Branson Missouri shows?

Subject: Branson Missouri shows?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 24 May 06 - 01:55 PM

I have an elderly uncle who wants to visit Branson, Missouri. Branson would not normally be on my list of places to go, but you have to enjoy your relatives while you have them.

Can anybody recommend an enjoyable show or two now playing in Branson? By enjoyable, I mean that they can sing and play in tune, offer some variety and have stage presence. Volume isn,t a problem - I can always wear hearing protection.

I don't know a thing about country stars.

Subject: RE: Branson Missouri shows?
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 24 May 06 - 02:19 PM

Personally, I'd recommend Silver Dollar City rather than Branson proper. I'll get back to you.

Subject: RE: Branson Missouri shows?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 24 May 06 - 02:33 PM

Oddly enough, me being a UKer, I can advise! Branson is one of the places I visited on my last trip to the US. We went to Dolly Partons place on one night. OK but not as good as the riverboat we went on the next night. Good show - not particularly Country but an old fasioned variety performance. There seems to be every type of show imaginable so have a good look round or get details up front and see what your uncle fancies.

Out of interest, next day we went to Mountain View, Arkansas. Good folk music everywhere there but their claim of being folk music capital of the world is stretching it a bit. They don't even sell beer for heavens sake! ;-)

Enjoy yourself.

Dave the Gnome

Subject: RE: Branson Missouri shows?
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 24 May 06 - 02:40 PM

Clink this link: http://www.explorebranson.com/listings/index.cfm?action=showAll&catID=1

Subject: RE: Branson Missouri shows?
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 24 May 06 - 02:46 PM

Well, of course we don't sell beer! It's all about the music anyway. (place big grin here) Most of the counties in the area are DRY, but those who want to drink know where to get it.

Back to your trip. What time frame are you looking at? It makes a difference. As far as Silver Dollar City is concerned, in my opinion, the best time of year is the Fall Festival from September 14 to October 28. Add to that the side trip to Mountain View that Dave mentions, especially on October 28. Why? Two names. Doc Watson and David Holt.

I can be more specific in my recommendations when I know what time slots you are considering.

Subject: RE: Branson Missouri shows?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 24 May 06 - 05:12 PM

Thanks, everybody. I think it will be in September or October of this year.

It's surprising how hard it is to find information. I thought I could go online and find tours from Wichita to Branson, but I can't - at least so far.

I've got to go now, but I will see what I can learn about Silver Dollar City - I've heard of it, of course, but I've never been there.

Subject: RE: Branson Missouri shows?
From: Arkie
Date: 24 May 06 - 06:59 PM

The only show I've been to in Branson was the Jim Stafford show and did enjoy it, but a lot depends upon one's definition of country music if that is what you would look for.   I would not worry too much about whether the musicians can pick.   There are some good musicians there and the shows are slick, polished affairs. Even magic shows and Cirque shows as well.   The music in Mountain View, Arkansas can vary by shows but the Folk Center, where I work (so you will know I have an axe to grind) makes a more conscious attempt to represent the music found in the area in the first half of the twentieth century. Another big attraction in Mountain View is the Courthouse Square where musicians from all over the area gather just to play. People also come just to listen. It is kind of like a folk festival going on every day.   Folk Music Capital of the World, of course, is self proclaimed but the title was available. When you get your dates in order, let us know and we can be more specific in recommendations.

Subject: RE: Branson Missouri shows?
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 24 May 06 - 09:01 PM

We drove cross-country 2 years ago and stopped for a couple of days in Branson. Saw several shows which were all actually pretty good. Not my type of music (I'm a bluegrasser & traditional & classical type) but the shows were well done and there were well over 100 to pick from on any day. Plus there were little stages set up in some of the malls where small groups were performing. The Dolly Parton show was sort of a musical Civil War re-enactment dinner theater, light and funny if you can imagine, with plentiful food and a huge crowd. The Shoji (can't remember his last name, Japanese musician) show was supposed to be great but closed when we were there.

The city of Branson is most unusual, extremely steep hills (it's in the Ozarks, after all) surrounding a hilly commercial strip, sort of a countrified Las Vegas lined with dozens of large and small music venues presenting one form or another of "country" music.

Try a few shows. You can get discount tickets everywhere, handed out on flyers at the shopping centers, at the motels, at the campgrounds, etc. It was fun, but once was enough for me.

Subject: RE: Branson Missouri shows?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 25 May 06 - 09:26 AM

Thanks for the info. Mountain View sounds a lot more like my kind of place.

Whoo boy. I wonder if my uncle can handle the hilly streets of Branson. He has a lung problem, gets out of breath going up steps.

I was assuming that Main Street was stretched out along a valley and wouldn't be very steep.

Subject: RE: Branson Missouri shows?
From: GUEST,Mary V.
Date: 25 May 06 - 10:32 AM

If you love layed back and no traffic vacationing.
Definitely , Mountainview Arkansas is your destination.
Music is all over the area , and its great music .
People are so very nice there ,too.
Enjoy your trip to Arkansas !

Subject: RE: Branson Missouri shows?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 25 May 06 - 11:56 AM

Yep - I would confirm everything about Mountain View. The square in the centre is fair old bristling with music. Wished I knew where them old pickers went to when they came back 10 minutes later wiping their lips and with a big grin on their face;-)

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: Branson Missouri shows?
From: Kaleea
Date: 25 May 06 - 04:30 PM

Leenia--what kind(s) of Music does your Uncle enjoy? Whatever kind of Music you like is there in Branson. Think of it as a sort of vice-less, family oriented Vegas-y theatre town where all roads lead past walmart.
Many Srs enjoy the Lawrence Welk resort which has breakfast, lunch & evening shows & the stars of the back then Welk show & their families, lots of singing, dancing, & a live orchestra. I once took a busload of Srs & their family members & we stayed at the Welk resort. I, also, have been to the Jim Stafford show, & I enjoyed it. I have enjoyed every show I've been to in Branson.
There is less straightforward Bluegrass or OldTime or Traditional Music in Branson than you might think, while at Silver Dollar City, the emphasis will be on just that.

Subject: RE: Branson Missouri shows?
From: bbc
Date: 25 May 06 - 06:33 PM

My folks live in Nixa. They have been to & enjoyed the Presley & Baldknobbers shows.

best,

bbc

Subject: RE: Branson Missouri shows?
From: Arkie
Date: 25 May 06 - 11:19 PM

While there certainly are hills in Branson, one can visit the main strip and not have to do a lot of climbing.   Traffic is pretty heavy and many of shows cannot be reached by walking.   But one can find plenty things of interest on foot.   Silver Dollar City is a theme park but offers a lot including acoustic music.   If you are there during one of their festivals it would be even more interesting. If you want to visit a town that really requires climbing hills go to Eureka Springs, Arkansas.   That town was built on a hillside.

Subject: RE: Branson Missouri shows?
From: Big Tim
Date: 26 May 06 - 11:48 AM

Yea, it's great. Most of the shows are entertaining and professionally done. Just switch off and enjoy. Visit the theatre with the luxury "rest rooms"! (Can't remember it's name). Worth the entrace money alone!

We also went on the Ducks? Are they still there? The guide's patter was hilarious!

Subject: RE: Branson Missouri shows?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 May 06 - 12:29 PM

Eureka Springs was fabulous - I just missed a music festival though. Lots of bikers as well - recognised me as a kindred spirit and chatted a lot:-)

Good bus service up and down the hill. The Hotel at the top is a real oddity - Transplanted from a bygone age!

Thanks for bringing back fond memories.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: Branson Missouri shows?
From: Arkie
Date: 27 May 06 - 12:41 AM

Eureka is a memorable place.

The theater with the fantastic restrooms is the home of the Shoji Tabuchi Show which is one of the more popular shows in town. If you want to go to that one you should get tickets in advance.   Though I've never been inside the theater I have heard that the show is another reason besides the restrooms to justify purchase of a ticket which is in the neighborhood of $60.

From the advertising: "The ladies' powder room is complete with wainscoting and ceiling reproduced from the 1890's Empire Period. To the ladies amazement, there are live cut orchids at every granite and onyx pedestal sink. Add to all that stained and jeweled glass and magnificient chandeliers!
The gentlemen's lounge is no less imposing, with black lion head sinks imported from Italy, black leather chairs and a marble fireplace. The billiard room contains a hand carved mahogany billiard table, a viewing gallery, and a burled walnut mirror that was built in 1868. "

Subject: RE: Branson Missouri shows?
From: Big Tim
Date: 27 May 06 - 05:04 AM

As yes, the Shoji Tabuchi Show: Japanese violinist, thanks for the memory.

Being non-Americans, we probably saw Branson as an "American novelty", part of our musical tour which also took in Chicago, Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans. Americans, generally, I suspect, might be more critical.

Gonna repeat that tour soon!

Subject: RE: Branson Missouri shows?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 27 May 06 - 11:59 AM

Thanks, everybody. I'm for for Texas for a week now. I will keep in mind all the info I've received.

Subject: RE: Branson Missouri shows?
From: open mike
Date: 30 May 06 - 12:22 AM

As i child i visited Branson area
and one of the most memorable things there
was a play where they acted out the Shepherd
of the Hills (a book by Harold Bell Wright)
http://www.branson.com/branson/shepherd/history.htm
http://www.hbw.addr.com/

this play included music, and portrays a view of
life in historical Ozarks which may be more
interesting that a country music show,
depending on your (and your uncle's)
interest in history.

i think they still act out this play..
check it out.

Laurel

Subject: RE: Branson Missouri shows?
From: Arkie
Date: 30 May 06 - 07:44 AM

The Shepherd of the Hills is an outdoor production and a good way to spend an evening.