Schedule:

June 4, 2024

6:30 PM: RESCHEDULED for August 27: Natural Habits at Terry Trueblood Recreation Area

June 11, 2024

6:30 PM: Kevin Burt at Mercer Park

June 18, 2024

6:30 PM: James Tutson at Penn Meadows Park Gazebo

June 26, 2024

6:30 PM: Rescheduled: Cedar County Cobras at S.T. Morrison Park

July 2, 2024

6:30 PM: RESCHEDULED for September 3: Blake Shaw at Northside Market Place

July 9, 2024

6:30 PM: Dave Zollo at James Alan McPherson Park

July 16, 2024

6:30 PM: Kevin Burt at Willow Creek Park

July 23, 2024

6:30 PM: The Feralings at North Market Square Park

Ralph Waldo Emerson. Diesel. Morning glories. AM radio. These all influence Iowa acoustic Americana trio The  Feralings, as do the gently sloping landscapes of the Iowa countryside and the sound of tornado sirens  squealing and the rumble of trucks on I-80. Their songwriting reflects parenthood, friendship, imperfection, magic, and a big love for storytelling, as well as the folk, bluegrass, jazz, alt country,  Americana, gospel, and roots that form each member’s musical DNA.

July 30, 2024

6:30 PM: Blake Shaw at Emma J. Harvat Square

Blake Shaw is a composer/arranger, bandleader, double/electric bassist, vocalist, private lessons teacher, and jazz professor at Cornell College and Mt Mercy College. Originally from Lisbon, Iowa, Blake has earned an Associate of Arts degree from Kirkwood Community College as well as a Bachelor of Music (‘13) and Master of Arts (‘17) degree both from the University of Iowa. He has called Iowa City, IA home for the past 14yrs where he has provided insight on festival boards for around half that time for the Iowa City Jazz Festival as well as the Iowa City Pride Fest where he serves as Entertainment Director. Shaw is a frequent performer and band leader in many different groups across Iowa and the US. He can also be found teaching private lessons to young dedicated classical and jazz double bass players. Shaw has had the pleasure of playing with jazz greats like Carmen Bradford, Wycliffe Gordon, Rachel Eckroth, Dave Pietro, O’had Talmor, and Dick Oatts. He’s also been in groups opening for bands like Kurt Elling, Charlie Hunter, Lake Street Dive, Donny McCaslin, Margaret Glaspy, John Raymond and the Real Feels, Bridget Kearney, Caroline Smith, The Marcus King Band, and Euforquestra. You may go “like” all of his cute pics on instagram @theeblakebass.

August 6, 2024

6:30 PM: Crystal City Trio at Northside Market Place

Crystal City is fronted by Dave Helmer and Sam Drella. Helmer is a Midwestern singer/songwriter from eastern Iowa with blue-collar roots. Influenced by Paul Westerberg, Tom Petty, John Prine, and Townes Van Zandt, Helmer’s songs are approachable and relatable, touching on themes of love and loss, being good to each other, and celebrating life. Crystal City’s most recent release “Three-Dimensionality” brings together some of Iowa’s finest musicians, blending elements of rock, pop, Americana, and jazz, and showcases a more mature and thought-provoking side of the band.

August 13, 2024

6:30 PM: James Tutson at Fairmeadows Park

Iowa City’s James Tutson and his 5 siblings were the entirety of the church choir growing up. He was raised singing southern gospel every Sunday in a tiny chapel in front of a 10 person congregation. This heritage of soul music permeates his vocal stylings and anchors his songwriting even as he crafts his current work telling stories of the modern world and his life journey. He is known for emotive/”raw” vocal performances, tight musical arrangements, and resonant songwriting, which has been described as a “gift for exploring the intersection between joy and sorrow”. James’ career has taken him to local backyards, dive bars, theater stages, music festivals, and NBC’s The Voice. James was named one of the 2023 National endowment for the arts, Iowa Fellows and has had the privilege of performing with great artists like Lake Street Dive, The Dip, Marc Broussard, Joanna Connor, Five for Fighting and more. He has recorded six studio albums including his two most recent “Still” and “Happy”, soulful reflections about life during the 2020 global pandemic

August 20, 2024

6:30 PM: Dave Zollo at Frauenholtz-Miller Park

Since bursting on to the midwestern music scene with the band High and Lonesome in 1992, David Zollo has had a busy career. Along with constant touring, in the U.S and Europe, with High and Lonesome (1992-1998) and his current band, The Body Electric (1998-present) Zollo has recorded 7 records of his own material. Despite the many things Zollo has done during his career, it is as a live performer that many feel he’s at his best.

August 27, 2024

6:30 PM: Natural Habits at Terry Trueblood Recreation Area

Natural Habits is self-defined as “original midwestern roots rock” - not quite country, not quite pop, not quite rock and roll. Fronted by singer/songwriter Nikki Lunden Trotter, this band brings your mind and heart to full attention with personal and complex songs of love, addiction, recovery and even gets political at times.

Natural Habits consists of Nikki Lunden Trotter (The Trollies, Heinous Canis, Lunden Reign), Seth “Puma” Koenig on drums (The Trollies, Heinous Canis, Lunatics on Pogosticks), Adam Grosso on bass (The Trollies, Euforquestra, Jumbies), Dave Helmer on guitar (Crystal City, Dave Helmer Band) and the one and only Smudge on hand percussion.

September 3, 2024

6:30 PM: Blake Shaw at Northside Market Place

Blake Shaw is a composer/arranger, bandleader, double/electric bassist, vocalist, private lessons teacher, and jazz professor at Cornell College and Mt Mercy College. Originally from Lisbon, Iowa, Blake has earned an Associate of Arts degree from Kirkwood Community College as well as a Bachelor of Music (‘13) and Master of Arts (‘17) degree both from the University of Iowa. He has called Iowa City, IA home for the past 14yrs where he has provided insight on festival boards for around half that time for the Iowa City Jazz Festival as well as the Iowa City Pride Fest where he serves as Entertainment Director. Shaw is a frequent performer and band leader in many different groups across Iowa and the US. He can also be found teaching private lessons to young dedicated classical and jazz double bass players. Shaw has had the pleasure of playing with jazz greats like Carmen Bradford, Wycliffe Gordon, Rachel Eckroth, Dave Pietro, O’had Talmor, and Dick Oatts. He’s also been in groups opening for bands like Kurt Elling, Charlie Hunter, Lake Street Dive, Donny McCaslin, Margaret Glaspy, John Raymond and the Real Feels, Bridget Kearney, Caroline Smith, The Marcus King Band, and Euforquestra. You may go “like” all of his cute pics on instagram @theeblakebass.

Date: June 4 - September 3, 2024

Location:

Various Venue in Iowa City, IA 52240

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