JCCA: Yesterday Once More harkens back to distinct ’70s voice

In a touching tribute to the contralto sibling in The Carpenters, the Jasper County Concert Association is pleased to present Yesterday Once More: The Sound of Karen Carpenter featuring Joanne O’Brien at 7 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Center for Performance inside Newton High School.

The Carpenters introduced the hit song “Yesterday Once More” on their 1973 album “Now and Then.” The lyrics reminisce about songs of the past and the memories they carry, which makes for a fitting title for O’Brien’s show. Her velvety voice harkens back to the sounds of the 1970s and, of course, Carpenter herself.

With a repertoire of classic songs — like “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Top of the World” and “For All We Know” — under her belt, O’Brien illuminates the musical diversity, pop culture and political climate of that time in history when the world first fell in love with the sibling duo of Karen and Richard Carpenter.

Tickets for non-association members are $20.

In addition to this Karen Carpenter tribute, the Jasper County Concert Association has hosted the Johnny Crash tribute band Church of Cash to kick off its 40th season. Members can enjoy five concerts in Newton, four concerts in Indianola and six concerts in Marshalltown each year.

Other performances this year include:

Pop Rock Orchestra will perform 7 p.m. Feb. 22, 2024, and features musician Billy McGuigan on guitar, keys, vocals, percussion, sax — everything! The singer presents a high-energy concoction of rock ‘n’ roll mega hits in a unique, live concert experience harkening back to McGuigan’s ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s inspirations.

Abbacadabra will perform a night of ABBA hits at 2 p.m. April 14, 2024. Take a chance on the Reno-based group, which is the ultimate ABBA tribute and promises to continue the momentum by performing the band’s greatest hits in full ABBA fashion and flair. Mamma mia! That’s quite the guarantee!

Ending the 40th season is Here Comes the Sun at 7 p.m. May 7, 2024. The Beatles tribute show features a group of five musicians taking on the roles of John, Paul, George and Ringo. Here Comes the Sun brings a fresh, vibrant and musically authentic approach to their live rock ‘n’ roll performances.