Quail Creek residents John and Deb O’Rourke had to convince their son Dan to compete in a QC karaoke contest during the Summer of 2015. Little did they know that Dan’s winning that contest would lead to a music career in Nashville where his band The Woods would open on tour with country music star Tim McGraw.
After winning that karaoke contest, Dan next competed in NBC’s The Voice, followed by his move to Nashville, aka Music City USA. The band has been coming back to Quail Creek every year since, and Dan says, “There’s no better place for us to play than Quail Creek. The residents there are great. They’re some of our biggest followers.”
“We had a blast touring with Tim McGraw,” said band member Raquel Cole, “but the ballroom at Quail Creek is such a fun and intimate setting.” Both Raquel and Dan are award-winning singer-songwriters and individual performers. They are joined by guitarist Leland Rooney whose guitar solos are always met with enthusiasm.
“Quail Creek is a part of the band’s musical journey,” said Dan. “Our show at Quail Creek is the catalyst for growth each year. We’re based in Nashville, but in so many ways, Quail Creek is our home venue.”
The band’s three-part harmonies often remind listeners of Crosby, Stills & Nash or the Eagles. Billboard magazine said the band sings with “triple fierce harmonies and a loose, acoustically driven country/rock groove.” One song that’s special to Quail Creek is “Quailville,” which is a song Dan wrote about a young guy living in a 55+ community. He wrote this while spending a summer with his parents in Quail Creek. The song always gets laughs from the audience, and this year it features a new verse.
The Woods have a busy schedule planned for 2025, and on April 2 they will be back in the Crystal Ballroom of the Madera clubhouse. For the first time, they will be joined by drummer Dan Pratt who toured with the band last year. Tickets sell quickly, and the ballroom is very likely to be sold out once again.
Learn more about the band at GetIntoTheWoods.com.