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RAGBRAI Entertainment Lineup Sure to be a Crowd Pleaser
The entertainment lineup for Jefferson’s July 21 RAGBRAI event will feature a group of Greene County natives, and one band that is fast becoming one of the more popular musical performances among the ride’s participants.
“We have put together the best entertainment venue of any town along the RAGBRAI route,” said Andy Krieger, chair of Jefferson RAGBRAI’s entertainment committee. “We already have folks coming in from all over the Midwest just to see the show.”
The Johnny Holm Band, which played before a RAGBRAI audience in Spencer in 2007, will headline the main stage July 21 when the statewide bicycle tour stops in Jefferson. The band will play from 8:30 p.m. to midnight on the Freight Train Stage, located on the north side of the courthouse in the beverage garden.
The Johnny Holm Band is described as electrifying, playing almost non-stop through three- and four-hour performances. The group keeps audiences on their toes from start to finish, promoting crowd participation at every turn.
“Never a dull moment is a drastic understatement whenever The Johnny Holm Band hits the stage,” Krieger said.
Playing on the Freight Train Stage from 5 to 7:45 p.m. is KounterTop, featuring Greene County natives Nate Guess, Nick Erickson and Scott Erickson. The trio played their first RAGBRAI event a decade ago when they were only 13 years old. Today, they are regarded as one of Iowa’s favorite party bands, keeping audiences moving with classic rock favorites and party tunes. They have opened for bands such as Foreigner, Kansas and Van Halen, and have traveled throughout the Midwest and across the country.
“Both KounterTop and The Johnny Holm Band are known as two of the best ‘get up and dance’ bands in the Midwest,” Krieger said. “We are truly lucky to fill a stage with these two performances.”
The Coonettes, a comedy song and dance troupe made up of Gina Harrington, Teresa Shahan and Marianne Carlson, will perform on the Freight Train Stage from 8:15 to 8:30 p.m. following opening ceremonies. The adult daughters of Don and Mary Coon, The Coonettes are known in Jefferson for their original rendition of “Proud Mary” and the family-inspired “Farm Wife Blues.”
Throughout the afternoon, local performers will take to the Whistle Stop Stage, located on the north side of the Greene County Courthouse. The Community Players of Greene County will kick off the festivities at 1 p.m. with song and dance, followed by vocalist Larry Dowd at 2 p.m. Marty Mincer, a world champion ragtime piano player, will be on stage from 3 to 3:45 p.m., and the Town & Country Band will perform from 4 to 4:45 p.m.
“Our overall goal for Jefferson’s RAGBRAI event was to showcase our local talent and let riders from all over the world know that our little town can throw a party beyond compare,” Krieger said.
| Whistle Stop Stage | FREIGHT TRAIN Stage | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| (located DOWNTOWN on the North side of the Courthouse) | (located in the Beverage Garden, North side of the Courthouse) DOWNTOWN | ||
| 1:00 – 1:45pm | Community Players of Greene County: | 5:00 – 7:45pm | KOUNTERTOP |
| More talent assembled on one stage than Broadway could ever muster. There will be song, dance and one HUGE “welcome” to all the riders of RAGBRAI®. | If they are good enough to open for Foreigner, Kansas and even Van Halen they are good enough for our stage. This Greene County power rock trio played their first RAGBRAI at the ripe old age of 13, a decade ago, and to say that experience forever changed them would be an understatement! Regarded as one of Iowa’s favorite party bands they will get your hearts pumping and bodies moving from the moment they step on stage. Always a crowd pleaser, Kountertop is sure to lift your spirits. Hang on and watch out because classic rock favorites and original grunge never sounded so good! | ||
| 2:00 – 2:45pm | Larry Dowd | 8:00 – 8:15pm | Opening Ceremonies |
| WELCOME ONE AND ALL! Bless this evening, this event and each and every RAGBRAI participant. We will be having a special tribute to Paul Bernhard, the famous MR. PORKCHOP, so get ready to “POOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOORK CHOP” |
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| 3:00 – 3:45pm | Marty Mincer; World Champion Ragtime Piano Player | 8:15pm - 8:30pm | The "Coonettes" |
| Hang on because this guy can tickle the ivories! Get your lawn chair and tappin shoes ready for a fast paced, rollicking Ragtime Piano music review. He is the best in the world and you will never forget it! | The Coon sisters, bring their own sister act to the stage with local flavor, local humor and local talent at its best. In Jefferson they are known for their original rendition of “Proud Mary” and the family inspired “Farm Wife Blues”. Kick back, relax and laugh till your belly hurts! | ||
| 4:00 – 4:45pm | The Town & County Band | 8:30 – midnight | The Johnny Holm Band |
| Imagine a cross between “the Music Man” and “Hee Haw”. All local talent and this will be the place to be when four o’clock rolls around. This band has everything, even the kitchen sink! | Let the party begin! Let the “Johnny Holm” musical freight train take you on a trip you will NEVER forget. Talk about “All the Bells and Whistles”. This band is electrifying from the moment they step on stage. “Never a dull moment” was never a more true description as the band rocks, picks and thunders along almost non-stop from the fist song to the last laugh. Johnny is fast becoming the “most requested” and “best remembered” band along the entire RAGBRAI route. DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW! |
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