Break the Luther bubble with upcoming local concerts

Family weekend will be busy for Luther students with relatives filling local hotels. Among all the weekend activities there will be opportunities to get off campus and experience visiting artists to Decorah.

Inspire(d) magazine, with 100.5 KDEC, will present two live concerts at the Steyer Opera House in the Hotel Winneshiek.

The Chris Koza Band, with opener Amalia Vagts, will perform Friday, Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. The Chris Koza Band has been gaining popularity in the Twin Cities and the show promises to be fun and upbeat. Tickets are ten dollars and available at the Hotel Winneshiek.

Pieta Brown performs Saturday night at 8 p.m. with special guest opener The Pines. Brown is a returning performer at the Opera House and has gained much critical acclaim in the last year, being recognized by the Wall Street Journal as one of the best “off the radar” artists in 2007. Tickets for the show are $15 and can be purchased at the Hotel Winneshiek.

Inspire(d) Magazine has sponsored eight shows in the past year, and they have a few more already booked after this weekend’s double feature. Oct. 23 will bring young rock band Backyard Tire Fire to Decorah, and Dec. 12 introduces Pert Near Sandstone, a self-described “new grass” band.

Inspire(d) magazine was started here in Decorah in Oct. 2007. Co-founded by husband and wife team Aryn Henning Nichols and Benji Nichols, Inspire(d) has proved helpful for many local residents.

Her senior year of college, Henning Nichols found herself inspired after reading a book written by Dan Elgin. She felt like he had accomplished much and she was motivated to do the same.

“I thought, ‘what a shame that there aren’t more places to find that kind of inspiration,’” Henning Nichols said. “We want to show people that there are great things happening here.”

Decorah’s strong sense of community has allowed Inspire(d) to put its name on the radar.

“Decorah is a perfect place to do what we’re doing,” said Henning Nichols.

Her husband agreed.

“It’s been great to have people trust in us and what we want to do,” Benji Nichols said.

Henning Nichols is editor and publisher of Inspire(d), while Nichols, an audio engineer, handles concerts the magazine sponsors and writes occasionally.

“I love being involved in putting on shows,” Nichols said. “The thing I love about the music we bring in is that it appeals to many different people … The audience range hits everything.”

Decorah is a central point between many major cities, including Des Moines, Iowa City and Minneapolis. Using Decorah’s location to its advantage, Inspire(d) aims to get more music here in Decorah.

“I’d like the Opera House to be a stop on the tour for more bands,” Henning Nichols said.

Inspire(d) has surpassed the expectations of its co-founders.

“We gave it a shot and it took off,” Nichols said.

After a whirlwind year of success, the publication hopes to continue to inspire the community.

“We’re just trying to walk our talk,” said Henning Nichols.

So break the Luther bubble this weekend; check out something new and let yourself be Inspire(d).