The blues are back in Fort Dodge. For one night just on May 20, the newly-renovated Phillips Auditorium will come alive with the noises of the blues.
Soulful, energetic, therefore well-needed after years of residing in a pandemic-driven world, the Fort Dodge Fine Arts Association is breaking out the blues with an efficiency from Texas Blues artist Hamilton Loomis.
While it has actually been numerous years given that Loomis has actually carried out in Fort Dodge, his name might recognize to numerous regional blues connoisseurs. His reveals here in the previous constantly crammed in a crowd and never ever stopped working to provide anything however a fantastic experience, according to Shelly Bottorff, executive director of Fort Dodge Fine Arts.
“He came to Olde Boston’s, and actually he played a couple of times,” she said. “The people went nuts for this guy. He’s not just an amazing musician, he’s also an amazing performer. People still talk about seeing him down there.”
Show honors O’Leary
The reveal on May 20 will remain in event of the late Tim O’Leary, a legend himself on the regional blues scene. O’Leary and his other half, Sara, were charter members of the Lizard Creek Blues Society and important in bringing expert blues efficiencies to numerous regional locations for many years, Bottorff said.
O’Leary died in January 2020, soon prior to the pandemic actually settled in. With shutdowns installing that spring, big events were not possible at the time.
“We couldn’t do a concert in celebration,” Bottorff said. But O’Leary has actually not been forgotten, and buddies have actually now come together, led under the umbrella of the Fort Dodge Fine Arts Association, to bring a performance to Fort Dodge.
“We have the space at Phillips Auditorium, and we just decided to make it happen,” Bottorff said. “Several supporters from the former Lizard Creek Blue Society, have joined us. I can’t even name them all yet, but we’re getting great support.”
To make the night much more joyful, beer and red wine will be available for purchase, along with non-alcoholic beverages.
“This is our very first concert in the space and the board is super-excited to bring the blues back to Fort Dodge,” Bottorff said.
Ronley King Band opens for Loomis
Opening the program on May 20 will be The Ronley King Band. Winners of the Iowa Blues Challenge, the group that consists of Ronley King, Kaleb Ferry and Ethridge Netz just recently represented the state in the Memphis Blues Challenge.
The group will be a fitting enhance to Loomis’ track record for an effective phase existence. Loomis is understood for engaging the crowd. Blues, as he provides the music, is not a particular experience, however something that attracts the audience from within.
“Passion drips from every note,” was the evaluation from CostsTown Blues on simply among his albums.
Loomis is a protege of the famous Bo Diddley. He fulfilled Diddley at the age of simply 16 and the legend rapidly took him under his wing as friend and partner. Didley has actually appeared on 2 of Loomis’ albums.
Phillips Auditorium makes
for best location
The working contract in between the Fort Dodge Fine Arts Association and the Foutch Brothers, LLC, owners of the Phillips Luxury Apartments, is crucial to the task.
Bottorff credits city authorities for bringing the 2 entities together. By keeping the auditorium undamaged, the Foutch Brothers had the ability to take advantage of historic tax credits that otherwise would not have actually been available to them, she said.
Fort Dodge Fine Arts pays no lease for usage of the auditorium, however did consent to invest a minimum of $150,000 in enhancements over the next ten years. Just a couple of years in to the agreement, the group has actually already invested $130,000 in enhancements, consisting of fixing and cleaning up all the seats on the primary flooring, changing the top of the phase along with some drapes, and some pipes and electrical enhancements. The next stage, Bottorff said, will be irreversible lighting and sound enhancements.
“The acoustics that are just built-in to that auditorium are some of the best in the area,” Bottorff said.
She is really delighted with the working contract with Foutch Brothers and what the historical auditorium’s significance indicates to the neighborhood. While most just recently an intermediate school, long prior to that it was home to years of Fort Dodge Senior High trainees in the early and mid-20th century.
“The fact that the owners (Foutch Brothers) found value in our organization, and in working with us is very gratifying,” Bottorff said.
Tenants in the Phillips Apartments advantage also, getting totally free or reduced tickets to all efficiencies in the auditorium.
Get your tickets
Tickets are $20 per individual and can be bought at the door or ahead of time at Eventbrite.com.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. on May 20, with the music set to start at 6:30 p.m.
Phillips Auditorium lies at 1015 Fifth Ave. N. in Fort Dodge
