Rising star Damon Dotson to perform free concert

Damon Dotson, a rising star singer/songwriter, will perform a free concert in Humboldt on Sunday, Nov. 22. The Okoboji native will perform at 4 p.m. in the sanctuary of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church. Now living in Des Moines, Dotson has opened for legendary performers like BB King, Willie Nelson, The Beach Boys, Huey Lewis and The News, as well as modern artists like Matt Nathanson, Edwin McCain and the Lone Bellow. Dotson is a popular attraction at Okoboji each year. He has sustained his career for 10 years, including the release of four of his original albums and countless shows throughout the Midwest with a record label or management. Dotson just recorded a new CD and got married in September. Humboldt’s Michelle McKenna said she has been persistent in trying to bring Dotson to Humboldt. “A group of us saw him at the Little Swan Winery in Estherville a few summers ago as he was playing on a Sunday afternoon. I immediately loved his music and style. So I’ve been trying to get him to come to Humboldt and he contacted me last week to see if I was still interested in him performing in Humboldt,” McKenna said. “I knew the Our Saviour’s Lutheran Strength Renewed committee were looking for something positive to do this fall, so I talked to Janell Lowe (committee chair) and we decided a concert would be an ideal event for Our Saviour’s Lutheran to host for the community.” Dotson released his fourth album, “Tumblin,” in March with a variety of upbeat tunes and heart melting ballads. The album climbed to number 24 on the iTunes rock charts. Dotson was invited to sing “America the Beautiful” on the floor of the House of Representatives at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines. He is only one of two people to share this honor; the other being renowned opera singer Simon Estes. Dotson has also sang the National Anthem at big time sporting events at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines and TD Ameritrade ball park in Omaha. Just this summer, Dotson and his band have played events such as Dotson’s inspired “Lake Effect” at Lake Okoboji, Des Moines 80/35 festival and he opened for Huey Lewis as part of the RAGBRAI kickoff. To find out more about Damon Dotson and listen to his music, visit his website at www.damondotson.com. “He is excited to come to Humboldt. It will be an awesome event,” McKenna said. She emphasized the concert is free and gives people from the Humboldt County area a chance to see a rising star who is on the edge of being quite famous.