The Crier sat down with Idyllwild Summer Concert Series founder Ken
Dahleen to hear about this year’s lineup as the series marks its 25th,
or “Silver” anniversary. Darlene says that this will be a season of
celebration, there will be lots of surprises, and “You’ll have to come
to all the concert to see all the surprises.”

In past years Dahleen has introduced new groups he has met in his work
as a band leader and event producer, “this year I try to bring back the
most popular shows we have had in the past, with the limiting factor
being that we only get to do nine shows.” He recently counted up all the
bands that have come up the hill to be part of the series and came up
with 78 names, noting that the chosen nine are only “among the groups
that the crowd has enjoyed the most over the last 25 years. All are
seasoned pros and fun to work with.”

The Concerts are always free and open to all. They will be, as in past
years, on Thursday nights and start on July 4th. Opening acts will start
at 6:05 p.m and the headliners will take the stage at 7.

The groups and production are paid for entirely by donations from the
community. Those contributions come in all sizes, “from a few dollars to
a few thousand, and to each I say thank you!” The concerts will be at
the Butterfield Amphitheater, their home since 2019.

This year’s budget is $49,000, and the account stands at $4,000 now.
“Since the first year I have booked up the entire concert series on
faith, that we will receive, enough. I never have enough at the
beginning. There have been years where I didn’t have enough until the
last concert. Most places that do this kind of series have a city
government, a recreation department that can cover it, budget it. We
don’t have that luxury. What we do in Idyllwild we (the community) do
for Idyllwild.”

We asked Ken if he had any idea what he was in for when he booked those
first concerts 25 years ago.“No clue, no idea what we were starting and
where it would go. I can’t believe that its me still doing it.” Dahleen
also wanted to give a shout out to Pete Holzman. “He books all the
opening acts, he’s been doing it a long, long time, I couldn’t do it
without him. All the local musicians that participate really add color
to the concerts. I couldn’t do it without them.” He also reminded us of
the role that the late Doug Austin played as the series MC. “We miss him
a lot.” He is grateful for ICC president Stephanie Yost’s participation
in that role. “ Since Doug left I asked Stephanie to take over, and she
does a great job. If we ever replace the dog as mayor Stephanie will
probably get that job.”

Dahleen says that he gets more than he pays for from the bands he brings
here. “In the beginning they did it as favor to see what we could start.
They still come for less than they usually get because Idyllwild is such
a special place. We don’t have the money that other places have, we
can’t write the big checks, but if I have a personal relationship with a
band, they may come up. Any band that comes wants to come back,
Idyllwild is such special place. They are all friends, musicians I have
worked with over time, good working relationships.”

Going over this year’s lineup, Dahleen had a few words for each. The
July 4th show will feature the Diamonds, “Not a tribute group. There
have been about 25 singers that have gone through the group since the
1950s.” Their hits included covers of “Little Darlin’ ” and “Why Do
Fools Fall In Love?”

Sherry Williams will bring a big orchestra with her, and the size of
their set up means no opener that night. Southbound and Company has come
up before as a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band, but this year will present
as a “straight up rock and roll band.” Dahleen says his Big Band Staff
will open for Sharon Owen’s tribute to Barbra Streisand, calling her
“the #1 tribute to Streisand in the world” and noting that she travels a
lot and will be coming from Florida. He says ABBA LA is more than a
tribute band, an “official ABBA band.” Marva Scott is a veteran of the
Las Vegas “Legends” franchise and will present her tribute to Diana Ross
and Donna Summer. The Broken Hallelujahs, with their tribute to women in
country, and the Blue Breeze Motown Band will round out the lineup.

This season the US Marine Corp Division 1 Concert band will come up from
Camp Pendleton to close the season on August 29. They are another big
group that will not have an opening act. As to the surprises, Dahleen
just repeats “You’ll have to come to all the concerts to see all the
surprises.”

For information about making a donation to the Summer Concert Series,
call Ken Dahleen at (760) 413-4638.