Kat Perkins said her latest tour has been “years and years in the making,” and being able to squeeze in an show in Dickinson is the bow on top of her Christmas gift to fans.
As part of her Christmas concert tour throughout North Dakota and Minnesota, Perkins will hit the stage at 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, at the Astoria Hotel and Event Center ballroom as the highlight of a formal event that begins at 6:30 p.m. that includes a social and dinner for $100 a ticket.
“I’m so excited to finally be doing a Christmas tour,” said Perkins, who grew up in Scranton.
Perkins released her debut album “Drive” on July 10, and is now promoting a Christmas EP “A Kat Perkins Christmas,” which is to be released Friday both digitally and on CD. It contains four Christmas classics and an original song, all of which she’ll perform at the concert.
“I wanted to at least do one original Christmas tune this time around,” Perkins said. “I kind of have this business plan where I’m thinking about the next 10 years with these Christmas shows. I’m thinking of the big picture. I thought, well let’s start with one original tune. In fact, we’re doing three original tunes, but only one of them made it on the record this time.”
Promoter Eric Smallwood said he wants the event to be “the best dinner show that has ever happened in Dickinson,” and said formal attire is encouraged. Women are asked to wear dresses and men are encouraged to wear suits with or without ties.
“Dress to impress,” Smallwood said.
The Wurst Shop of Dickinson is catering the event and is serving prime rib, champagne chicken, and shrimp and sausage skewers, along with sides and desserts.
701 Design and Events is coordinating and organizing the concert, while also decorating the ballroom. Jamie Sickler, one of 701 Design and Events’ co-owners, said “it’s going to be very much a Christmas theme,” with a more elegant theme.
“This is going to be a bit larger of an event, but I like working with deadlines,” she said. “That pressure makes you work quick and get organized.”
The concert is being put together rather quickly, as Perkins is squeezing the Dickinson show in between tour dates in Bismarck on Sunday and Plymouth, Minn., on Tuesday.
She has 13 stops on her Christmas concert tour throughout North Dakota and Minnesota.
“I was able to work with her booking agent and her manager, and because of the prior experience working together, we knew what each other could do and it just kind of fell into place,” Smallwood said.
Perkins said this 90-minute concert will be quite a bit different than any of her normal rock concerts. “It’s a something-for-all sort of production,” she said. The concert features a sixpiece band with a cellist and violinist, and she’ll be signing a mix of traditional Christmas music and songs with modern spins. Perkins said she’s even breaking out her French horn and will be tap dancing. “It’s turning out beautiful,” she said.
Dustin Monke 