The Clauson Family Music Show

NewsletterColoma, Wisconsin / Volume 1, Issue 16 / February-March 2014

With February on its way, it’s time again for the Cody Clauson Trio’s Sweetheart’s Show. Concerts this year will be held in Wisconsin Rapids, WI, Berlin, WI and Belvidere, IL. Always a great concert and a chance to get out and enjoy some exciting music, the Sweetheart’s Show is a great way to spend Valentine’s weekend.

Friday, February 14th kicks off the Sweetheart’s Show weekend with a concert at the Wisconsin Rapids Community Theatre in the Rapids Mall/Centralia Center, tickets for this concert are available at the Community Theatre or by calling 715-421-0435. On Saturday, February 15th the Trio travels to Berlin, Wisconsin for a concert at the Berlin High School Auditorium; tickets

wraps up this concert series with a performance at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Belvidere, Illinois. Tickets for this show are

Evangelical Covenant Church’s junior high/senior high mission’s trip in July. Tickets are just $15 for all concerts.The Trio features Cody Clauson, 23, with his tenor banjo, guitar and remarkable vocals. Cody performs along-side his

sister, Brittney, 25, double bass and vocals, and their father Brent, a multi-instrumentalist and music teacher.The Cody Clauson Trio focuses on presenting a diverse array of music in a variety of styles, creating a concert that fea-

tures a genre for everyone. Audiences enjoy the mixture of musical styling that includes, ragtime, jazz, blues and swing, as well as

familiar as well as obscure tunes. The eclectic music of the group is continuously evolving providing audiences with an opportunity to return again and

again. The Cody Clauson Trio presents an array of music to be enjoyed by all.This Sweetheart’s Show will include songs around a Valentine’s Day theme, but is not only a great show for sweethearts,

but for everyone! Call to reserve your tickets today.

Dairy State SteelGuitar Show

Brent Clauson will be a featured pedal steel guitarist at the Dairy State Steel Guitar Show in Wisconsin Rapids, on Saturday March 15. The steel show features steel guitar players from throughout the midwest. Music begins on Friday night and runs through Sunday afternoon at the Hotel Mead. More information can be found at www.dairystatesteelshow.com along with scheduled performance times as the event approaches.

March 2014Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat

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2 3 4 5 ColomaHotel7pm-9pm

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9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Steel Guitar Convention &Trio at Portage PAC 7:30pm

16 17 18 19 ColomaHotel7pm-9pm

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23 24 25 26 ColomaHotel7pm-9pm

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“O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.”

Psalm 84:12

Skijoring By Patrick Leibsle

Last summer my grandma, sister, and I went to Minnesota to adopt an Alaskan sled dog, named Maude. She was retired three years early for being a slacker, but we thought she could still pull us around the field on cross country skis’ on her own. So we gave it a go and it really worked well for a dog who hasn’t worn a harness in six months. Now that she has learned, we go skijoring every now and then. We all get a good laugh when she decides she is done because she sits down pulling whoever has the lead line down and after that she will not go anywhere.

Portage Center for the ArtsThe Cody Clauson Trio will present a concert at the Portage Center for the Arts on Saturday March 15 at 7:30pm. Tickets for this concert are $15 and available by calling the PCA at 608-742-5655.

W13412 CTY RD CCColoma WI 54930

715-228-2951

Clauson Business Officewww.clausonfamilymusicshows.com

prsrt stdUs postage

paIdoshkosh, WIpermIt No. 67

February 2014Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat

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2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11Brittney’sBirthday

12 13 14Sweetheart’sShowWisconsinRapids

15Sweetheart’sShow Berlin& Candle-light Ski

16Sweetheart’sShowBelvidere

17 18 19ColomaHotel7pm-9pm

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23 24 25 26ColomaHotel7pm-9pm

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Clauson Family Music ShowW13412 County Road CCColoma WI 54930

Eau Claire Ragtime Festival ReviewBy Brittney Clauson

January 10-12th found the Cody Clauson Trio at the Eau Claire Ragtime Festival as one of the featured performers. We have been attending the festival on and off for about 10 years and this year were featured as one of the headlining acts.

We arrived in Eau Claire Friday afternoon and took a brief stop at the home of Jim Radloff, the festival’s founder, for a piano signing reception, after playing a few tunes and signing Jim’s piano we headed down to the church. All of the events for the weekend are held at the First Congregational Church in Eau Claire, we always feel

there is no better venue to perform in than a church. The Friday night concert began at 7pm. Along with the Trio, the headliners for the weekend were Dave

Majchrzak (St. Louis, MO) piano, Brian Holland (Dallas, TX) piano, and Danny Coots (Nashville, TN) drums. All excellent players, it was a great honor for us to perform on the same stage.

Since we had more stage time than usual at this event, we featured the steel guitar with some rags. Of course, the majority of the performance featured early jazz, piano rags and blues tunes. Following the Friday concert Cody played with the Ragtime Ramblers Dixieland Band and after a brief stop at the afterglow, we retired to our hotel rooms.

Saturday featured two more concerts, an afternoon performance and evening one. In the afternoon concert, Cody joined Dave Majchrzak for a lively rendition of “Chinatown” and our set included more ragtime favorites. Following the afternoon concert, Cody and I joined the Ragtime Ramblers for a set, we all enjoyed a great dinner at the church, prepared by the youth group and then onto the final performance.

For the evening concert all the players brought out their most show stopping arrangements. However, the weekend was sentimental as we learned that after fifteen years, it would be the final Ragtime Festival for Eau Claire. We felt that it would be most appropriate to end our Saturday evening set with “Bye Bye Blues” the first song that we performed on the Eau Claire Ragtime Festival stage ten years ago. The grand finale of the evening featured all performers with a blazing performance of “Waiting for the Robert E Lee”. Following the concert, Cody again joined the Ragtime Ramblers for a set.

Sunday morning was exceptionally exciting for us as we provided music for the Ragtime Worship Service, again at the church. We led the congrecation with hymns that were done in a ragtime style and the service also featured special music, including a song called “Just a Little While to Stay Here” which Cody learned especially for the service and a steel guitar instrumental of “Old Rugged Cross”

Following the service, the weekend concluded with a farewell banquet, where we said good bye to some of our “musical friends” whose paths I’m sure we will cross again.

Christmas on the Farm ReviewAgain last year we were excited to have another sold-out Christmas

season. While we did face some cold weather, the theatre’s heating systems kept guests toasty warm inside, as they enjoyed the dinner and show. The delicious dinner featured new entrées including a stuffed pork loin, broccoli and parmesan stuffed chicken breast, as well as beef tips with mushrooms and onions. The fare was all made fresh in the theatre’s kitchen. Guests to upcoming shows can anticipate more homemade and fresh items as we continue to enhance our dinner options, creating more

delicious meals to serve you. In last year’s show we worked hard to arrange a production that featured both

traditional Christmas selections along with new and different Christmas songs, which guests may not have heard before.The show also featured some new cast members; we welcomed Glenn Runnels,

violin, to join us for the Christmas season. Glenn has joined us in previous shows including the Soulful Sounds of the Pedal Steel Guitar. Also new in the Christmas season was Carolina Bucker Menke, working as our dancer and choreographer.

Carolina is originally from the southern part of Brazil, and now owns a dance studio in Westfield, Wisconsin. Carolina worked with the kids to create some dance routines to include in the show, along with entertaining audiences with some solo work. We look forward to having Carolina join us again in upcoming shows.

The gift shoppes also featured fantastic Christmas shopping. The perfect gift for someone special was easily found for many of our guests. Local, handmade items were a hit in the shoppes during the Christmas season. Next year, shopping will be further expanded providing the perfect opportunity to find great gifts for everyone on your list.

We feel very blessed to have had a successful Christmas season and look forward to what next year will bring. The 2014 Christmas on the Farm dates are filling up quickly again, with some published dates already sold-out. It’s never to early to start planning a trip for Christmas 2014, we promise to make this year’s Christmas show the best yet!

MakingAppleCider

Brianna LeibsleIn the fall, my grandma,

my brother, and I made several batches of apple cider. Wespent a while picking several gallons of apples from our orchard. Next we grind them and squeeze them. We watched the juice slowly and steadily flow out of the spout. To make our cider, we would hand-pick three to six gallons of apples, most of unknown types. One of us, usually my brother, would run the grinder, which feeds the ground apples into a barrel. We then could press it. This is when the juice really starts flowing. We would put our cups under the spout to “sample.”

We had a new pear tree with about three gallons of pears. We made one batch of pure pear juice. It was super sweet! The next batch was pear mixed with apple juice. It was delicious!

We had a lot of fun making apple cider last year. Hopefully we will have a good apple crop this year so we can make more cider!

2014 Show PreviewWe have an exciting year of new shows coming up, includ-

ing audience favorites and some brand new productions. In April we will again feature one of our most popular

shows “An Afternoon with the Country Stars” An audience favorite year after year, this show features music made famous by many of your favorite country stars. Each year brings in new selections of familiar as well as some more obscure country

In May we feature the “Clauson Family Gospel Hour” a show that will surely leave you inspired as you enjoy an after-noon of gospel music, hymns and inspirational songs, presented in an array of musical styles. This is a great show for your church group to attend. Shows run May 15-17.

Our ever-popular summer season runs June, July and Au-gust with a week of shows each month. The summer series is a

must-see every year, it features every variety of music and includes everything you would ever want in a production. Each year this show features new and different songs and arrangements,

from these exciting decades. There’s no shortage of poodle skirts or saddle shoes in this show,

The Cody Clauson Trio’s Dells Boat Tour also takes place in July, a sold-out event for three years, it features a scenic boat tour of Wisconsin Dells, a delicious steak and lobster dinner, all followed by a concert featuring the Cody Clauson Trio. It’s a great afternoon of

Then in August we have our brand new show for 2014, the “Roaring Razzmatazz

leave you on the edge of your seat. Dazzling costumes and exciting routines further add to this vivacious show. An absolute must-see for 2014! Shows run August 22 and 23.

September brings the Fall Spectacular Music Show, another great production featuring an array of music including many audience favorites. Great costuming and fabulous musical arrangements are also featured in this show. Shows run September 11-13.

The Soulful Sounds of the Steel Guitar returns in October. If you enjoy our “Af-ternoon with the Country Stars Show” then you will love this performance as well. Another

both instrumental and vocal arrangements. Shows run October 10 and 11.Christmas on the Farm shows begin in November and run through the month of

put you in the holiday spirit. Both traditional Christmas selections and new-found favorites are presented in many different genres and musical styles. Christmas on the Farm also features new selections and arrangements each year. The 2014 Christmas season will again feature fabu-

All of these shows feature our delicious dinner, with new and changing menus

The Gift Shoppes are also open during all shows, featuring a diverse array of hand-made and unique items. The Coffee Shoppe is always open during shows as well, featuring a

For more information on any of the upcoming shows, to request a full color brochure

www.clausonfamilymusicshows.com for the latest schedule information.

Cody Clauson Trio at the

Coloma HotelAgain this winter, the Cody Clauson Trio will be playing Wednesday nights at the Coloma Hotel from 7pm-9pm. In this casual venue the Trio plays, jazz, blues, ragtime, along with some country and pop tunes, and also accepts some audience requests. A fun environment and a chance to get out of the house and beat the winter blues. The hotel also offers pizza and beverages. Dates include Feb. 19, 26 & March 5, 19, 26