Winter Dance Party (Night 1), Live at Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake, IA- 1/29/26

Winter Dance Party Night 1
Surf Ballroom
Clear Lake, IA
Jan. 29th, 2026

This is a "Midwest Sounds" recording (MWS512-514)

Lineage: Zoom H1Essential internal mics (32-Bit Float)

-Feel free to remaster, share freely anywhere else, or convert to MP3. Please don't sell it or profit from it in any way. If you enjoy this show, support the artist by buying/streaming their music, attending a show or buying merch.

More pictures here: Link

Richie Lee & the Fabulous 50s

http://www.richieleeproductions.com/

1. Intro
2. C'mon Everybody (Eddie Cochran cover)
3. Somethin' Else (Eddie Cochran cover)
4. Tallahassee Lassie (Freddy Cannon cover)
5. Palisades Park (Freddy Cannon cover)
6. Tossin' and Turnin' (Bobby Lewis cover)
7. Poor Little Fool (Rick Nelson cover)
8. It's Up to You (Rick Nelson cover)
9. In Dreams (Roy Orbison cover)
10. Crying (Roy Orbison cover)
11. Only the Lonely (Roy Orbison cover)
12. Oh, Pretty Woman (Roy Orbison cover)
13. All My Love (Oh Boy) (Sonny West cover)
14. Peggy Sue (Buddy Holly cover)
15. Rave On! (Sonny West cover)
16. Chantilly Lace (The Big Bopper cover)
17. Come On, Let's Go (Ritchie Valens cover)
18. Donna (Ritchie Valens cover)
19. La bamba (Trad.) (w/ Connie Valens)
20. Great Balls of Fire (Otis Blackwell cover)

Archive.org / Google Drive

This show takes you back to the roots of rock ‘n’ roll history! Iowa-grown Richie Lee started performing at a young age, and over the years has shared the stage with many rock ‘n’ roll greats. The band stays true to the sounds of the original songs and their artists, including Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, Elvis Presley, and many more.

Austin Allsup

https://www.austinallsup.com/

1. Intro
2. Not Fade Away (The Crickets cover)
3. That'll Be the Day (The Crickets cover)
4. Big Boss Man (Jimmy Reed cover)
5. Maybe Baby (The Crickets cover)
6. Raining in My Heart (Boudleaux Bryant cover)
7. Some Days
8. (You're the) Devil in Disguise (Elvis Presley cover)
9. Heartbeat (Buddy Holly cover)
10. Bony Moronie (Larry Williams cover)
11. White Lightning (The Big Bopper cover)

Archive.org / Google Drive

Continuing the family musical legacy started by his father, Tommy Allsup – who played guitar with Buddy Holly on the 1959 Winter Dance Party Tour and was a regular at the Surf Ballroom himself –Allsup is an alum of NBC’s “The Voice,” and has cultivated his own gritty style as an original artist.

Jay and the Americans

https://www.jayandtheamericans.com/

1. Intro
2. Only in America
3. Let's Lock the Door (And Throw Away the Key)
4. The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore) (Frankie Valli cover)
5. Up on the Roof (Carole King cover)
6. She Cried (Ted Darryl cover)
7. Some Enchanted Evening (Richard Rodgers cover)
8. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' (Barry Mann cover)
9. Let It Be Me (Gilbert Bécaud cover)
10. Cara Mia (David Whitfield cover)
11. Stand by Me (Ben E. King cover)
12. Walking in the Rain (The Ronettes cover)
13. Such a Night (Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters cover)
14. I Saw Her Standing There (The Beatles cover) > I'll Be Back (The Beatles cover) > Day Tripper (The Beatles cover)
15. Just Like Me (The Wilde Knights cover) > Kicks (Paul Revere and the Raiders cover)
16. Come a Little Bit Closer
17. This Magic Moment (The Drifters cover) > Cara Mia (David Whitfield cover)
18. Outro

Sandy Deanne- Vocals
Marty Sanders- Vocals, Guitar
Jay Reincke- Vocals
Darren Dowler- Vocals, Guitar
Lenie Colacino- Bass
Rick Van Horn- Drums

Archive.org / Google Drive

One of the most enduring vocal groups to emerge from the 1960s, known for their unforgettable hits and smooth harmonies. With a blend of old-school charm and modern energy, the group continues to captivate fans of all ages.

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Tapers notes: Night 1 of 3 of the Winter Dance Party 2026. The Winter Dance Party is always one of the highlights of the year for me, and it always delivers. It's a great week to catch up with friends I haven't seen since last year, eat at restaurants I haven't eaten at in a year, and see some great bands. Some of them are there annually and it's always good to catch up with them, as well as see some new bands I would have never gotten a chance to if not for the WDP. Richie Lee and Austin Allsup were solid as always, they've become staples of the WDP, and really seem to embrace their Clear Lake "family" as much as we embrace them. Jay and the Americans were great, a lot of these bands from the 50's have no original members left and tour as a cover band more than anything, but the band still has two originals left (Sandy & Marty). As with last years recordings, these are not perfect, I set my recorder in one place and let it go for the night. So, keep that in mind when listening, these are not being advertised as "A+" recordings or anything, just a document of a moment in time, flaws and all.

"Got a mind to ramble, got a mind to roam
I'm travelin' light and I'm slow coming home"

Winter Dance Party (Night 1), Live at Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake, IA- 1/29/25

Winter Dance Party (Night 1)
Surf Ballroom
Clear Lake, IA
Jan. 29th, 2025

This is a "Midwest Sounds" recording (MWS436-438)

Lineage: Zoom H1Essential internal mics(32-Bit Float)

-Feel free to re-master, share freely anywhere else, convert to MP3, just never ever sell it. Also, if you like this show, please support the artist by buying/streaming their music, buying a ticket to a show or buying merch.

More pictures here: Link

Clear Lake High School Jazz Choir

https://www.facebook.com/p/Clear-Lake-Choir-100079631781681/

1. Intro
2. One Fine Day (Carole King cover)
3. Born to Hand Jive (Sha Na Na cover)
4. The Day the Music Died
5. How Great Thou Art (Stuart K. Hine cover)

Archive.org / Google Drive

Richie Lee & The Fabulous 50's

https://www.facebook.com/richieleefab50s/

6. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On (Big Maybelle cover)

7. Jeanie Jeanie Jeanie (Eddie Cochran cover)

8. Somethin' Else (Eddie Cochran cover)

9. Tallahassee Lassie (Freddy Cannon cover)

10. Wake Up, Little Susie (Boudleaux Bryant cover)

11. Claudette (Roy Orbison cover)

12. Poor Little Fool (Rick Nelson cover)

13. It's Up to You (Rick Nelson cover)

14. All My Love (Oh Boy) (Sonny West cover)

15. Peggy Sue (Buddy Holly cover)

16. That'll Be the Day (The Crickets cover)

17. Chantilly Lace (The Big Bopper cover)

18. Come On, Let's Go (Ritchie Valens cover)

19. La Bamba (Trad.)  (w/ Connie & Irma Valens)

20. Great Balls of Fire (Otis Blackwell cover)

Archive.org / Google Drive

Richie Lee and the Fabulous 50's will take you back to the roots of Rock 'n' Roll history wrapped up into a high energy show! From Des Moines, Iowa, Richie Lee started out performing at a young age and has had the great opportunity in sharing the stage and opening up for many of the original Rock 'n' Roll greats. The music will sound just as it did back then. The band does their absolute best to stay true to the original sound of the songs. Just to name a few, you will hear music by Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, Roy Orbison, Eddie Cochran, the Beatles, and many more!

Austin Allsup

https://www.austinallsup.com/

1. Intro

2. Not Fade Away (The Crickets cover)

3. Oh Lonesome Me (Don Gibson cover)

4. Some Days

5. Heartbeat (Buddy Holly cover)

6. That'll Be the Day (The Crickets cover)

7. Maybe Baby (The Crickets cover)

8. Big Boss Man (Jimmy Reed cover) (w/ Mario Valens)

9. Milk Cow Blues (Kokomo Arnold cover) (w/ Mario Valens) > What'd I Say (Ray Charles cover) (w/ Mario Valens)

10. Bony Moronie (Larry Williams cover)

11. (You're the) Devil in Disguise (Elvis Presley cover)

12. White Lightning (The Big Bopper cover)

13. Wild Horses (The Rolling Stones cover)

Archive.org / Google Drive

Austin Allsup rose to fame in 2016 as a top-10 finalist on NBC's "The Voice." His father, Tommy Allsup, played guitar with Buddy Holly on the 1959 Winter Dance Party Tour and was a regular performer at the Surf until his death in 2017. After performing in his father's place that year, Austin instantly became a part of the Winter Dance Party list of fan favorites and has returned to the Surf every year since!

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Tapers notes: Night 1 of 4 of The Winter Dance Party 2025. I've been going to the Winter Dance Party celebration in Clear Lake for about 7 years, but up until the last couple of years had really only done a lot of the free/cheap stuff around town, and not the actual event at the Surf Ballroom. That changed 2 years ago when my roommate and I got a great deal on tickets for night 1 of the event, and the next year we got a great deal on 3 day passes. Austin Allsup played a show in September at the Surf, and they annouced the lineup for 2025 as well as sold passes for the weekend early. My roommate and I decided not to try our luck a 3rd time on cheap passes and bought them that night. Knowing I would be attending all 4 nights (the first night was a bonus extra night, which I'm hoping they continue to do), I knew I wanted to record these. There was no way to bring in a stand, so I had to get creative. I also knew I wanted to spend time with friends we've made there over the years, and standing in one spot in the crowd just wasn't something I was willing to do for this event. I set my recorder in the best spot I could based on the situation, and decided I'd be content with what I got. These recordings aren't great, but they exist, and are listenable, and that was my hope when I started the weekend out. So, keep in mind when listening to these that they won't be the best recordings I've made or you've ever heard, but they are presented as is, warts and all, as a document of a moment in time.

"Got a mind to ramble, got a mind to roam
I'm travelin' light and I'm slow coming home"