Clear Lake, Iowa — (RI) — Thousands of rock-n-roll lovers are converging on Clear Lake for the Winter Dance Party at the Surf Ballroom.
The three-day event started Thursday night. It’s a celebration of the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and “The Big Bopper” J. P. Richardson, who died along with pilot Roger Peterson in a plane crash near Clear Lake after a show at the Surf on February 2nd, 1959. Surf Ballroom director Laurie Lietz says they see music lovers every year from at least 40 states and several foreign countries.
Thursday night’s concert featured the ’60s garage-rock band The Kingsmen, whose big hit was “Louie Louie,” as well as Joey Dee and Little Peggy March. Austin Allsup also performed. He’s the son of Tommy Allsup, the last surviving member of Holly’s Crickets from the Winter Dance Party. Friday’s lineup features two performers from the doo-wop group Sha Na Na as part of the event’s traditional sock hop.
Lietz says they’ve recently been turning the corner on their Saturday night concerts to highlight some artists that have been influenced by Holly, Valens and the Bopper.
Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys are also performing Saturday night, as are Albert Lee and Headcat 13, along with special appearances by Narvel Felts, Linda Gail Lewis, and Sonny West. Lietz says Sonny West has direct connections to Buddy Holly’s career.
Tickets to each night’s concert are available this year or people can still purchase a three-day pass.
http://winterdanceparty.surfballroom.com
