
Hello, Hot Flash Fans!
We can hardly believe that it’s July already and we’re halfway through our 2015 concert season!

We began our year by singing for one of our fan’s retirement party in January. We had some pretty stiff competition for our audience, as the Green BayPackers were participating in a televised play-off game in the room next door. But we managed to get some folks onto the dance floor anyway!
April found us at the lovely Villa Maria Retreat Center in Old Frontenac, Minnesota, when we performed for a QEST Conference of health practitioners. What a fun bunch--they were on the dance floor throughout the concert, and we were almost afraid they wouldn’t let us stop singing and playing!! It was just the kind of audience every performer dreams of.

Last Fall, when we were putting together our Hometown Holiday Concert for the WideSpot Performing Arts Center in Stockholm, WI, we got the notion to add the Andrews Sisters’ 1946 hit tune, “Christmas Island” to our set list. Well, we couldn’t very well do a song like that without including some ukulele accompaniment now, could we? So, several of our members purchased ukuleles for themselves, and within a few weeks, had learned their parts to play for our concert. Of course, we had to add some leis and hula moves to the mix!
As a result, we now look for new songs that might sound good with ukulele accompaniment, and have added the Herman’s Hermits’ tune, “I’m Into Something Good” to our expanding repertoire. We also were inspired to take a group trip to Lacrosse this Spring to attend a concert given by The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain--an astonishing and inspiring group.
Check them out here:
As a result, we now look for new songs that might sound good with ukulele accompaniment, and have added the Herman’s Hermits’ tune, “I’m Into Something Good” to our expanding repertoire. We also were inspired to take a group trip to Lacrosse this Spring to attend a concert given by The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain--an astonishing and inspiring group.
Check them out here:

In June, we were lucky to perform under a big tent as part of the Red Wing Lions’ Club “Ribs & Bibs” fundraiser. Dark clouds and torrential, wind-driven rain really energized our singing and horn playing--we had to be louder than the storm! Luckily, no one and no equipment got wet, and the weather cleared just when it was time for us to enjoy a delicious, finger-lickin’ barbecued rib dinner! A big thank-you goes out to all the folks who braved the weather to come hear us in Red Wing.

Currently, we are practicing for our upcoming performance at the 42nd Annual Stockholm Art Fair on July 18. This is our first time performing for this event, and we were really thrilled to be invited. The fair draws thousands to the charming Stockholm, Wisconsin Village Park on Lake Pepin each year and we’re looking forward to being the closing act for the day’s musical entertainment. We’ll perform from 4:00 p.m.- 5:00 or so, and hope to have a couple of new songs added to the set list for that concert as well. We hope to see many of your friendly faces in the crowd (there’s a covered stage for us and a tent-covered seating area for you--just in case....)

Next month, we’re heading downriver to perform in Wabasha, Minnesota, as part of their “Music Under the Bridge” summer concert series on Friday evening, August 7, at 7:00 p.m. The city has a beautiful park under the Mississippi River Bridge with great acoustics. We had such a great time playing there last year. There will be some food vendors in the park and there are a few picnic tables; or, you can bring a picnic and your own lawn chairs and then settle in for a fun evening with us.

We’ll be playing for a private fundraiser in Red Wing in November, and we’re really looking forward to re-visiting the site of one of our first performance invitations--the Hobgoblin Music Loft.
Then, we’ll wrap up our 2015 performance schedule with another “Hometown Holidays” Concert in Stockholm on December 5. This concert generally sells out, so put it on your calendar and contact the WideSpot Performing Arts
for information and tickets.
Thanks for being one of our fabulous fans--we hope to see you at one of our upcoming performances this year!
Then, we’ll wrap up our 2015 performance schedule with another “Hometown Holidays” Concert in Stockholm on December 5. This concert generally sells out, so put it on your calendar and contact the WideSpot Performing Arts
for information and tickets.
Thanks for being one of our fabulous fans--we hope to see you at one of our upcoming performances this year!