Mineral County gets a taste of the south with the Dixie Dandies

Nick Ianniello

Mineral Independent

The Mineral County Courthouse lawn in Superior was filled with the sounds of music Sunday afternoon when the Mineral County Performing Arts Council sponsored a performance by the Dixie Dandies.

Every shady spot on the lawn was occupied by a lawn chair as the Spokane-based Dixie Dandies took requests and played some of their favorite songs.

Their set lasted from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. and they played a selection of New Orleans Dixieland Jazz and hits from the ‘30s and ‘40s.

Six-year-old Ravenna Nelson spent the afternoon dancing and eating ice cream provided by MCPAC.

“These guys are really good,” said Nelson.

MCPAC got a donation of ice cream from Meadow Gold in Missoula and ice cream cones from John Kelley. They sold the ice cream and bottled water from Blackfoot Telecommunication for 25 cents apiece.

The performance was free and all of the proceeds from the ice cream sales will go to putting on another concert.

MCPAC member Mary Jo Berry said that they have sent out letters to local businesses and they took free will donations at the concert to help fund what they hope will be next year’s concert series. They plan to put on as many concerts as they can, free of charge to the community.

Betty Magone made aprons for the MCPAC members to wear and Jim Debree donated hats. Rosie’s Café supplied a tent to shade the concert goers from the sun.

Berry said that they contacted the Dixie Dandies for this show because they remembered them from their performances at the Mineral County Fair. She said that the group was recommended to them through Handshake Productions and they played at the county fair in 2005 and 2006.

“They’re really entertaining and the always drew a big crowd at the fair,” Berry said.

The group drew a large crowd to the courthouse Sunday, and the crowd continued to grow as the show wore on.

Front-man Bruce Davis said that he had really enjoyed playing at the Mineral County Fair in the past and he was glad to get the opportunity to come back.

“We kind of didn’t expect to come here this year,” Davis said.

Davis is the only surviving original member of the Dixie Dandies, a band that he started 25 years ago when he retired. He used to work as a studio musician in Los Angeles, but had to retire when his eyes were failing and he could no longer read sheet music.

“I don’t have to read music for this kind of thing because I know it all,” Davis said.

Davis said that as one member would pass on another would come take his place, but he has always been a part of the group.

“What else would I do,” Davis replied when asked why he keeps playing music.

Davis said that the concert was really fun and he enjoyed getting to play some older tunes and requests for the crowd.

“This is the first time this thing has happened and I think it’s just great,” Davis said. “I sure hope we get to come back and do this again.”