MONROE - The Monroe Arts Center will stage "Sweet Dreams and Honky Tonks," a musical revue that looks at the private lives of country music legends Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
"Sweet Dreams and Honky Tonks" stars Wisconsin music veterans Tom Waselchuk and Jami Lampkins.
"It's a real honor to shine a spotlight on some bigger-than-life artists who've been very influential and inspirational to us," Waselchuk said. "Any fan of traditional country music will love this show. But "Sweet Dreams and Honky Tonks' isn't just for hard-core country fans.
"Indeed, Hank's influence is everywhere; Patsy and Johnny were and are huge crossover stars; and Loretta won a Grammy award in 2005 for her collaborations with rocker Jack White. Some of the songs in the show have been in our repertoire for years, and we're keeping our own arrangements on many of them. Other tunes we've arranged with our own "dang-it" flair. The rest of the songs we are treating with a light touch and great respect for the originals, as performed by Hank, Loretta, Patsy, and Johnny," Waselchuk said.
Waselchuk, a singer and songwriter, has performed for more than three decades. He co-founded and played bluegrass with The Stone Oak Band; jazz with The Full Count Jazz Band; country and variety with Marcy and The Highlights and Cris Plata and Extra Hot; and gypsy swing with the national touring group Harmonious Wail. He plays guitar, bass and pedal steel guitar.
Lampkins moved to Madison in 2007 from Nashville, where she was a finalist in the USA Network's "Nashville Star" competition. She is a singer, songwriter, guitarist and banjo player, and has played professionally since age 14.
Waselchuk and Lampkins are regular guest performers on "Midwest Country," a music showcase broadcast Saturdays nationally on the RFD-TV network. Last year they were named 2013 Country/Bluegrass Performer of the Year by the Madison Area Music Awards.
The back-up band for "Sweet Dreams and Honky Tonks" is The Dang-Its, a country music group Waselchuk founded in 1998, and which Lampkins joined in 2009. The Dang-Its are Rick Nass on pedal steel guitar and dobro; Mark Luhring on drums and vocals; and Pete Olig on bass and vocals.
Reserved seat tickets for the show may be purchased through the Monroe Arts Center at 608-325-5700 or 888-596-1249; in person at the box office, 1315 11th St.; or online at www.monroeartscenter.com.
The event has been underwritten by corporate underwriter Colony Brands, Inc., and media underwriters Monroe Publishing, LLC, and Big Radio.
"Sweet Dreams and Honky Tonks" stars Wisconsin music veterans Tom Waselchuk and Jami Lampkins.
"It's a real honor to shine a spotlight on some bigger-than-life artists who've been very influential and inspirational to us," Waselchuk said. "Any fan of traditional country music will love this show. But "Sweet Dreams and Honky Tonks' isn't just for hard-core country fans.
"Indeed, Hank's influence is everywhere; Patsy and Johnny were and are huge crossover stars; and Loretta won a Grammy award in 2005 for her collaborations with rocker Jack White. Some of the songs in the show have been in our repertoire for years, and we're keeping our own arrangements on many of them. Other tunes we've arranged with our own "dang-it" flair. The rest of the songs we are treating with a light touch and great respect for the originals, as performed by Hank, Loretta, Patsy, and Johnny," Waselchuk said.
Waselchuk, a singer and songwriter, has performed for more than three decades. He co-founded and played bluegrass with The Stone Oak Band; jazz with The Full Count Jazz Band; country and variety with Marcy and The Highlights and Cris Plata and Extra Hot; and gypsy swing with the national touring group Harmonious Wail. He plays guitar, bass and pedal steel guitar.
Lampkins moved to Madison in 2007 from Nashville, where she was a finalist in the USA Network's "Nashville Star" competition. She is a singer, songwriter, guitarist and banjo player, and has played professionally since age 14.
Waselchuk and Lampkins are regular guest performers on "Midwest Country," a music showcase broadcast Saturdays nationally on the RFD-TV network. Last year they were named 2013 Country/Bluegrass Performer of the Year by the Madison Area Music Awards.
The back-up band for "Sweet Dreams and Honky Tonks" is The Dang-Its, a country music group Waselchuk founded in 1998, and which Lampkins joined in 2009. The Dang-Its are Rick Nass on pedal steel guitar and dobro; Mark Luhring on drums and vocals; and Pete Olig on bass and vocals.
Reserved seat tickets for the show may be purchased through the Monroe Arts Center at 608-325-5700 or 888-596-1249; in person at the box office, 1315 11th St.; or online at www.monroeartscenter.com.
The event has been underwritten by corporate underwriter Colony Brands, Inc., and media underwriters Monroe Publishing, LLC, and Big Radio.