets us all in the holiday mood
and spirit of the Christmas season,”
Rowley said. “When we
walk in we want everyone to be
able to enjoy themselves in the
moment like we’re in someone’s
living room all having fun together.”
Spend even just a few minutes
around Rowley and Sather and
it’s clear they like to have a
good time with these performances.
“Damon is kind of like the
front man and Dave’s mostly
the comic relief,” Sather, who
plays piano, said with a laugh.
Rowley does sing and play some
instruments as well, including
the ukelele on a version of Roger
Miller’s “King of the Road.”
“It’s a lot of fun to put on
this show. The feedback is
so positive and the audience
is great. I just feel
honored to get to participate,”
Sather said.
All told, the audience
is in for a good time enjoying
great music and
some classic Christmas
songs with a
twist only
Damon,
Dave
a n d
Ryan
could
provide.
F
Okoboji | Iowa