SIDNEY — For 35 years, Gateway Arts Council has brought professional entertainment to the Northern Miami Valley. With hits from Lonestar to Blood Sweat & Tears, the 2022-23 season’s Presents Series brings its audience the best in arts and entertainment. Great songs, dynamic groups, family fun, moving performances-all are part of the series.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled with all the new shows we will be offering this next season. Gateway strives to bring the best entertainment to our area and this year is no exception. Our success has been through the support of our sponsors, patrons, and donors. Because of their strong support, we can bring such wonderful entertainment to our area,” said Ellen Keyes Gateway’s executive director
Lonestar will kick the season off on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022, at the Sidney High School auditorium at 7 p.m. Tickets are $46 each with AAA members able to purchase tickets for $45.
Lonestar was founded in 1992 and quickly became one of country music’s most celebrated groups. It consists of Dean Sams (keyboards, acoustic guitar, background vocals), Michael Britt (lead guitarist, background vocals), Keech Rainwater (drums), and Drew Womack (lead vocals, guitar) was founded in 1992. Lonestar has charted more than 20 singles on the Hot Country Songs chart, including 9 that reached No. 1: “No News,” “Come Cryin’ to Me,” “Amazed,” “Smile,” “What About Now,” “Tell Her,” “I’m Already There,” “My Front Porch Looking In” and “Mr. Mom.” “Amazed” also charted at No. 1. The group has recorded seven albums, a greatest hits package, and one album each for three different independent labels. Three of their albums have been certified platinum or higher by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Lonestar has amassed RIAA-certified sales of over ten million albums since their national launch in 1995 and achieved 10 No. 1 country hits. The band’s awards include 1996 ACM Top New Vocal Group, 1999 ACM Single of The Year for “Amazed” (the song also won “Song of the Year “), 2001 CMA “Vocal Group of the Year, and 2002 ACM Top Vocal Group. With an average of 80 dates worldwide per year, they are celebrating over 25 years together.
Christmas with Cantus will perform Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, at the Sidney High School auditorium at 7 p.m. Tickets are $36 each with a AAA members’ price of $35.
In a “powerfully poetic Christmas program,” the all-male vocal ensemble presents familiar holiday carols alongside a “powerfully poetic Christmas program,” Cantus brings their pristine harmonies to familiar holiday carols alongside narrated passages. As one of the nation’s few full-time vocal ensembles, Cantus has come to prominence with its distinctive approach to creating music. The group enjoys a vigorous schedule of national and international touring, in addition to home concerts in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Cantus has performed at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, UCLA, San Francisco Performances, Atlanta’s Spivey Hall, and Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival.
Integral to the Cantus mission is its commitment to preserve and deepen music education in the schools. Cantus works with more than 5,000 students each year in masterclass and workshop settings across the country and has visited 31 Minnesota high schools throughout the 13-year history of its award-winning High School Residency program. Cantus also presents a Young and Emerging Composers’ Competition, to encourage the creation of a new repertoire through cash prizes, a performance, recording, and publication of winning compositions.
Comedian Jeff Allen will perform Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, at the Sidney High School auditorium at 7 p.m. Tickets are $31 each with a AAA members’ price of $30.
Allen combines clean, hilarious humor like no other comedian working today. Besides performing at corporate functions and fundraisers, he regularly appears on television, radio, and at casinos across the country. Allen has been featured on America’s Got Talent, Netflix, Amazon, Dry Bar Comedy, Pureflix, Huckabee, Warner Bros., Bananas, Apostles of Comedy, Thou Shalt Laugh, and numerous other networks and shows. Consistently making heroes out of meeting planners, Allen provides world-class comedy. With over 200 million video views on YouTube and Facebook, comedian and viral sensation Allen is the world’s funniest, most inspiring comedian! Allen is the best at what he does – making people laugh as hard as humanly possible. “His Happy Wife, Happy Life” message of a marriage gone wrong and redeemed, has given laughter and encouragement to millions of people. Allen’s comedy drives home the humor in everyday family life and the joy derived from a healthy marriage.
Blood Sweat & Tears will conclude the year’s performances on Sunday, April 23, 2023, at the Sidney High School auditorium at 7 p.m. Tickets are $31 each with a AAA membership price of $30.
Blood, Sweat & Tears is not the first band to ever use a horn section, but they are the first to fuse it with rock, jazz, and some blues just for good measure. From the first ensemble in the late 60’s practicing in a loft on Bleeker Street in New York’s Greenwich Village and having crowds clapping on the street below between songs, founding member and drummer Bobby Colomby knew they were on the right course. Since then, the band has never stopped touring for over 50 years.
Blood Sweat & Tears performed on Sunday, Aug. 17, 1969, at Woodstock, the same day as Jimi Hendrix among other great bands, and 50 years later at Bethel Woods, New York, the site of Woodstock 2019.
Blood Sweat & Tears has had many firsts. They are the first rock band to tour behind the former Iron Curtain and the first rock band to play Las Vegas. Blood Sweat & Tears has had many configurations over its 50-plus years of touring but one thing for sure is that the music is timeless, and fans are never disappointed.
The band members are always looking to inspire the next generation of musicians so don’t be shy to walk up and talk to them. They take young musicians and prepare them for life in the music industry. We are proud of the fact that over the past 50 years the majority of musicians that have passed through BS&T have gone on to fame as players, producers, arrangers, and solo performers more than any other band on the planet. BS&T still headlines jazz festivals all over the world. BS&T only performs about 60 shows a year so it’s a rare treat to see them live.
Season tickets are $135 for all four shows (Lonestar, Cantus,
Jeff Allen and Blood Sweat & Tears). Season tickets are $115 for three shows (Lonestar,
Jeff Allen and Blood Sweat & Tears)
Tickets go on sale to current season ticket holders on May 2, 2022, and to the general public on June 1, 2022.
For more information on any of these programs, call the Arts Council at 937-498-2787 or visit www.gatewayartscouncil.org.
