Buddy Holly was a legend of rock and roll. His music touched the lives of millions of people around the world, and sparked a new genre of music that changed the entertainment industry for good.
His time was cut short in the well known, and tragic plane crash of 1959. But people can still enjoy his music through “Rave On: A Buddy Holly Tribute”, which brings this prophet of rock music back to life in their exciting show, and plays hit after hit while you dance the night away.
The Weyburn Concert Series will host “Rave One: A Buddy Holly Tribute” at the Cugnet Centre on Thursday, November 2 at 7:30 p.m. The performance is part of the 2017-2018 Stars for Saskatchewan Concert series, and is sponsored by the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils.
“Having the role of Buddy Holly is very awesome. I remember him playing, and it is great to sing these songs that bring back so many memories for me,” said Tom Dowden, the lead role of Buddy Holly in the band.
The band began in 2011 when Roman Clarke (drummer, Jerry Alison) and Dylan MacDonald (bassist, Joe Mauldin) acted in a local rendition of "The Buddy Holly Story", a play about Buddy Holly's whirlwind music career. The band continued playing Buddy's music at local events, and then Tom Dowden took on the role of Buddy Holly in 2012.
Since then, the band has played dozens of shows across rural Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and continues to captivate audiences with its authentic throwback to the 50’s. Not a single show ends without a fun dance floor, so concertgoers often leave feeling as if they’ve stepped right out of their high school sock-hop. Buddy Holly lives on in this fantastic tribute.
“I enjoy the fact that we get to visit new communities, and get to meet people from all over the place,” said Dowden. “It is great to be traveling with Dylan and Roman. We have a very good personality mix together on stage.”
Dowden said that there are always a handful of songs in “Rave On” that everyone likes, but his personal favourites are ‘Peggy Sue’, ‘That Will Be the Day’, and ‘True Love Ways’. “All of the music is the kind that gets the toes tapping. It is also great to have Dylan and Roman there with me. We just have fun on stage.”
Advance tickets for the “Rave On: A Buddy Holly Tribute” cost $30 for adults and $15 for child or student tickets. They are available at Music Craft, Old Fashion Foods and the Weyburn Review/ Weyburn This Week office. Tickets at the door are $35 for adults and $20 for child/student. Online tickets are also available at www.ticketpro.biz.
