Bohemian Nights featuring Queen Nation. Courtesy photo: Welk Resort Theatre

By SDCN Editor

Escondido, CA–Bohemian Nights, featuring Queen tribute band, Queen Nation will present a live performance for one-night-only at the Welk Resort Theatre in Escondido. 

The California Music Hall of Fame inductees on August 20 will recreate the energy, lights, and costumes of a Queen concert and the excitement of legendary frontman Freddie Mercury.

Queen Nation, known for their amazingly accurate tribute to a throwback ’ the 70s-’80s-era Queen concert, was formed in 2004 and is the West Coast’s longest-running, most authentic fully costumed re-creation of the night with Queen and Freddie Mercury. The show consists of four musicians who all sing and perform in character and in period costumes while playing live note-for-note renditions of classic Queen songs. Featured frontman Gregory Finsley is also a concert-trained pianist, which allows him to accurately recreate Freddie Mercury’s magical live-on-stage performances. One of the hardest-working tribute bands in the US, Queen Nation performed 150 shows across the country in 2019 alone. They were inducted into the California Music Hall of Fame in 2020 and voted Best Live Band at the 2020 VCMAs. 

Queen Nation is Gregory Finsley on vocals and keyboards as Freddie Mercury, Mike McManus on guitar as Brian May, Pete Burke on drums as Roger Taylor, and Parker Combs on bass as John Deacon. Their live 90-minute production of Queen’s greatest hits preserves the image, sound, and stage persona of vintage Queen, a journey through such immortal songs as “We Will Rock You,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Are the Champions,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “You’re My Best Friend,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” “Under Pressure,” and many more. 

For “Bohemian Nights,” the Welk Resort Theatre is serving up savory ’70s-inspired bites such as pineapple chicken kabobs, open-faced meatball sliders, penne primavera, carrot cake, and other appetizers. Signature “rocktails” include the “Under Pressure Bubbly,” which includes bitters and apple cider and is topped with Freddie Mercury’s drink of choice, champagne; or the “Killer Queen” with pomegranate juice, rosemary, and gin. 

VIP packages are available. Guests are invited to upgrade the “Bohemian Nights” experience. The “I Want It All” package is sold out. 

“Don’t Stop Me Now” package is based on availability, conditions, and participation requirements. Travel dates will be August 20 to 22. The purchaser of the package must be at least 28-years-old. They may bring additional guests to the show for $45 per person. This is a PG-13 event and children under 18 may attend with a supervising adult. To receive the discounted price for this event, purchasers, including spouses if married, must qualify and attend a timeshare sales presentation and complete the full presentation after the event on August 20. 

For tickets and complete information, contact the Welk Resort Theatre Box Office, 8860 Lawrence Welk Drive, Escondido, at (760) 749-3448 or toll-free at 1-888-802-7469. You may also purchase tickets to Queen Nation online at https://queennationwelk.eventbrite.com/?aff=PR. For group reservations of 15 or more, call (760) 749-3182, ext. 22154.