Owatonna Arts Center getting ‘Hot and Bothered’ on Owatonna

OWATONNA — Next week residents will have a chance to rock out with Hot n’ Bothered in “Owatonna’s living room” — the performance hall at the Owatonna Arts Center.

The concerts next week function as both a fundraiser for the OAC and homecoming of sorts for the band, said John Lestock, guitarist and mandolin player for Hot n’ Bothered.

“We used to do the Hometown Sampler concerts there, but then we outgrew the venue so we moved it to the Little Theater. But we’ve always had a great love for playing in that space,” Lestock said. “The acoustics are great and it’s just a homey venue. It’s like a living room concert.”

This is the sixth time Hot n’ Bothered has played a benefit concert for the OAC. The band has been together about nine years and they only play for benefits.

“We really do love and care for the Arts Center,” Lestock said. “We don’t take the work they do for granted. It’s pretty exceptional in a community this size to have something like that. We want to support that and needless to say in this economy all non-profits are feeling the pinch.”

Proceeds from the ticket sales will go toward the OAC’s operating expenses — the money will help underwrite the cost of gallery shows and classes, said Silvan Durben, the artistic director of the OAC. Thrivent Financial will provide matching funds.

The OAC has not been immune to the economic downturn — to mitigate money woes the OAC had to eliminate its cleaning service and also laid off one of its staff members, the education coordinator.

But come Friday and Saturday, the budget blues will be far away, Durben said.

“Their positive energy is really neat. It’s a concert — come to have fun,” Durben said.

The show will offer an eclectic mix of music — from the Eagles to the Dixie Chicks to James Taylor.

“We do quite a spectrum of stuff so hopefully there’s something here for everybody,” Lestock said. “It ranges from folk to bluegrass to Cajun to blues. There’s a little bit of everything.”

The show begins at 7 p.m. both days, Friday Nov. 20 and Saturday Nov. 21.

Each night there will be seating for up to 200 people. Tickets are for sale at Tone Music, Kottke Jewelers and the OAC. They cost $8 in advance and $10 at the door.

“It’s really humbling because it means that the performers really value the Arts Center. We’re not out there begging them to do something for us — they volunteer,” Durben said. “It’s a really high compliment.”

Clare Kennedy can be reached at 444-2376.

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