The band was booked for Shellabration 2020, but the summer came and went without their presence. The COVID-19 pandemic put a pause on the live entertainment Fort Dodgers have come to enjoy for the past 20 years.

But when Shellabration was canceled, it was with the promise that Cheap Trick would return in 2021. And Shellabration Inc. is poised to deliver on that promise.

Organizers have announced that Cheap Trick with special guest 38 Special will rock into the night on the Fort Dodge Soccer Association Fields at Harlan and Hazel Roger Sports Complex on July 2.

“After a year in hibernation it feels good to get back to the business of planning live music events,” said Ted Bodensteiner, Shellabration Inc. vice president. “We’re ready to shake off the dust and get reenergized.”

-Submitted photo 38 Special is fronted by the band’s co-founder and original lead singer, Don Barnes, at left. The band is performing at this summer’s Shellabration concert.

Cheap Trick includes original members Rick Nielsen (lead guitar, keyboard, backing vocals), Robin Zander (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and Tom Petersson (bass and backing vocals). The group additionally includes drummer Daxx Nielsen, Rick Nielsen’s son, who took over in 2010 for former longtime drummer Bun E. Carlos.

The band gained mainstream popularity and commercial success in 1979 as a result of the release of their breakthrough album, “Cheap Trick at Budakon.” That album included live versions of three of the band’s biggest hits including “Ain’t That A Shame,” “Surrender” and “I Want You To Want Me” (a song that reached No. 7 on the US charts).

They went on to chart 16 Top 100 hits including “Voice,” “Dream Police,” “Can’t Stop Lovin’ You,” “Tonight It’s You,” “Don’t Be Cruel” and “The Flame” (their No. 1 hit from 1988), to name a few.

Based on the strength of the Budakon album, the band’s live set typically includes six songs from that release.

“They are a very visual band in addition to the timeless hits,” said Jim Reed, Shellabration president. “You have Rick Nielsen with the multiple head guitar. That Dream Police look with the white police caps and sleeveless shirts. There’s a lot of visual uniqueness to Cheap Trick.”

38 Special is fronted by the band’s co-founder and original lead singer Don Barnes. Barnes, along with neighborhood friend Donny Van Zandt, formed the band in 1974 in Jacksonville, Florida. The band first achieved commercial success in 1980 with the release of the hit “Rockin’ Into The Night.” They followed that up with “Wild-Eyed Southern Boys”.

38 Special’s live set consists of one radio hit after the other including “Fantasy Girl,” “Hold On Loosely,” “Caught Up In You,” “Back Where You Belong,” “Teacher, Teacher,” “If I’d Been The One,” “Somebody Like You,” “Like No Other Night” and “Back To Paradise,” to name a few. Van Zandt (brother to Ronny Van Zandt of Lynyrd Skynyrd fame) retired from the group in 2012.

“What makes them the perfect fit for Shellabration is the recognizability of the music,” Reed said. “Their set consists of one radio hit after another. In our years of doing Shellabration — this year represents our 20th season — if we have learned nothing else, people want to be able to dance and sing to the music. And they really, really show favor to music they recognize. 38 Special clearly fits that bill.”

Reed is hoping the third time is the charm for 38 Special to bring their live performance to Fort Dodge.

The Wild-Eyed Southern Boys were also slated to headline Shellabration in 2007. But due to weather-related flight cancellations coming out of Atlanta, Georgia, the band was forced to cancel their Fort Dodge performance day-of-show that year.

“I still remember getting the call that day,” Reed said. “It was gut-wrenching.”

Fortunately for Shellabration, they had co-headline artists on the bill that year, including The Guess Who.

“We huddled up, worked through our choices and made the difficult, necessary decisions,” said Reed. “Ultimately, The Guess Who graciously agreed to close the show and, with the help of former local radio personality, Lindy Kaye, she called and lined up none other than Saucy Jack to come out and open. She pulled our collective backsides from the coals and we delivered a heck of a show thanks to her.”

And to put the icing on the cake, so to speak, Reed said Saucy Jack will be back to open Shellabration 2021.

“Given what they did for us, it only seemed fitting to have Saucy Jack come back and open this show, this year,” Reed said.

While concerns about the virus linger, Reed said the venue for Shellabration is conducive for people to remain distanced.

“It’s been a long year waiting and wondering if circumstances would allow us to move forward,” Reed said. “Looking ahead and taking into account future vaccination rates, given that the event is still three-plus months out, we are comfortable that we can create an environment that’s both safe and enjoyable.”

He added, “Being an outdoor event that takes place on an expansive, wide open group of soccer fields is a huge advantage for Shellabration. The fact that we always paint lines in the grass to create aisles and rows plays in our favor. We’ve done that from day one to create good flow and movement throughout the venue. Already having that space control model in place enables us to simply increase our spacing to create opportunity for greater social distancing as needed come July. Essentially the grid is scalable. Since the lines are painted the week prior to the show, we can assess at that time what kind of spacing we think we’ll need.”

Reed said sanitizing stations would be installed for the show. Additional signage will also be posted to remind people to be courteous.

“The large open-air expansive field is a huge advantage for Shellabration,” Reed said. “The beauty of having an expansive field to work with, you can self stratify to their own individual comfort level.”

If you want to be part of a concert event but stay way back and removed, you can hang toward the back.

He sees Shellabration as a symbol of hope for the community.

“We knew if we could and did move forward, it would be a sign of inspiration and hope,” Reed said. “People are looking for some normalcy. COVID is by no means in the rear view, but at least if for one moment in time we can provide people with something that resembled what they were used to, that would be a good thing.”

Tickets for Shellabration will first go on sale beginning at midnight on Friday, April 16 (12 a.m., April 17). They will cost $38 in advance and increase to $45 beginning on June 21 leading up to the show on July 2.

Tickets will be available online at www.ticketweb.com or by phone at (866) 468-3401. They will also be available for purchase at Hy-Vee in Fort Dodge. Other local retail ticket outlets will be announced in early April. Children 12 years of age and under are admitted free if accompanied by an adult.

All tickets are general admission, festival style, bring your own chair, seating.

If you go

What: Shellabration 2021

Who: Cheap Trick with special guest 38 Special

When: July 2

Where: Harlan and Hazel Rogers Sports Complex on the Fort Dodge Soccer Association Fields

Tickets for Shellabration will first go on sale beginning at midnight on Friday, April 16 (12 a.m., April 17). They will cost $38 in advance and increase to $45 beginning on June 21 leading up to the show on July 2.

Tickets will be available online at www.ticketweb.com or by phone at (866) 468-3401. They will also be available for purchase at Hy-Vee in Fort Dodge. Other local retail ticket outlets will be announced in early April. Children 12 years of age and under are admitted free if accompanied by an adult with all tickets general admission, festival style, bring your own chair, seating.