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21st annual Prairie Dog Blues Fest ready to rock

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Dana Fuchs is among the acts coming to Prairie du Chien this weekend, July 27-28, for the 21st annual Prairie Dog Blues Festival. She is touted as a Jagger blues jammer, Otis soul sister, juke-joint Janis and Sexy Sadie all rolled into one world class performer. See her Saturday at 8:30 p.m. on St. Feriole Island.

The Kris Lager Band held a huge crowd in the blues fest beer tent last year. So many fans are excited they are returning to the 2018 lineup. If you’ve never seen this Omaha-based band, don’t miss this chance to see them locally and dance, clap and sing along with their funky energetic style of music, at the Prairie Dog Blues Fest.

By Correne Martin

What happens on the island, stays on the island! And no matter what happens, it’s all about rocking and singing killer blues tunes, celebrating positive vibes, sweating and dancing to soulful live music—all at one of the most beautiful venues around. 

The 21st annual Prairie Dog Blues Festival will once again bring 12 regional and internationally-renowned acts to St. Feriole Island in Prairie du Chien for two days, July 27-28. 

This year’s lineup will showcase the Janis Joplin-esque singer-songwriter stylings of Dana Fuchs, the funky and energetic jams of the Kris Lager Band, soul singer Josh Hoyer from the 2017 season of The Voice, the sweet and powerful show-woman Samantha Fish, the electric rock and blues guitar heroes of the Terry Quiett Band, 2018 International Blues Challenge winner Kevin Burt, Canadian Entertainer of the Year the Paul DesLauriers Band, and more.

Here’s the full lineup:

Friday—5 p.m., Kevin Burt; 7 p.m. Altered Five; 9 p.m., Josh Hoyer and Soul Colossal; 11 p.m., Samantha Fish; Friday beer tent act, the Paul DeLauriers Band

Saturday—12:30 p.m., Mama’s Worry (from Prairie du Chien); 2:30 p.m., John Primer; 4:30 p.m., Corey Dennison; 6:30 p.m., Scottie Miller Band; 8:30 p.m., Dana Fuchs; 10:30 p.m., Terry Quiett Band; Saturday beer tent act Kris Lager Band.

Dana Fuchs

Dana Fuchs will heat up the main stage Saturday night, beginning at 8:30, with her classically raspy vocals and anciently bluesy yet contemporary edgy passion. 

Having released her seventh album, “Love Lives On,” in May, Dana is touted as a Jagger blues jammer, Otis soul sister, juke-joint Janis and Sexy Sadie all rolled into one world class performer. 

She explained what kind of show the Prairie Dog crowd can expect. “It’s such a combination of us and the audience working together. Most of my songs, especially from ‘Love Lives On,’ feel very redemptive and hopeful,” she shared. “I want people to sweat with me, dance with me and sing with me as we go back to that soulful rock ‘n’ roll church experience.”

Her latest album features all but two tunes written by Dana and songwriting partner/band guitarist Jon Diamond. The other two include a stripped-down, Gospel ballad cover of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire,” as well as a cover of Otis Redding’s “Nobody’s Fault But Mine.”

A New York transplant to Memphis, Dana is known for collecting rave reviews for playing Janis Joplin in “Love, Janis,” an off-Broadway musical tribute, and Sexy Sadie in the 2007 film, “Across the Universe.” The film gave familiar Fab Four tunes a healthy injection while bringing to life classic Beatles characters. She was also heralded as one of the Huffington Post’s favorite musicians of 2017.

Dana explained a couple of her most beloved and heartfelt songs to perform: “Callin’ Angels” and “Same Sunlight.” 

“After I lost my mom—I had already lost three siblings and my dad—I went to my guitar player’s house and he was strumming and singing “come on angels,” she recalled of her instant inspiration for writing the “Callin’ Angels” lyrics. “Each verse is about each person I lost ... and celebrating their lives. I encourage my audiences to think about someone they’ve loved and lost and just fall into this song, which started as a ballad but became this cool jazzy, upbeat song.”

In “Same Sunlight,” she said it’s all about living and breathing under the same sunlight as others. The lyrics wonder, “Can’t we all just get along?”

Behind Dana’s seductive clout, her band is a strong group of enthusiastic buddies who’ve lived and breathed music together near the Jersey Shore. They can pull off all genres from rock ‘n’ roll to blues to R&B.

“We’re thrilled to finally be coming back to the states,” Dana said, adding that they’ve been touring Europe for a long time. 

The road that’s leading Dana Fuchs to Prairie du Chien Saturday is one that’s brought her through family tragedies and personal battles with drugs and related drama. But she’s prevailed and, now, those themes come out through her emotional music, which will ring loud and clear at the blues fest.

Kris Lager Band

Back by popular demand from 2017, the Kris Lager Band is ready to add its feel good music to the Prairie Dog beer tent Saturday. They are a must see and must-bounce-along kind of ensemble that’s known for its swaggering rock ‘n’ roll and blues infusion. KLB’s recently-released album,“Love Songs & Life Lines,” reached no. 6 on the soul/blues charts this month. Its tunes feature a more acoustic and folksy/Americana side. 

KLB’s dynamic musical abilities and charisma will grace the stage all day Saturday, between main stage bands. Come prepared to dance, clap and sing along for a fun and interactive show laced with road-tested songs and contagious grooves.

“I wanna lift up your spirits through song and dance!” Kris Lager said. “When music is created from a place of love and delivered with good intentions, it is undeniably powerful. There’s nothing better than making the people around you feel good. The ultimate compliment for me is when folks come up to me after a show and say, ‘I was having a horrible day’ or ‘I was in a bad mood and now I feel great.’”

Based out of Omaha, Neb., the band has been zig-zagging the country, spreading its funk and heavy soul for over 15 years.

The locally-managed Prairie Dog Blues Fest remains one of the longest running in the Midwest, headed by Prairie du Chien resident and business owner Todd Yeomans, his family and friends. Each year, over 3,000 people take in the fest each of the two days it’s in town. 

Also, in two decades, the festival has donated thousands of dollars in proceeds to Prairie du Chien area school and civic organizations who volunteer at the event.

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