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Great music, all very talented musicians, and they are all incredible people too. If you are a fan of bluegrass music you will love this show, and it is definitely worth checking out even if you aren't.
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Date of experience: September 2020
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Response from PetersenBluegrass, Public Relations Manager at The Petersens
Responded Dec 28, 2020
Thank you so much! We appreciate you taking the time to leave a review!
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What can I say, really? This show was incredibly amazing and any dialogue I use to describe how much fun and entertaining it was won’t hold a candle to actually attending in person. You HAVE to go and see them perform!! But because TripAdvisor seeks a little more narrative, here you go in not-so-certain terms... Let me put it this way: If I had the chance to see Tony Bennett, Taylor Swift, Cher, the late Michael Jackson, and DJ Khaled all in the same night, I would still choose The Petersens over them in a heartbeat. This family keeps rising in popularity and fame not only because they’re talented musicians (which they unsurpassedly are), but largely because of their genuine conservative Christian values, warmth, and sincerity. They’re “everything entertainment” that America wants and NEEDS right now. God put them on this planet to spread happiness, hope, and cheer exactly at this moment when we all need it most. The oldest sister, Katie, is the soulful heart of the band and their leading songwriter. She plays a fiddle like she was one of Dorothy DeLay’s prodigies at Julliard, but rumor has it she actually perfected her amazing skills by playing on her backyard deck; serenading the deer and bunnies of her neighborhood while bluebirds and chipmunks gathered nearby to listen. Clydesdale horsehair must comprise the bow that she uses, as any lesser pony would lack the strength and intensity of the paces she puts it through. You can almost see smoke rising from all that friction after an amazing song like “Sleigh Ride”. Next in line is Ellen, and you’ll never believe the way she pics the banjo in “Go Tell it On the Mountain” – my personal favorite Christmas song the play at their Christmas show. My eyes get carpal-tunnel just trying to watch her fingers dance as quickly as they do. Whenever Ellen plays her banjo, the late Earl Scruggs certainly smiles down from Heaven. Matt is the lone male sibling, chief comedian (debatable), and guitar player of the group. He might have the perfect hair of a young Glen Campbell, but listen to him sing Mele Kalikimaka and you’d swear you were listening to the buttery voice of Perry Como vocalizing the same song at his 1985 “Christmas in Hawaii” TV special. Funniest thing though is when Matt has to sing the lyrics, “You almost told me to be your woman. So you'll always almost be my man” in their hit original song, “California.” Poor guy...surrounded by his sisters and Mom on stage and they make him join in on that because they need his vocal harmony. He’s a good sport about it though, bless his heart. Julianne is the outlaw of the group, sort of a gingersnap cookie. As the youngest girl, she’s a renegade; While the other kids decided to have their birthdays on the 14th of their respective birth months, she decided to have hers on a different day with no adherence to tradition. The beautiful timbre of Julianne’s voice is similar to that in Kelsea Ballerini’s version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Julianne’s personality is so much fun, and her dry humor and dead-pan jokes always leaves me in stitches. Julianne loves to sing the song “Bear Tracks,” so be sure you bug her to sing it any chance you get. Emmett Franz is the band’s dobro player and arranges many of their tunes. He’s fairly quiet, but amazingly talented and lets his dobro do the talking for him. Emmett should start a petition to get himself adopted by the Petersens, since he’s such an integral part of the Petersen band experience. They could use one more kid. Mrs. Peterson, who is affectionately referred to as “Get it, Mama” by her fan club, plays the bass. When she plucks those bass strings you can feel the resonance deep in your heart strings. For all the times Matt jokingly picks on her on stage, I just hope he makes up for it by helping to carry that huge thing to and from her car (be nice to mama, Matt). Mrs. Petersen is sort of like a circus ringmaster who tries her best to keep her monkeys in line after they got into the Mountain Dew. Prayers going up for her. I know the band will probably shoot me for writing this, but it’s Christmas and I just wanted to be goofy & spread a few laughs and some holiday cheer (all in good fun!). Seriously though, go see their Christmas show, you won’t regret it. I made the 4+ hr drive from the eastern suburbs of St. Louis, and I know many of their fans have journeyed even further. The band truly loves what they do, and it shows. Then after you return home after seeing this stellar show, pour yourself a little eggnog or some hot mulled wine, kiss your wife, hug your kids, call your grandma, scratch your dog behind his ears, leave some cookies out for Santa. Turn off all the lights except for your Christmas tree, as you sit by the crackling fireside. And in the glowing, peaceful, dreamlike quietness while the Petersen’s Christmas album (you just purchased out of sheer excitement just seeing their show) plays softly in the background and snow begins to fall outside your window, you’ll feel the presence of the holiday spirit encompass you. Smile and thank God for all of the blessings you have and how this great bluegrass style of music keeps a slice of a uniquely American tradition alive. Merry Christmas to all!…
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Date of experience: December 2020
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Response from PetersenBluegrass, Public Relations Manager at The Petersens
Responded Dec 22, 2020
Wow, thank you so much for taking the time to write a review! We are so glad to know you enjoyed your visit with us! Merry Christmas!
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Very admirable and wonderful that there is so much talent in one family. Also that the members have other higher learning degrees but love to play as a group. Also interested to hear the one member was married into the Haygood family.
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Date of experience: December 2020
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Response from PetersenBluegrass, Public Relations Manager at The Petersens
Responded Dec 21, 2020
Thank you so much! We're glad to know you enjoyed your visit with us!
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What an amazing and talented family! Great Instrumentalists and vocals. And Matt is a funny guy! Enjoyed the show, and as a Branson resident, I will be back.
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Date of experience: December 2020
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Response from PetersenBluegrass, Public Relations Manager at The Petersens
Responded Dec 21, 2020
Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review! We are so glad to hear you enjoyed your visit with us (and to know someone appreciates Matt's humor) ;)
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This was one of the most fun things I've done all year! Such a different experience seeing the family live, and DEFINITELY worth the time!
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Date of experience: December 2020
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Response from PetersenBluegrass, Public Relations Manager at The Petersens
Responded Dec 21, 2020
Thank you so much for leaving a review! We're so glad you enjoyed your visit with us!
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