09/04/2026
- Well, this is a post I never thought I'd have to write.
After many years, countless miles, late nights, early load-ins, broken strings, questionable life choices, and enough gas station food to shorten our life expectancy by at least a few years, the end of Quick 56 is officially on the horizon.
As many of you know, Ricky Halverson is retiring at the end of the year, and in an additional twist - I (Jake) will be moving to North Carolina with my wife at the end of October. With those two major life changes happening, we've made the difficult decision that this chapter of Quick 56 will be coming to a close.
What makes this especially hard is that Quick 56 has never just been a band. Derek, Ricky, and I became family along the way. Through thousands of songs, hundreds of shows, and more stories than we can probably tell in public, we've built friendships that will last far beyond the final notes played.
When I look back, I'm overwhelmed by the memories.
From the home shows at the Downtown Fargo VFW to standing on the stages of Kick'n Up Kountry.
From the Red River Valley Fair to packed nights at The Trap in Gonvick, MN.
From the South Dakota State Fair to private parties everywhere from Harwood, ND to Bemidji, MN.
We were fortunate enough to play some incredible venues, meet amazing people, and create memories we'll cherish forever.
But the biggest thank you goes to YOU.
To everyone who saw us on a bar stage, bought a ticket, requested a song, danced in front of the stage, sang along to every word, hired us for your wedding, anniversary, birthday, street dance, fundraiser, county or state fair, or a party to just have a party - THANK YOU.
Every opportunity we had came because people supported us. You allowed three guys who loved making music together to live out a dream for a lot longer than we ever expected.
We've laughed with you, celebrated with you, and occasionally watched you demonstrate dance moves that likely violated local safety regulations. Every show became something special because of the people in front of us.
The good news is - we're not done yet.
We've still got a handful of shows left through October 17, and we'd love to see as many familiar faces as possible before we wrap things up.
Also, our September 11 event celebrating Ricky's retirement has taken on even more meaning. It will now serve as the final Fargo-Moorhead area show for Quick 56. If we've ever played a nostalgic 80s/90s/whatever jam that brought you back to a happy place in your past, we'd love for you to come spend one more evening with us.
Let's make these last shows memorable. Come sing loud, dance a little, raise a glass with us, and help us celebrate what has been an incredible ride.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being part of the Quick 56 story.
We're not saying goodbye quite yet, but we're definitely taking requests while supplies last.
🤘
Jake, Derek & Ricky
Quick 56
