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‘Come to the Lakes’ concert series kicks off [UPDATED]
Published 8:11am Thursday, June 7, 2012 Updated 1:14pm Thursday, June 7, 2012Summer in Battle Lake has arrived and that means it’s time to “Come to the Lakes.” This is the fifth year that Lakes Area Community Center (LACC) has offered this concert series, at 8 p.m. Thursdays at LACC from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
The concerts are free, but your donations to support LACC are most welcome.
There will be one addition to the agenda this summer. On the last Thursday of each month, June 28, July 26 and Aug. 30, the concert will be preceded by a dinner served by the women of First Lutheran Church. Cost of the dinner is $7 and will be available to the first 100 guests.
The series kicks off tonight with The Explosive Rockats. They offer a variety of music from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Their musical classics range from Burl Ives to the Beatles; plus the music of Nat ‘King’ Cole, Dean Martin, Neil Young and Bob Dylan, with a dose of Buddy Holly in between.
This rocking and rolling trio is based in Underwood. Members include Alvin Olson on drums, Alan Thompson on lead guitar and Justin Retzlaff on bass guitar.
They all sing with Justin and Alan on lead vocals.
Each member of this trio has an impressive background in making music in a small rock group. Alvin is a retired music teacher, having taught all levels of band students in Underwood from 1969 to 1999. The Vibrations from the Grand Forks area was the first group he played with from 1963-69.
He has played in all kinds of bands with music from rock, country, old time, and even a big band group. The Explosive Rockats began in 1999. Justin Retzlaff , from Fergus Falls, started playing music with his two best friends in high school. He was a founding member of the band Radio On which enjoyed success and a loyal following in Mpls/St. Paul.
They opened for several popular groups in that area. After returning to the Fergus Area in 2008, he began recording and writing his own music under the name Gormon. Joining the The Explosive Rockats in April of 2011, he found working with Alan and Alvin to be a good fit.
A resident of Underwood, Alan started playing guitar at 17. The band Strange Brew was formed under the tutelage of the new band director, Alvin Olson. Alan was an original member of the country-rock band Sagebrush in the late 70s and several bands in the 80s and 90s. In 1999 the original band from high school reunited to honor Alvin at his retirement from teaching. It was so much fun that they decided to continue with Alvin as drummer.
Come join the fun. There will be time to visit over lemonade and goodies following the concert.
Stop at Lakes Area Community Center for a visit or to check out the information center. Summer hours are: 10 to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Don’t forget the Farmers Market in the east parking lot Saturday from 9-1p.m..
LACC contact information: 112 West Main Street, P.O. Box 12 Battle Lake, MN 56515 lacc@arvig.net www.lakesareacommunitycenter.org
