The Venue, the 200-currently-empty-seat music performance space in Aurora, will deliver a Livestream performance by Steve Dawson & Diane Christiansen at 8 p.m. Monday, June 22. Direct donations can be made at themusicvenue.org.
Direct donations can be made at themusicvenue.org. The event will be livestreamed from the Venue’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TheVenueAurora. Proceeds from the shows will benefit the performing artist and The Fox Valley Music Foundation. The Venue, in downtown at 21 S. Broadway in Aurora, was created by the Fox Valley Music Foundation.
Proceeds from the shows benefit the performing artist and The Fox Valley Music Foundation. The Venue, located in downtown at 21 S. Broadway in Aurora, was created by the Fox Valley Music Foundation.
Steve Dawson and Diane Christiansen have performed, wrote, and recorded together for more than two decades. They’ve performed to capacity audiences and critical raves all over the U.S. and Europe as a duo, and with their band, Dolly Varden.
“It’s a gift to be able to do this,” said Christiansen when asked how the couple manages to navigate the sometimes tense mix of creativity and marriage. “I couldn’t imagine life any other way,” said Dawson. “We’ve been singing together since the day we met.”
In 1988 Dawson and Christiansen were asked by a mutual friend to add background vocals to a recording. Though they’d never met, they noticed that their voices effortlessly harmonized. Soon they were inseparable singing partners, and in 1990 they became husband and wife as well. In the early 1990s they co-led Stump The Host, a twangy rock band that packed Chicago area clubs. Then, in 1995, as the couple’s singing and songwriting found new depth and maturity, Stump The Host transformed into Dolly Varden, a new band named after an elusive species of trout. Dolly Varden has released six critically acclaimed albums in the United States and Europe and Dawson and Christiansen released an album of intimate duets in 2003 that has become a fan favorite. In addition, Dawson has released two solo albums and an album with an ensemble of Chicago free jazz luminaries called, Funeral Bonsai Wedding. In 2020 Dawson will release, “Last Flight Out,” with Funeral Bonsai Wedding, featuring the Quartet Parapluie string quartet. More info can be found at stevedawsonmusic.com.
Christiansen is a renowned visual artist and animator who’s works have been shown in galleries and museums all over the United States. Dawson has been teaching very popular and inspiring songwriting classes at the Old Town School of Music since 2008 and co-wrote a book with Mark Caro called, “Take It To The Bridge: Unlocking The Great Songs Inside You,” in 2016
Upcoming for Livestream at The Venue is a whacky holiday variety show featuring Dave Nelson and Dave Ramont Monday, June 29. “Everyone can use a little humor and song,” suggests Fox Valley Music Foundation president Dave Glynn. Watch The Venue’s website themusicvenue.org for more details.
—Fox Valley Music Foundation