The world of Dasha: San Luis Obispo-raised country star returns for one night only
Surrounded by golden angels and chandeliers glowing with pink light, country music star and San Luis Obispo native Dasha walked down the stairs of the Madonna Inn and onto the stage of the Main Dance Floor to greet her hometown crowd.
She opened the show with her hit single “Not At This Party” where the crowd sang her lyrics back to her, bringing her to tears as she closed out the first song of the night.
“It’s too early to cry, so I’m going to soak it all up,” Dasha said after.
With tears still in her eyes, she began her next song with her signature saying, “Welcome to Dashville.”
This emotional moment foreshadowed what the rest of the show meant to the star.
Dasha at Dusk
Amazon Music presented the free, one-night event titled “Breakthrough Live: Dasha at Dusk” on Wednesday, Sept 30, where Dasha took the Madonna Inn stage for an intimate hometown show. The show was sponsored by Listerine and live-streamed on Twitch for viewers at home.
The event was described as an “immersive fan experience exploring the sound, style and world of Dasha,” according to the event’s flyer.
Walking into the event, guests were greeted with a gifting station full of freebies and further back a glam zone where attendees could get their sparkle on with complimentary face gems.
“There’s just so much culture around songwriting and creativity in SLO and that cultivated and allowed me to go after my dreams,’” Dasha said. “So it’s kind of like a thank you note to everyone and the creative basis that SLO is.”
Dasha grew up in San Luis Obispo and kick-started her entertainment career at Bellevue-Santa Fe Charter School at five years old.
She continued her youth at Laguna Middle School, which she made a nod to during the show, and graduated from San Luis Obispo High School.
Despite her chart-topping success, Dasha continues coming back to her roots. This show is the fourth event she has done in San Luis Obispo county since the release of her game-changing single, “Austin.”
She performed at SLO Brew Rock and Boo Boo Records in 2024 and opened for Old Dominion at Paso Robles’ California Mid-State Fair in July.
“I think the important thing for me is acknowledging that I’ve always been so supported by the people who were around me when I grew up, everyone in SLO,” the star said.
Throughout the show, Dasha emphasized the familiar faces she saw in the room, ranging from old family friends to high school teachers.
One of the most familiar faces was her mom, Laura Joines.
“I’m very proud of her,” Joines said. “She does an incredible show, every show she gives 100 percent. It’s especially meaningful for the people she grew up with, her teachers, friends and brothers friends were all here. It’s a really cool thing.”
“I’ll never forget where I’m from,” she said during the set.
San Luis Obispo’s Impact
Growing up in San Luis Obispo, Dasha has her fair share of memories associated with the Madonna Inn which is part of the reason it was chosen as the venue for “Dasha at Dusk.”
“I used to come here all the time for pre-prom dinners,” Dasha said. “I used to come ballroom dancing with my family on the dance floor where we’re performing tonight and we would come here for Christmas for a cocktail at the bar and it’s always felt so magical at the Madonna Inn.”
Not only has San Luis Obispo contributed to Dasha’s success, but it has also found a place in her songwriting.
The singer mentioned that her song, “King of California” is heavily influenced by the town.
“The whole landscape of SLO has always kind of inspired my songs and the imagery in it too,” she said. “I think I’d write, honestly, really differently if I didn’t have SLO as where I’m from.”
Dasha’s New Music
Aside from the hometown element, the show was unique as Amazon Music asked Dasha to perform a few unreleased songs.
The crowd got to hear three unreleased titles which will be featured on her sophomore album releasing in early 2027: “What If It’s Not?,” “Love You Less” and “Look Who’s Missing Who”
She also performed her three released songs from the album: “Mad About It,” “Memo” and “82 Chevy.”
When Dasha performed “Memo” she asked the crowd to break out in a swing dance when the fiddle solo came on, and the crowd did just that.
From the front to the back of the ballroom, a sea of cowboy hats and sparkles were linked arm in arm and twirling around – honoring the star’s wish.
Prior to the show, “82 Chevy,” had never been performed live, giving the attendees bragging rights as they were the first ones to hear the newly released single in person.
While Dasha described the excitement of playing these new songs, she ended the show with the song that changed her life, “Austin.” The crowd shook the ballroom floor as they performed the song’s viral line dance and sang the lyrics so loud that Dasha’s “ex in Texas could hear it” as per the singer’s request.
The crowd dispersed as Dasha stayed behind to take pictures with lingering fans and sign memorabilia to commemorate the unique, hometown event while her mother was reminisced on the full circle moment.
“She started in Kindergarten…and she had been in every musical production and show she could possibly be in, [performing at] every coffee shop, every winery, so it’s been a long build up,” Joines said. “She’s put in a lot of practice, I’m very proud of her.”
Dasha’s hope for the night was that people feel “so empowered” and “hopefully walk away tonight having a little more excitement for life.”
As the show came to a close, it was evident that her mission was accomplished as a plethora of young starry-eyed girls who admired the singer jumped on the stage singing the chorus to “Austin,” once again bringing tears to the stars’ eyes.
