Longtime local musicians Chris Koebnick, Deanna Webb Koebnick and Ron Wheeler on Saturday evening will reunite with another founding member, Randy Kelley, bringing the boot-stomping music of SugarBeat to the Western Barbecue stage in Thunderhead Lodge atop the Steamboat Gondola.

The group is performing 5:45-7:45 p.m. Saturday in the Thunderhead Champagne Powder Room in what group members say will likely be their “final fling” playing as SugarBeat at the long-running and ever-popular music and food event.

“I came (to Steamboat Springs) as a singer-songwriter, and was like, ‘Oh my God, we’re playing for children, I’m doing cover music, what am I going to do with my songwriting?” said Deanna, an original member of the band that has provided tunes for the Western Barbecue for as long as she can remember. “What I found was pleasure in being a part of a Western tradition in Steamboat Springs that was family-oriented.”

In the beginning, the group included Chris, Deanna, Randy Kelley and the late Don Fagre. That winter of 1989 started a run that has stretched 33-plus seasons and more than 1,897 Western BBQ shows. The group was the perfect fit for Steamboat Resort’s Western image.

Over the years, different configurations of the band — under various names — have entertained generations of fans with a show that includes music and humor for adults and children. The show also has included well-known activities such as the “spoons contest” that for years has awarded the winner with an autographed can of sauerkraut, as well as the “hokey pokey,” where participants are awarded smiles.  

“It was so fun to see the families come up, and then see those kids bring their own kids and when they returned as parents. We have seen multiple generations return to the Western Barbecue, and that was so much fun,” said Kelley, who left the band a few years back to pursue other musical interests but plans to take the stage Saturday for what band members say will likely be SugarBeat’s grand finale.

Wheeler, the band’s current drummer, is still considered the newcomer even though he has been playing with SugarBeat for more than 20 years.

The current lineup includes longtime local bass guitarist Willie Samuelson. Former band members included musicians Rick Philipp, Dave Allen, Ellen Davis, Joe Ghiglia, Rick Bear, Dan Koebnick and Steve Boynton.

“We had an incredible run up there filled with great stories and great friends,” Chris said. “The stories we have to share — we could talk about what happened up there for days.”

The lineup for Saturday’s show will include Chris on the electric fretless bass and vocals, Deanna on acoustic guitar and vocals and, on Saturday, Kelley on electric guitar, fiddle mandolin and vocals. Wheeler will be on the drum kit, and Chris is anticipating former band members to be on hand as well.

Chris and Deanna married in 1995 and are longtime Yampa Valley residents. They have been a huge part of the local music scene performing in many groups including Randy and the Redwoods, Sundog (with Randy Kelley), Off the Chain, Blue Sage Shoes, Clear Creek (with Steve Boynton), Sauce Posse (with Dan Koebnick), Flip Side, Caliente (with Solange Guenier), Bandana (with Joe Ghiglia and Rick Bear), Better Half, MoonCat, as well as SugarBeat.

SugarBeat plans to celebrate its long run at Saturday’s Western Barbecue with former musicians including Samuelson, Kelley, Dan Koebnick, Ghiglia and the group’s friends. Chris said it is likely to be the final Western Barbecue for the group and hopes the community will come celebrate the Steamboat Springs family tradition with them.

Reservations are required for the Western Barbecue dinner and are available online at steamboat.com/things-to-do/dining/western-bbq or by calling 970-871-5150.

“We gathered together a lot of the alumni, and the kids who worked up there over the years,” said Deanna, who recalls involving staff members including a tap dancer and a trick roper from the rodeo in the performance. “It’s a lot of work to come up in the afternoon and take that cafeteria all apart and put it back together again and make it look like a dining area. Then take it all down and move it all around and get ready for the next day … It’s so much hard work, and those kids have been so much fun to work with. We incorporated them in the show whenever we could.”

“The run started with Randy, Don, Deanna and me in 1989, and we all kept a thread going through almost 1,900 shows,” Chris said. “It’s time to say ‘so long.'”