FORT DODGE – Shellabration Inc. received an early Christmas present. The organization has confirmed Huey Lewis and the News as headliner for Shellabration 2017. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, July 8, at Rogers Sports Complex (Fort Dodge Soccer Association Fields) in Fort Dodge. Having settled for a Thursday night booking last year due to unfavorable tour routing and artist availability, the 2017 show will be the first one to take place on Saturday night since the organization hosted Styx in 2013.
“Despite the weeknight event last summer, we still managed to attract more than 7,100 attendees,” said Shellabration President Jim Reed. “It was our third straight year of attendance in excess of 7,000, with 7,400 at Lynyrd Skynyrd in 2014 and 8,100 at Boston in 2015. Saturday night is always our first choice when it comes to attracting out-of-town music fans. Hopefully we’ll be able to keep our string of 7,000-plus in attendance intact.”
Huey Lewis and the News broke onto the scene in 1982 with the album “Picture This” including the hit song “Do You Believe in Love” along with the song “Workin’ for a Livin’.” It was the album entitled “Sports” in 1984 that became a number one charted album and catapulted them to multiplatinum success with four Top-10 hits including “Heart and Soul,” “I Want a New Drug,” “The Heart of Rock and Roll” and “If This Is It.” They achieved a number 1 single in 1985 when “The Power of Love” was used in the movie “Back to the Future.” Huey Lewis actually made a cameo appearance in the film. That movie also featured a song entitled “Back in Time” written for the flick by the artist. Their follow-up album spawned the hit singles “Stuck With You,” “Jacob’s Ladder” and “Hip to Be Square.” Other hits include “Doing It All for My Baby,” “Walking on a Thin Line” and “It’s All Right.” The band has scored a total of 16 Top 10 singles.
This year’s Shellabration will again feature two opening acts with ties to the Fort Dodge region.
“It’s one of our favorite traditions,” said incoming Shellabration Vice-President Ted Bodensteiner.”As organizers, we get to live their excitement vicariously. I think people are going to be excited when we make the announcement in January.”
Tickets for Shellabration 2017 featuring Huey Lewis and the News go on sale Saturday, March 25, at midnight. They will cost $36 in advance and increase to $45 beginning Monday, June 19, leading up to the show on Saturday, July 8. Tickets will be available online at www.ticketweb.com or by phone at 866-468-3401. Tickets will also be available for purchase in Fort Dodge at Hy-Vee. Kids 12 years of age and under are admitted free if accompanied by an adult. All tickets are general admission with festival style (bring your own chair) seating. No coolers and outside food or beverages are allowed.
Shellabration Inc. is a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization consisting exclusively of unpaid board members and volunteers. The organization’s mission is to make a positive contribution to the quality of life and the economic development of the greater Fort Dodge area through the delivery of exciting, family-friendly entertainment and performing arts options. In years when a profit is realized, 100 percent of the net proceeds remain within the organization and are used to help stage additional events like Oktoberfest to attract bigger headliners each year and to perpetuate the organization’s mission in down financial years. More information regarding either the event or organization is available via the Shellabration Inc. Facebook page or by calling Jim Reed at 515-570-0176.