Shaun Johnson coming to SL Dec. 4

Storm Lake Community Education has announced the return of Shaun Johnson & The Big Band Experience to Storm Lake on Dec. 4.

The Run, Run Rudolph Tour is the 2026 holiday edition of The Big Band Experience, led by Emmy Award winner Shaun Johnson, longtime frontman of Tonic Sol-fa and an artist with a Top 5 Billboard album.

The show is not part of a Community Education concert series. The organization had been in the process of revitalizing its performing arts series, a yearly package of events at Storm Lake auditorium that discontinued after the covid pandemic, said Joe Kucera of Community Education.

“We would love to,” he said of the effort to present a series, “but our new conference has made it hard to schedule.”

As of the 2026-27 school year Storm Lake is part of the Siouxland Conference. Events on the school calendar have been slowly confirmed, meaning Community Education was unable to book concerts over the past year, the prime time to hire acts.

For instance, a concert could not be scheduled at the same time as a home basketball game, explained Kucera, because parking would be a problem. “School comes first.”

Last year Shaun Johnson and his group also played in Storm Lake at Christmas time. Lori Line reached out to book the auditorium for her show in spring.

Don’t miss Run, Run Rudolph Dec. 4. Shawn Johnson has appeared in national television performances on NBC, and his band’s music has been featured on HBO.

The show blends classic big band swing with holiday standards and seasonal favorites, delivered through tight arrangements and a modern stage presentation. Drawing on more than two decades of national touring, Shaun brings both a vocalist’s and bandleader’s perspective to the holiday repertoire, balancing high-energy performances with familiar songs that define the season.

The focus remains on musicianship and ensemble work rather than nostalgia alone. Backed by a seasoned ensemble, Run, Run Rudolph reflects the performance style that has earned Shaun multiple Entertainer of the Year nominations — engaging and audience-forward — resulting in a holiday concert that feels both classic and current.

Purchase tickets at ETIX or at Community Education, now located on Flindt Drive in the former AEA building.