By Michael Swanger michael@dmcityview.com

‘Fifties in February’ returns to Surf Ballroom

The Crickets, Buddy Holly’s former backing band, headline the “Fifties in February” festivities Jan. 30-Feb. 2 at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake.

Dig out your favorite bowling shirt or poodle skirt. The 29th annual “Fifties in February” concert at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake returns with a host of festivities including concerts, memorabilia shows and dance lessons Jan. 30 through Feb. 2.

Each year the Surf pays tribute to Buddy Holly, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson and Ritchie Valens — rock ‘n’ roll stars of the ’50s who died in a plane crash Feb. 3, 1959, following a concert at the Surf. This year’s lineup includes Holly alumni Tommy Allsup and The Crickets, as well as veteran rockabilly artists like Sleepy LaBeef and Sonny Burgess & The Pacers.

Tickets to the event, $90 plus tax, sell out quickly each year and fans are encouraged to buy them now through IowaTix.com, or the ballroom by calling (641) 357-6151, or by logging on to www.surfballroom.com.
Here’s the lineup:

Jan. 30 — “Rock ‘n’ Roll Warm Up Party” with concert by Sing Ray & The Killer Vees, 6 p.m., $8 in advance, $10 at the door.

Jan. 31 — “Rock ‘n’ Reminisce” (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.), dance lessons (1 p.m.), “Buddy’s Buddies” concert at EB Stillman Auditorium (1:30 p.m., $5), evening concert by Sleepy LaBeef, Speedo & The Cadillacs and Jay & the Americans.

Feb. 1 — British Buddy Holly Luncheon (11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Best Western Lodge), performance by Alan Clark “A Tribute to Eddie Cochran” and Jacknife & The Sharps (noon to 3:30 p.m. in Surf Ballroom Lounge, $5), crash site tour (1 p.m.), evening concert by Tommy Allsup and Johnny Rodgers and Flash Cadillac, as well as costume and dance contests.

Feb. 2 — Record and memorabilia show (8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.), dance lessons (10 a.m.), performances by Bill Dewey and Sleepy LaBeef (noon - 3:30 p.m. in Surf Ballroom Lounge, $5), crash site tour (1 p.m.), “Fanfare” (1-3 p.m.), evening concert by The Chiffons, Dave Somerville of The Diamonds, Sonny Burgess & The Pacers, The Crickets, The Belmonts and emcee Big Bopper Jr.

Winter Blues Fest set

The Central Iowa Blues Society will host its popular annual Winter Blues Fest Feb. 9, at the Hotel Fort Des Moines where nine local and national blues acts like R.J. Mischo, Ernie Peniston and the winners of the 2007 Iowa, Greater Twin Cities and Kansas City blues challenges will shake away your cold weather blues on five stages.

Each band will perform two sets, allowing fans the opportunity to see every group. An after hours jam that is expected to last well into the night will be hosted by Hot Tamale & the Red Hots at 1 a.m. Food and beverages will be for sale. The normally smoke-free hotel will allow cigarette smoking for the event, but no cigars or pipes. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door. Visit www.cibs.org for details. Here’s the lineup:

Chequers Lounge: Willie McKnight & Alan Smith (7-8:15 p.m., 8:45-10 p.m.)

Grand Ballroom: Matt Woods and The Thunderbolts (7:30-8:30 p.m., 9-10 p.m.), Ernie Peniston Band (10:30-11:45 p.m., 12:15-1:30 a.m.)

State Ballroom: Trampled Underfoot (8-9 p.m., 9:30-10:30 p.m.), R.J. Mischo & His Red Hot Blues Band (11 p.m.-Midnight, 12:30-1:30 a.m.)

Wedgwood Room: Kevin “B.F.” Burt & the Instigators (8-8:45 p.m., 9:15-10:15 p.m.), Cadillac Kolstad & the Flats (10:45-11:30 p.m., Midnight-1 a.m.)

Independence Hall: Hot Tamale & the Red Hots (Midnight-1 a.m.), After Hours Jam (1 a.m.)

Scene notes

Local rapper Horizon has released a video for his latest single, “Nasty Girl,” filmed at a strip club in Cedar Rapids. You can see it online at www.myspace.com/thenastygirlvideopage. … A new tribute to country music icon Johnny Cash featuring 38 Cash hits, “Ring of Fire — The Music of Johnny Cash,” plays the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 to $47.50. … Eastern Iowa blues stalwarts Joe and Vicki Price play the Vaudeville Mews Friday at 10 p.m. Joe’s brother, John Price and his buddy Tim Verdon, a.k.a. the Typical Males, open the show. Joe and Vicki tell Cityview they are both headed to the studio in a couple of weeks to record new albums to be released in 2008. Admission to their show is $10 at the door. … CMA and ACM Male Vocalist of the Year Brad Paisley brings his “Bonfires and Amplifiers Tour” to Wells Fargo Arena Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m. Rodney Atkins and Chuck Wicks open. Tickets, $30.75 and $46, go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. through Dahl’s Foods locations, online at dahlstickets.com, or by phone at (866)-55-DAHLS. … The “Martin & Lewis Tribute Show” scheduled for Jan. 17 at Hoyt Sherman Place has been cancelled “due to changes in logistics.” … In other Hoyt Sherman music news, jazz and blues guitarists Larry Carlton and Robben Ford have rescheduled their concert that was postponed last August for March 1 at 8 p.m. Tickets from the August date will be honored at the show and additional seats are available for $39.50. … St. Louis-based rockers Ludo, who participated in the Lollapalooza and Warped tours last summer, bring their Weezer-meets-Queen sound to the House of Bricks on Jan. 18 at 5 p.m. for an all-ages show. They open for The Effects. … Parents who want to get their children to play a musical instrument, but don’t want to spend money without knowing what instrument interests their child, might want to check out “Beginnings Family Music Program” to be held Jan. 19 at 11 a.m. at the Central Library, 1000 Grand Ave., where children ages 2 to 7 can play instruments for free and dance and sing. … The Tartan Terrors, which mixes Celtic music and dance with “fast rock” and “PG-rated Scottish comedy,” plays the Holy Trinity Parish Hall, 2926 Beaver Ave., Jan. 19 at 8 p.m. The Celtic Music Association sponsors the concert. Tickets are $18 in advance through the church and IowaTix.com or $20 at the door. Visit www.thecma.org. … Folk rocker Martin Sexton returns to Des Moines to play the Vaudeville Mews on Jan. 25 at 9 p.m. Chris Trapper opens the show. Tickets are $20 in advance through IowaTix.com. … The 10th anniversary of I’ll Make Me A World in Iowa, a celebration of African-American arts, culture and contributions in Iowa, will be held Jan. 25-26 ay the Polk County Convention Complex. This year’s celebrity headlines on “Celebration Day,” Jan. 26, include actor Morris Chestnut and the platinum-selling gospel trio Trin-i-tee 5:7. … It’s always a big deal when Fabulous Thunderbirds’ frontman Kim Wilson plays Blues on Grand once a year. It isn’t often you get to see one of the marquee names in the blues that close and personal — the way the music should be experienced. Fans can expect another memorable show when the harmonica player and singer returns to BOG on Feb. 8 with his All-Star Band, which includes sensational drummer Richard Innes, star guitarist Billy Flynn, bassist Randy Bermuda and guitarist Frank Fotusky. Tickets to be announced. Call 244-3092. CV

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