Derik & Riana Nelson in Oakley

 Join siblings Derik and Riana Nelson for an intimate acoustic performance full of velvety family harmonies that takes audiences behind the music like never before. Hear the personal stories that have inspired Derik’s wide stylistic range of award-winning original songs, and learn about the sibling’s musical heroes with beautiful reimagined renditions of songs by artists like the Eagles, Sting, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Fleetwood Mac and more.

Oakley High School Auditorium, 118 W. 7th Street, Oakley, is venue for the Sunday, April 21 Western Plains Arts Association program starting at 3 p.m. CDT. Admission is by WPAA season ticket of $20 adults, and $10 students at the door. This program is made possible with numerous area sponsors including generous grants from the Logan County Community Foundation through the Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation and the Dane G. Hansen Foundation.

Derik is a singer, songwriter, producer and educator from Olympia, Wash. He writes, records and produces his own music as a self-taught multi-instrumentalists and audio engineer. He has garnered over 4 million views on YouTube, performed throughout the country and regularly contucts educational music workshops. Derik appeared regularly as lead guitarist on televison’s “Glee. His original songs can be heard on several programs, and his singing voice has been featured on ABC’s “Modern Family,” FOX’s “Raising Hope” and “New Girl,” CBS’s “How I Met Your Mother,” and NBC’s “Go On” and “The Voice,” and more.

Bobby Darin Allynn Coming to Colby!

Bobby Darin Allynn rocks his Branson and travelling shows with passion, stories, and the music of Elvis Presley. Known as the ‘World’s Youngest Elvis Tribute Artist’ Bobby started performing as Elvis back when he was only two years old.

The young artist will perform for Western Plains Arts Association, Sunday, April 7 at 3 p.m. CDT, at the Colby Community College Cultural Arts Center. Admission by WPAA season ticket or $20 adults, $10 students at the door.

Throughout his childhood he regularly performed songs with his father, Keith Allynn, a familiar Neil Diamond Tribute artist to WPAA audiences, and his mother, Diana Lynn Allynn, a Karen Carpenter tribute artist. 

Marimba Sol De Chiapas in Oakley

 For more than 35 years, Marimba Sol de Chiapas is the evolution of the group started by Dr. Laurence Kaptain as Marimba Yajalón--the first professional folkloric music ensemble of its kind permanently-based within the United States and calling Kansas City home since 1991.

The ensemble will appear Sunday, March 24 at 3 p.m. CDT at the Oakley High School Auditorium. The group will then provide two school programs in Oakley on Monday, March 25. 

Western Plains Arts Association has received a grant from Mid-America Arts Alliance Regional Touring Program. This project is generously funded by Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the state arts agencies of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas.

The Dane G. Hansen Foundation also makes this and other season programs possible.

Admission is by WPAA season ticket or adults $20 and students $10.

Committed to the authentic performance practice and spirit of the marimba heard throughout Mesoamerica, Marimba Sol de Chiapas (which translates as The Chiapan Sun Marimba Group) maintains an active schedule of performances, recordings, and multi-cultural workshops.

Barbershop March 23rd in Colby

Tumbleweed program features the Newfangled Four

From Southern California, The Newfangled Four is one of the top barbershop quartets in the world. Formed in the fall of 2012, this foursome quickly bonded through their involvements with the Westminster Chorus and Masters of Harmony, two well-renowned choruses in the Barbershop Harmony Society.

The Tumbleweed Chorus presents their 42nd Annual Show at 2 p.m. central, Saturday, March 23 at the Colby Community College Cultural Arts Center. Also featured is the Hays High Plains Chorus and the women’s Prairie Rose Chorus.

Combining old fashion slapstick humor with their quirky offbeat comedy, The Newfangled Four merges their talents as top-notch harmony singers and world-class entertainers. In 2013, the quartet won the International Collegiate Barbershop Quartet Contest and the Far Western District Quartet Contest, and most recently finished 6th place in the world in 2023.

Over the years they have developed a reputation not only for their fine singing and showmanship, but also for their work and involvement in the youth movement as clinicians and educators, leading countless workshops for young singers.

The Newfangled Four has appeared on Buzzfeed, Hallmark’s “Home and Family show,” the new “Gong Show,” “The CW Christmas Carolers Challenge,” and has recorded tracks for the Lifetime Movie Network. With millions of views on their YouTube performances, they are proud to introduce the barbershop art form to aspiring young singers around the world. Entertaining audiences is their priority, and they can’t wait to entertain you. They are Jackson, Joey, Jake, and Marcus: The Newfangled Four! Visit newfangledfour.com for complete information.

The Tumbleweed Chorus will be combined with the larger Hays High Plains Barbershop Chorus in “We Believe in Music.” Songs performed will include: I Believe in Music, When She Loved Me, Ring of Fire, Let It Be, For the Longest Time, It is Well With My Soul, Sixteen Tons and America the Beautiful Overlay. 

Western Kansas men’s quartets featured are: Uncalled Four, Prairie Timbre, Genuine Gents and Big Creek.

Max Befort, is director of the combined men’s shows in Colby and Hays, and Garrett Cole, is assistant director. Thomas Annis, Oakley, is the director for Prairie Rose Harmony. Annis also is director of the Tumbleweed Chorus. 

 “Our mission is to bring people together in harmony and fellowship to enrich lives through singing,” said Dan Obrien, president of the Tumbleweed Barbershop Chorus, Colby.

Divas3 in Colby in March 3rd!

A celebration of the biggest hits by the greatest divas in pop music history is coming to Western Plains Arts Association, Sunday, March 3 at 3 p.m. Central at the Colby Community College Cultural Arts Center. Three female singers with powerhouse voices sing the biggest hits of the greatest divas in music history.

Spanning four decades of chart topping hits from the 1960's

through the 1990's, Divas3 covers hits by Aretha Franklin, Carole King, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Cher, Dolly Parton, Donna Summer and many more! Individual members of the group are known best for their starring roles in shows on the Las Vegas Strip, on Broadway and national tours, and the famed television show American Idol. Together as a group, Divas3 has headlined hotels and

Acoustic Eidolon in Goodland

Specializing in American and European contemporary folk, including Celtic, classical and original music, Acoustic Eidolon will perform for the Western Plains Arts Association, Sunday, Feb. 25 at the Goodland High School Auditorium. Acoustic Eidolon has appeared for WPAA numerous times in recent years. The program begins at 2 p.m. Mountain (3 p.m. Central). Goodland is in the Mountain time zone.

Admission is by WPAA season ticket or adults $20, students $10 at the door. 54th anniversary season programs are made possible through the generous support of area businesses and individuals, including a special season grant by the Dane G. Hansen Foundation.

A few years after the Boulder, Colo., musicians met, neighbors Joe Scott and Hannah Alkire found themselves between full-time musical engagements. Joe called Hannah, saying he’d always wanted to hear the cello and the double-neck guitjo together. He had a feeling the harp-like sound of the guitjo, combined with the warmth of Hannah’s cello, would be beautiful together. Captivated by the music they created together, Joe and Hannah immediately agreed to clear out their schedules, start rehearsing full-time, and form what would become Acoustic Eidolon.

What started as a musical/business partnership and friendship blossomed into their marriage three years later in fall 2001. Joe and Hannah joke that this was a marriage of convenience since they were already together all the time anyway. But, anyone watching them perform can feel the love that draws them together. Their love for one another, and their passion for life, speaks through their music.

Dueling Fun Pianos in Colby!

Get ready for a duel, Sunday afternoon, Feb. 11. No, not the shoot ‘em up kind but the jazz ‘em up kind. The Western Arts Association presents Dueling Fun Pianos, a 176 Keys Fun Pianos show based in Loup City, Neb. The show roster will pit any two of a five-member professional piano entertainment staff to a keyboard duel. The show starts at 3 p.m. central at the Cultural Arts Center, on the campus of Colby Community College. Admission is by WPAA season ticket or adults $20 and students $10 at the door. Major funding for the program comes from The Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation-Dane Hansen Community Grant for Thomas County and the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. The duelers have rocked out at rowdy fraternities and bachelor parties, kept the kids involved and parents, and delivered at over a thousand memorable office parties all across the country. They involve the audience, making