Editorial

Concert series adds spice to life in Golden Plains

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

A recent Rural Nebraska poll by the University of Nebraska revealed a lot of good things about living here, but one of the shortcomings was the lack of live entertainment choices.

We wonder if the respondents are paying attention.

No, the Rolling Stones won't be coming to the Golden Plains any time soon, but there is no lack of opportunities to hear and see talented performers in action.

It's not unusual for area nightspots to have live music, but even if that's not your cup of tea, how about the Woods Tea Company?

They're just one of the performers signed up to visit McCook as part of the McCook Concert Association 2006-07 season.

Set to perform Nov. 13, the Vermont folk music group offers everything from sea chanties to bluegrass and Celtic ballads. The four-man ensemble performs on tin whistles, guitar, bodhran, bass concertina, fiddle, banjo and penny whistle.

How good are they? Good enough for New York's Lincoln Center, Chautauqua Institute and Public Radio.

Kicking off the series will be Montana Skies, an unusual blend of cello and guitar, on Oct. 17, and third in line will be the Mary Louise Knutson Jazz Trio on March 15, and Nebraska's own professional chorale, Soli Deo Gloria Cantorum of Omaha, on April 15, a 16-voice cantorum performing everything from sacred works to pop tunes.

The concert season is a bargain at $30 per adult for all four performances, $10 per student and even a better bargain at $65 per family.

All four concerts are in the historic Fox Theater in downtown McCook.

But time is short. Membership tickets are available only now through the first concert, and no single tickets will be available, nor memberships offered during the concert season.

In addition, a reciprocity agreement provides admittance to Community Concerts in Cozad, North Platte and Holyoke, Colo.

Nothing to do in Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas?

Just four concerts offering world-class entertainment, is all.

This year, how about buying a season ticket from the McCook Concert Association, turning off the TV and going out for the night to enjoy a top-notch performance?

That's one of the opportunities that makes life in the Golden Plains such a pleasure.

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