By Kelly Johnson
Staff writer

Old-time country, bluegrass and gospel music will take center stage on Friday at the Backroads Event Center.

Now and Then, a local band playing classics of yesteryear, will perform Nov. 20 at the Backroads Event Center, located at 19735 Iguana St. N.W. in Nowthen, as part of the dinner theater series.

Dinner is at 6 p.m., with the show set to begin at 7 p.m.

Now and Then began six years ago as a collaboration of musicians interested in playing classic country music.

Dan Fish of Ham Lake plays rhythm guitar and provides much of the group’s vocals.

Fish and Sheri Stombaugh of South St. Paul, who plays fiddle and mandolin, met at a music party and discovered a common love of old country music.

The pair teamed up and started playing together, eventually meeting Dick Hopperstad of Columbia Heights, who plays the dobro (a resonator guitar) and banjo.

Dick Lee of Brooklyn Park was the last to join the band, bringing with him a love of the music style and bass playing skills.

The end result is a coming together of four musicians that bring unique musical talents and strengths.

“What comes out of there is the finished product is always so much better than the individual efforts,” Fish said.

For Fish, the most rewarding part of the group’s effort is hearing the vocal harmonies.

“I just enjoy singing with them so much,” he said.

The band practices weekly, taking songs and practicing them until they start to take on the group’s unique sound.

“After playing something 20 to 30 times, it starts to become ours,” Fish said.

The music is centered on a 1940s string band sound, with all the instruments except the bass are hooked to a microphone.

“It’s a unique sound,” Fish said. “It’s not twangy. It’s not a hard sound.”

Now and Then’s music features simple melody lines, giving focus to the featured artist.

“By keeping the melody simple, it allows the audience to say to themselves, ‘I could do that,’” Fish said.

He said the band does its best to pay tribute the song’s original singer, borrowing some mannerisms.

But Fish is quick to point out that Now and Then’s music is not a replica of the original.

“Everything is revved up a bit,” he said. The songs are freshened up, Fish said.

Now and Then’s play list includes classic country, bluegrass, gospel and western songs from the early days of recording.

In their shows, the band members try to recreate the essence of early radio shows, barn dances, harvest celebrations, hoe-downs and gospel gatherings.

According to Fish, two new songs will be performed for the first time at the Nowthen concert, something the band does each time it plays a new venue to keep the experience fresh and new.

Tickets for the dinner theater event are $35 for preferred seating and $25 for regular seating.

For more information, call 763-241-0433 or visit www.backroadsnowthen.com.

More information about Now and Then is available at www.NowthandThenCountry.com.

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