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REVIEW: Sara Evans, Lee Bice make winning team for FRY Fest party

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Sara Evans performed Friday at the FRY fest concert in Coralville

CORALVILLE — Sara Evans wasn’t going to let cool temperatures, a soggy and muddy field or a Presidential visit a few miles away keep her from what she came to do Friday night (9/7/12).

Evans was in Iowa to give fans a party, and she more than delivered.

Country music star Evans, along with opener Lee Brice, put the finishing touches on FRY Fest 2012, the annual celebration kicking off the Iowa Hawkeyes’ football home opener.

Although the crowd was smaller than expected – organizers said earlier in the week they suspected an early evening address by President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden would keep some people away – there were still a few hundred fans scattered in the staging area. Fans jumped through soggy grass and muddy areas left by the previous night’s storms to get closer to the stage.

Walking onstage and immediately breaking in to her 2003 hit, “Perfect,” Evans  kept on with hit after hit, subtly reminding fans just how big her cache of top 10 songs really is: “When You Were Cheating,” “Born to Fly,” “Anywhere,” “Coalmine,” “Suds in the Bucket” and the title song of her 2011 album, “Stronger,” all played well to the audience before she broke from her own titles and showed off her vocal strength with songs from the past, such as Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man.”

Between songs she let her fans know she loved their state and was aware of the football rivalry ready to play out at Kinnick Stadium the next day.

“Iowa is the most beautiful state in America, I really mean that,” she said. Growing up on a farm near Boonville, Mo., Evans said she had a first-hand knowledge of how beautiful the Midwest really is. She said she also knows how much Iowans love their football.

“I live in Alabama now and they really love football there,” she said, “probably about as much as you do here.”

Relative newcomer Lee Brice, who topped the country charts in 2010 with “Love Like Crazy,” a song off his debut album, opened for Evans, playfully changing up chords and getting the fans to sing along.

Related:

- Sara Evans to headline 2012 FRYfest outdoor concert

- FRY Fest shines spotlight on annual intrastate rivalry

 

Sara Evans to headline 2012 FRYfest outdoor concert

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CORALVILLE — Sara Evans will headline the 2012 FRY fest — A Celebration of All that is Hawkeye, presented by The Eastern Iowa Airport on Sept. 7.

Sara Evans will perform for FRY fest .

Lee Brice will open the outdoor concert at 7 p.m., followed by Evans at 8:30 p.m., on the Two Rivers Bank and Trust stage at Coralville’s Iowa River Landing. Tickets are $15. All proceeds benefit the annual Coralville 4th Fest celebrations.

Multiplatinum RCA recording artist Sara Evans has been honored with numerous accolades, among them the 2006 Academy of Country Music’s Female Vocalist of the Year and the Country Music Association’s Video of the Year for “Born to Fly.” She has been named one of People Magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People” and won the hearts of television viewers as the first country star to compete in ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. She enjoys a prolific recording career with mroe than 5 million records sold and five chart-topping country singles, including the self penned “Born To Fly.”

(Find more information on FryFest or the Sara Evans concert.)

2011 marked the release of Evans’ sixth studio album “Stronger” which debuted at No. 1 for two weeks and features the platinum  multiweek top single, “A Little Bit Stronger.” Evans received award nominations for Single of the year and Female vocalist of the year at the 2011 CMA, AMA and ACA awards.

Country singer/songwriter Lee Brice walks a path between traditional honky tonk sounds and contemporary rock ‘n’ roll. Brice has charted a string of singles beginning in 2007 with “She Ain’t Right,” followed by “Happy Endings” and “Upper Middle Class White Trash.” As an artist, his breakthrough came when “Love Like Crazy” was released in September 2009. With a slow but consistent build at country radio, the single eventually peaked at No. 3 on Billboard‘s country songs chart. Spending 56 weeks on the country songs chart, the track made history by breaking Eddy Arnold’s 54-week stay on the chart with “Bouquet of Roses,” which debuted in May 1948. Brice’s his highest-charting single, “A Woman Like You,” reached Np. 1 in April 2012.

FRY fest will recognize and celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Cy-Hawk Series, the day before the Hawkeyes take on the Cyclones in Kinnick Stadium. FRY fest attendees will be able to take in a day of panel discussions reliving stories from broadcasters, players and coaches’ perspectives from this intrastate rivalry game played annually between Big 12 Conference member Iowa State Cyclones and the University of Iowa Hawkeyes of the Big Ten Conference.

FRY fest will once again hold the World’s Largest Hawkeye Tradeshow & Tailgate Party where fans can interact with Hawkeye retailers, licensees, and other related groups.  New to the mix will be some Cyclone-licensed vendors offering fans their merchandise, as well. Also returning are the FRY fest car show presented by Carousel Nissan, FRY fest small FRY zone, and the FRY fest pep rally, all free and open to the public.

 

Celebrate summer:
Best fests

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From the Wild West and Renaissance days of yore to “Star Trek” future ways and more, enterprising Eastern Iowa towns and organizations are gearing up for their busiest season under the sun.

No matter what your preference in food and fun, you’re bound to find a reason to celebrate.

Patriotism will be on parade during the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival and Coralville’s 4thFEST, while Hawkeyes salute their black and gold at FRY Fest in September.

Sauerkraut, pickles, sweet corn, mushrooms, beef, hogs and Cajun critters wash down oh so nicely with ice-cold beer and pop, while history and heritage will bring out the best in Hoover

ball and lederhosen.

So get out your calendars — paper or digital — and jot down these dates to remember. Then keep watching for more on music, film fests and seasonal fare. We’ve only just begun to turn up the heat.

— Diana Nollen

MAY

Chalk the Walk, Mount Vernon

May 7 and 8: Madonnari Festival; juried and public chalk drawings on downtown streets. www.visitmvl.com

Houby Days, Cedar Rapids

May 13 to 15: Czech Village. Czech food, music, maypole dancing, noon parade Saturday, carnival rides, puppet show, folk dance festival. www.ncsml.org/Events/20110513/44/Houby-Days.aspx

Benz Beer Fest, Cedar Rapids

May 14: 1 to 5 p.m. outdoors, Benz, 501 Seventh Ave. SE. More than 100 brews from around the world, music, guest brewmasters. $15, includes souvenir tasting glass. American Heart Association benefit. www.benzbeveragedepot.com/content.asp?ID=2383&Date=5/14/2011

Marion Arts Festival

May 21: City Square Park, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Juried art exhibits, 5K race, demonstrations, art activities. www.marionartsfestival.com

Cajun Fest, Amana

May 28 and 29: Taste Louisiana Cajun & Zydeco Festival, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Amana Colonies RV Park and Event Center, 3890 C St. Food, music, kids’ activities, carnival rides, shopping, demonstrations, dance lessons. Admission: $10 adults, $2 ages 6 to 12. www.cajunfest.net

Iowa Renaissance Festival, Middle Amana

May 28 to 30: Middle Amana Park. Historical re-enactment, jousting, theater, comedy, merchants, food. Admission: $10 adults, $6 children. www.iowarenfest.com

JUNE

Iowa City Arts Festival

June 3 to 5: On seven blocks in downtown Iowa City. 120 local and national artists, music, entertainment, kids’ activities, foods. www.summerofthearts.org

North Liberty Fun Days

June 9 to 12: Penn Meadows Park. Carnival rides, music, car show, truck pull.

Grant Wood Art Festival, Anamosa

June 12:10 a.m. to 5 p.m., downtown Anamosa. Juried art contest, music, student art and educational displays, kids’ activities. www.anamosachamber.org/grantwoodartfestival

Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival

June 12 to July 4: Music, baseball, ski shows, Loverboy concert June 18, Patriotic Pops concert June 19, food, games, contests, parade June 25, Cardboard Boat Regatta June 26, Balloon Glow June 28, pancake breakfast July 4, fireworks. www.freedomfestival.com

Hog Wild Days, Hiawatha

June 16 to 19: Guthridge Park. Contests, Saturday parade, music, food, carnival rides, flea market, 5K run, fireworks Sunday. www.hogwilddays.com

TrekFest XXVII, Riverside

June 24 and 25: Hall Park. Carnival rides, games, food, parade, contests, demolition derby, music, “Star Trek” trivia, sci-fi costume contest, fireworks Saturday. www.trekfest.com

Wild West Weekend, Cedar Rapids

June 25 and 26: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Ushers Ferry Historic Village, 5925 Seminole Valley Trl. NE. Old West re-enactors, food, kids’ bounty hunt. $8 adults; $4 ages 3 to 14; $1 off with a Freedom Festival button. www.cedar-rapids.org/resident-resources/parks-recreation/ushers-ferry/pages/default.aspx

JULY

Coralville 4thFEST

July 2 to 4: S.T. Morrison Park. Carnival, entertainment, contests, food, July 4 parade and fireworks. Free concert Sunday with the Cedar Island Band, The Grass Roots and Herman’s Hermits. www.coralville.org/index.aspx?NID=310

Iowa City Jazz Festival

July 1 to 3: Down-town Iowa City. Well-known jazz musicians, up-and-coming artists, fireworrks. www.summerofthearts.org

Fairytale Festival, Cedar Rapids

July 16: 3 to 7:30 p.m., Ushers Ferry Historic Village, 5925 Seminole Valley Trl. NE. Storytellers, fairytale games, crafts, fairytale costume contest and parade. $8 adults; $4 ages 3 to 14; $1 off with costume. www.cedar-rapids.org/resident-resources/parks-recreation/ushers-ferry/pages/default.aspx

Nordic Fest, Decorah

July 28 to 30: Norwegian food and crafts, parade, entertainment, Saturday night torchlight parade and fireworks. www.nordicfest.com

Walker Pickle Days

July 28 to 30: Games, contests, 5K run/walk, food, parade, music, fireworks. www.walkeriowa.com

AUGUST

Hoover’s Hometown Days, West Branch

Aug. 5 and 6: Music, entertainment, Civil War encampment, rides and games, food, exhibits, Hoover-Ball championships, Hoover gravesite ceremony, free birthday cake, fireworks. www.hooverassociation.org/newsevents/hooverfest.php

Sauerkraut Days, Lisbon

Aug. 10 to 13: Food, carnival, music, contests. www.sauerkrautdays.com

St. Jude’s Sweet Corn Festival, Cedar Rapids

Aug. 12 to 14: 50 Edgewood Rd. NW. Carnival rides, kids’ games, raffle, fun run/walk, music, food, 14 tons of sweet corn. www.judes.org/Sweet%20Corn%20Festival%20Information/sweetcorn_festival.html

Sand in the City, Iowa City

Aug. 12 to 14: Downtown. Sand sculptures, food, kids’ activities, music. Free admission. www.summerofthearts.org

Woodfest, Amana

Aug. 26 to 28: Amana Colonies RV Park and Event Center, 3890 C St. Wood craft displays, demonstrations, seminars, food, tool and supply sales. Noon to 5 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 10 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Free admission and parking. www.amanaartsguild.com

SEPTEMBER

FRY Fest, Coralville

Sept. 2: Iowa River Landing area. Hawkeye celebration with salute to Dan Gable, food, music. www.fryfest.com

Swamp Fox Festival, Marion

Sept. 8 to 11: Marion Square Park. Golf outing, food, music, craft show, 5K run and fun walk, parade. http://uptownmarion.com/things-to-do.html?item=238

BrewNost, Cedar Rapids

Sept. 23: 6 to 9:30 p.m., Veterans Memorial Stadium, 950 Rockford Rd. SW. Domestic and international beers paired with hors d’ourves. www.ncsml.org/Events/20110923/80/BrewNost-2011.aspx

Oktoberfest, Amana

Sept. 30 to Oct. 2. German bands, food and beverages, games, theater shows, parade, walking tours, museums open. Noon to midnight Friday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. www.festivalsinamana.com

Celebrate Hayden Fry, Iowa football at FRY Fest

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Former University of Iowa football coach Hayden Fry waves to the crowd at Kinnick Stadium during a halftime ceremony honoring him at the homecoming game against Michigan on Saturday Oct. 4, 2003 in Iowa City.

Former University of Iowa football coach Hayden Fry waves to the crowd at Kinnick Stadium during a halftime ceremony honoring him at the homecoming game against Michigan on Saturday Oct. 4, 2003 in Iowa City.

What better way to celebrate everything Hawkeye than hosting a festival honoring one of Iowa’s most beloved coaches? FRY Fest, named after legendary Hawkeye football coach Hayden Fry, will be held Friday in Coralville.

“It’s to celebrate Hawkeye spirit,” says Alyssa Dahmer, communications intern for the Iowa City-Coralville Convention and Visitors Bureau.

It also will celebrate Fry’s 20-year coaching career at Iowa and his humanitarian effort supporting local farmers, Dahmer says.

This year marks several milestones for Fry. He celebrated his 80th birthday in February, and 2009 is the 30th anniversary of his hiring and the 10th anniversary of his retirement as the University of Iowa’s winningest football coach.

At 10 a.m. Friday, Hayden Fry Way will be unveiled at a ceremony at the intersection of First Avenue and East Ninth Street in Coralville. The stretch between Interstate 80 and Highway 6 is the most traveled in Johnson County and is the stretch of road Fry drove for 20 years to his office. Fry plans to attend the ceremony.

But that’s not all. There will also be “The World’s Largest Hawkeye Tradeshow & Tailgate Party,” featuring more than 60 exhibitors, will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Coralville Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, 300 E Ninth St. Current athletes and coaches, as well as former Hawkeyes, including Dan Gable and Tim Dwight, will make appearances.
At 1:30 p.m. Fry will be on a panel with Hawkeye broadcasters Bump Elliot, Jon Miller, Ed Podalak, Bob Brooks, Ron Gonder, Gary Dolphin, George Wine, Frosty Mitchell and John Campbell.

Campbell, who started at KCRG-TV9 in 1979, the same year Fry started as UI’s coach, says Fry was an interesting person to cover as a reporter.

“You never knew what you would get,” Campbell says. “He could be funny, he could be serious, he could chop your head off.”

But Fry was always respected and was always thinking, Campbell says.

“When you went to games when Fry was the coach, there was a good chance Iowa was going to win,” he says.

Other tradeshow activities Friday include exhibits, a car show, Hayden Fry look- and sound-a-like contests, a Hayden Fry namesake photo and a Hawkeye pep rally at the Iowa River Landing on corner of Ninth Street and Quarry Road. In recognition of Fry’s 143 victories, 143 Harley-Davidsons will ride down East Ninth Street to kick off the pep rally. After the pep rally country artist Jake Owen will perform, followed by the Outlaws and the Charlie Daniels Band.

Organizers hope FRY Fest will become an annual event. While this year particularly celebrates Fry’s accomplishments, future events will focus more on the Hawkeyes.

— By Angela Holmes, The Gazette

What: FRY Fest
When: Friday
Where: Various locations in Coralville
More information: (319) 337-6592 or http://fryfest.com/

Schedule

10 a.m.: Dedication of Hayden Fry Way, intersection of First Avenue and East Ninth Street
11 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Tradeshow and tailgate party, Coralville Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, 300 E. Ninth St.
1:30 p.m.: Hawkeye broadcasters panel, Coralville Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.
3:30 p.m.: Hayden Fry contests, Coralville Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.
5 p.m.: Hayden Fry namesake photo opportunity, Coralville Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.
5:30 to 6:15 p.m.: Hawkeye pep rally, Iowa River Landing, corner of Ninth Street and Quarry Road.
6:30 p.m.: Concerts begin at Iowa River Landing. Features Jake Owen, The Outlaws and The Charlie Daniels Band.