When the Support Band blows the headliner away – meet Dillon Dunnagan and the WINKS

When a crowd toks, rocks, talks, insta’s, tweets and posts about the opening act, more than the headliner, it’s usually from opinionated friends, family members or hometown crowds loving on the support band. But happening more frequently, a particular act will completely blow away, the headliner. Being upstaged is by mere crowd consensus. A support band that receives top billing in the minds of concert goers, eventually gets venue top billing as well. As the promoters, booking agents, club owners tend to get smarter – so do the talented musicians. Lessons in how hungry, passionate bands put in check, the often older, the more experienced, the hot been-around seasoned band; it’s called passion, its music, it’s also called Dillion Dunnagan and the WINKS. On February 26^th Saturday, 2022 the WINKS make an appearance and play the Conservatory in Alton, IL.

The WINKS logo – credit social media.

Recently on a Friday the 13^th, playing the Duck Room in St. Louis, MO, the historic Chuck Berry stage, WINKS packed the place wall to wall. The merch table sold 60% plus of all items, the crowd was heavy, the people were happy, the drinks were flowing, and cash was spent. The WINKS rode hard, did it loud and pleased the crowd. WINKS front man Dillon has also helped open a show with Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, toured through Europe with Dan Vapid and the Cheats, he is a sought-after player. Every venue his band plays, the WINKS bring in ticket sales, merch sales, there’s a reason Dillion is known to turn down a show. He chooses his venues and partner acts carefully; he preps for another European tour. The WINKS are not only known for their music, but they are welcoming, inclusive, diverse, have a comfortable attitude with others and enjoy passionate fans. Noted confident musicians, the WINKS rise above societal control, events of the day; they are good time fun and leave you thirsty for more. It’s not their antics, a manufactured persona or a workshop crafted message, it’s the music that keeps the WINKS relevant.

A native Illinoian now living in St. Louis, Dillion plays venues across the Midwest, is often invited to fill-in for absent musicians, and the WINKS lay out a show that makes the girls and boys get in the pit, hit, surf, sweat and have fun. Band members Dillon Dunnagan, Austin Johnson, Braden McCarthy and Mark Lyle will be performing at Conservatory in Alton, IL Saturday Feb. 26^th with their musical fans and local bands.