Just like Buddy Holly: tribute performance coming to Tisdale

For Roman Clarke and Dylan MacDonald, their interest in 1950s rocker Buddy Holly began when they acted in a play at a community theatre.

“We kind of came upon it when Dylan and I were in the Buddy Holly Story,” Clarke said. “I was 14 years old, he was 16. We learned all of the tunes and developed the show. At that point, we just decided to continue playing shows because we were having fun.”

Clarke and MacDonald have been doing the show for seven years. The third member of the band, Tom Dowden, joined the band a few years ago.

All three will be performing Rave On: A Buddy Holly Tribute in Tisdale at the Maurice Taylor Performing Arts Theatre Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. The event is hosted by the Tisdale Arts Council.

Clarke said they didn’t really know much about Holly until they were in the play.

“It’s kind of the origins of rock and roll. It’s something that we resonate with,” he said. “Everybody loves Buddy Holly, no matter which way you go, somebody’s going to want a Buddy Holly show.”

Rave Onis not the only music endeavour Clarke and Dowden are involved in. They’re also a part of The Middle Coast, which plays original music drawing from 1970s influences like The Guess Who, The Eagles, and Hall and Oates. It was through their connections with that band that allowed the Rave On show to go through the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils circuit. The organization knew they did a Buddy Holly tribute show and figured it would play well in small-town Saskatchewan.

The three are from Manitoba, with Clarke and MacDonald living in Winnipeg and Dowden living in Hamiota.

The band works to replicate the 1950s era for their audience.

“We have the Buddy Holly shtick going on, so we all dress up like as we’re from the era and talk in a Texan accent, which is hilarious for all of us,” Clarke said. “We just put on a bit of a show, tell some stories, have some laughs. Tom usually goes down and dances with a bunch of people. It’s always a lot of fun.”

Clarke said he’s looking forward to getting together with his band mates to play the show.

“We’re  just excited to come play.”

 Rave On: A Buddy Holly Tribute will be at Maurice Taylor Performing Arts Theatre Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Advance tickets are available at The Clothesline or online at ticketpro.ca