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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 13, 2009
CONTACT: Patricia Miller, Heritage Fund, (605) 773-6001, Patricia.Miller@state.sd.us
Historical Society fund-raiser bringing top entertainment to Lead
PIERRE, S.D. -- The Lead Opera House is once more a venue for outstanding artists.
On Friday, Oct. 16, talented performers from throughout South Dakota will take to the stage of the Historic Homestake Opera House in Lead to present an evening of American roots music wrapped in three-part harmony and humor.
Entertaining will be the Sioux Falls-based quartet East of Westreville, with guest fiddler Kenny Putnam of Rapid City.
The Heritage Fund is based in Pierre and is the nonprofit fundraising partner of the South Dakota State Historical Society. The Heritage Fund and the Historic Homestake Opera House Society are sponsoring the Friday, Oct. 16, fund raiser. Doors to the Opera House, located at 309 Main St., open at 6:30 p.m. Entertainment begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person or $50 per couple and will be available at the door.
East of Westreville features Boyd Bristow (BRIS-toe) on lead acoustic guitar and vocals, Brian Bonde (BON-dee) on rhythm acoustic guitar and vocals, Kaija (KIY-ya) Bonde on vocals, and Al Slaathaug (SLAT-howg) on string bass and vocals. The group takes its name from a now non-existent town located north of Vermillion that was home to Kaija Bonde’s family, the Westre clan. The remains of Westreville stand as a symbol for what the group sings about: family, love, God and faith.
Putnam is one of the most well-known names in Black Hills music. He performs widely and played with A South Dakota Acoustic Christmas, The Red Willow Band and The Roy Clark Show.
The fun continues after the nearly two-hour show concludes. Desserts and beverages will be served on the second floor of the Opera House. Piano technician Curt Bauer of Rapid City will be at the piano, providing background music.
Among the artists whose works people may bid on at the silent auction are Chris Budden, Gail Heilmann, Angela Marie Poches and James Van Nuys of Rapid City; Jean Laughton of Interior; Jon Crane of Hill City; Karen VanderWal of Brookings; Dawn Rasmussen of Belvidere; Lee Leuning of Aberdeen; Paul Horsted of Custer; Terry Deuter, and Brett and Tammy Prang of Kadoka; Kathy Sigle and Marion Toillion of Spearfish; and Putnam.
The Historic Deadwood Lead Arts Council, which has its offices in the Opera House building, has an exhibit of Termespheres on display that people will be able to view.
To reserve tickets or for more information, contact the South Dakota Heritage Fund at (605) 773-6346.
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The South Dakota Heritage Fund is a private charitable nonprofit that seeks funding to assist the South DakotaState Historical Society in programming and projects to preserve South Dakota’s history and heritage for future generations.
The South Dakota State Historical Society is a division of the Department of Tourism and State Development and strives to help the state meet the goals of the 2010 Initiative by enhancing history as a tool for economic development and cultural tourism. The society is headquartered at the South DakotaCulturalHeritageCenter in Pierre. The center houses the society’s world-class museum, the archives, and the historic preservation, publishing and administrative/development offices. Call (605) 773-3458 or visit www.sdhistory.org for more information. The society also has an archaeology office in Rapid City; call (605) 394-1936 for more information.