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Summer concert preview

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Starting this weekend, Eastern Iowa is spreading out a seemingly endless musical potluck picnic with outdoor music to suit every musical taste, through September.

This list just scratches the surface of outdoor events that can draw thousands of people to parks, streets, city squares and county fairs.

Community bands have been sending their sounds through the summer breeze in Cedar Rapids since the 1890s. A summer outdoor series is a recent addition to the Riverside Casino table. And the grandstands fill up quickly at the Great Jones County Fair in Monticello, where blankets and lawn chairs create a patchwork crazy quilt on the surrounding hillsides.

But when heat, humidity and bugs threaten to crash the parties, why do we keep flocking to these events?

“Our outdoor summer music season is so short, while we do complain about the heat and humidity and insist we’re not going to stir out of our air-conditioned cocoons, we know if we don’t do it now, we won’t have the chance. And if we don’t stir ourselves and go to them, they will go away,” says Dennis Green, general manager of KCCK-FM. The Cedar Rapids radio station has been staging Jazz Under the Stars for 24 years at Noelridge Park, drawing upward of 3,000 people on beautiful August nights.

“It’s worth it to put up with a few mosquitoes to have these opportunities,” Green says.

— Diana Nollen

MAY

Uptown Friday Nights, Cedar Rapids

Fridays, May 27 to July 29: 5 to 8 p.m., Greene Square Park, downtown Cedar Rapids. Live music by popular regional bands, food and adult beverages, presented by the Cedar Rapids Jaycees; $5 admission includes first drink for first 500 people; must be ages 21 and older with photo ID. First up: The Swing Crew, May 27. www.uptownfridaynights.com

Friday Night Concert Series, Iowa City

Fridays, May 20 to Sept. 2: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Ped Mall, downtown. Rain location: Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp, 460 E. Washington St. Local talent; free admission. www.summerofthearts.org/festival-menu/concert-series/about.aspx

Downtown Saturday Night, Iowa City

Saturday, May 21 to Sept. 3: 6:30 to 9 p.m., Weatherdance Fountain Stage by the Sheraton Hotel, downtown. Rain location: Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp, 460 E. Washington St. Local and regional bands; free admission. www.summerofthearts.org/festival-menu/downtown-saturday-night/about.aspx

Thursday Night Live, Washington

Thursdays, May 26 to Aug. 18: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Central Square Park, downtown Washington, Iowa. Local music, entertainment.

Liberty Centre Blues & BBQ, North Liberty

May 29: Noon to 10 p.m., north side of the pond at Liberty Centre, just off Penn Street. Free family event with food, beverage garden; barbecue contest, 4:30 p.m.; music by Kevin B.F. Burt and the Instigators, Bob Dorr and the Blue Band, The Avey Brothers, Ernie Peniston and Dave Zollo; kids’ activities; fishing; fireworks. http://northlibertyiowa.org/bluesandbbq

JUNE

Marion by Moonlight

Thursdays, June 2 to 23: 6 to 9:30 p.m., City Square Park. Rain date: June 30. www.marioncc.org

Beckster Fest Amana

June 3 to 5: Amana Colonies RV Park and Event Center, 3890 C St. Polka fest with nine bands, food. Friday: 6 p.m. to midnight, $10. Saturday: noon to midnight, $12. Sunday: noon to 6 p.m., $10. Three-day pass: $25. www.barefootbecky.com

Iowa City Community Band

June 5 to July 10: Various times, dates and locations in Iowa City and Coralville. http://iccband.org

Cedar Rapids Municipal Band

June 8 to Aug. 7: Various parks and other sites around Cedar Rapids, beginning 7:30 p.m. June 8 in Greene Square Park. Most concerts start at 7:30 p.m., except 10 a.m. July 2 at the Downtown Farmers Market and 8 p.m. July 4 north of the Police Station. Free admission. www.crmuniband.org/schedule.html

Washington Municipal Band

Thursdays, June 9 to Aug. 11: 8 to 9 p.m., Central park bandstand, downtown Washington, Iowa. www.washingtoniowachamber.com/Performing%20Arts.htm

Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival

Various outdoor concerts, www.freedomfestival.com

June 12: 6 to 9:30 p.m., Glenn Miller Orchestra, Guaranty Bank parking lot, 302 Third Ave. SE; admission free with 2011 Freedom Festival button.

June 18: 6 p.m., Classic Rock Concert Night with Loverboy and fireworks, Johnson Hall parking lot, Kirkwood Community College; $20 preferred seating; $15 ages 13 and up; $5 ages 6 to 12; Freedom Festival button required.

June 19: 6 p.m., Patriotic Pops Concert with Orchestra Iowa, Harmony Hawks and fireworks, Kirkwood Community College; $20 preferred seating; $15 ages 13 and up; $5 ages 6 to 12; Freedom Festival button required.

July 4: 8 p.m., Fanfare to the Fireworks, with the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band, north of the police station; free.

Marion Community Band

June 14 and 28: 7 p.m., City Square Park, Seventh Avenue and 10th Street, Marion. Concert Band and Jazz Band. http://marioncommunitybands.us

Outdoor Beach Party, Cedar Rapids

June 17: 6:30 p.m., Chrome Horse Saloon parking lot, 1202 Third St. SE. Cedar Island Band. Free admission; ages 21 and over; gates open at 6 p.m. http://chromehorsesaloon.net

Summer Outdoor Concert Series, Riverside

June 18, July 30, Aug. 27: Open to all ages, Riverside Casino grounds, 3184 Highway 22. June 18: Huey Lewis and The News, 8 p.m., $35 and $65. July 30: The Xtreme Muzik Tour featuring Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson, Cowboy Troy and Two Foot Fred, 8 p.m., $35 and $65. Aug. 27: Peter Frampton, 7 p.m., $30 and $50. Tickets in casino gift shop or http://tickets.riversidecasinoandresort.com

JULY

Camp Euforia, Lone Tree

July 15 and 16: Jerry Hotz farm, 5335 Utah Ave. SE. Electronica to bluegrass from 18 national, regional and local bands, including host Euforquestra; gates open noon July 15; $65 at www.midwestix.com or $85 day of show, includes parking and camping. www.campeuforia.com

Iowa City Jazz Festival

July 1 to 3: Downtown. Concerts by local, regional and national and international jazz musicians; kids’ activities, fireworks July 3. Free admission. www.summerofthearts.org

Coralville 4thFEST

July 3: 5:30 p.m., S.T. Morrison Park, with Herman’s Hermits, The Grass Roots and Cedar Island Band; free. www.coralville.org

Marion Big Band

Thursdays, July 7 to 28: 7 p.m., City Square Park. http://uptownmarion.com

Great Jones County Fair, Monticello

July 21: 8 p.m., Jason Aldean, Chris Young, Thompson Square; $25 to $40

July 22: 8 p.m., Lady Antebellum, Josh Kelley; $25 to $40

July 23: 7 p.m., Seether, Hinder and My Darkest Days; $30

www.greatjonescountyfair.com

Ushers Ferry, Cedar Rapids

July 23: Motorcycles and Music, 4 to 8 p.m., Ushers Ferry Historic Village, 5925 Seminole Valley Trl. NE. Motorcycle show, music, family games; $8 adults, $4 ages 3to 14, free ages 2 and under.

Aug. 13: Music Festival, 5 to 9 p.m. Local musicians on Gazebo Square, concessions; $8 adults, $4 ages 14 and under. www.cedar-rapids.org/resident-resources/parks-recreation/ushers-ferry/events/Pages/July,August,September.aspx

AUGUST

Downtown Getdown, Marion

Thursdays, Aug. 4 to 25: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., City Square Park. Food, 6 p.m., music, 6:30 p.m. Free admission. Aug. 4: Dogs on Skis; Aug. 11: B.F. Burt and the Instigators; Aug. 18: Lonesome Road; Aug. 25: The Beaker Brothers. www.marioncc.org

Jazz Under the Stars, Cedar Rapids

Thursdays, Aug. 4 to 25: 7 p.m., Noelridge Park. Rain location: Parlor City Pub, 1125 Third St. SE. Aug. 4: Ariel Pocock; Aug. 11: Funk Daddies; Aug. 18: Dennis McPartland and The Jazz Underground; Aug. 25: Bob Dorr and The Blue Band. www.kcck.org/events/juts.php

Cabaret in the Courtyard, Cedar Rapids

Aug. 11 to 20: Brucemore, 2160 Linden Dr. SE. Aug. 11 to 13: 7:30 p.m. Divapalooza. Aug. 18 to 20: A Trio of Tenors, 7:30 p.m.; $20 adults, $18 Brucemore members, at the Brucemore Store or (319) 362-7375; $25 at the gate. www.brucemore.org

Amphitheater Music Fest, Cedar Rapids

Aug. 20:10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Greene Square Park, downtown. $10. Local and regional bands, food, raffle. Fundraiser for planned Cedar Rapids Amphitheater. www.facebook.com/#!/pages/CR-Amphitheater-Music-Fest/192783107411582

Bluesmore, Cedar Rapids

Aug. 6: 4 to 9:30 p.m., Brucemore, 2160 Linden Dr. SE. Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, regional and national blues performers, music workshops, food, beverages; $13 adults, $12 students and Brucemore/Linn County Blues Society members by Aug. 5 at (319) 362-7375, $15 at the gate, free ages 10 and under. www.brucemore.org

SEPTEMBER

Landfall Festival, Cedar Rapids

Sept. 21 to 24: Centered at Greene Square Park, downtown Cedar Rapids; free admission. Musicians from Africa, Asia, Latin America, United States and more, presented by Legion Arts/CSPS. http://legionarts.org

Brucemorchestra, Cedar Rapids

Sept. 10: Brucemorchestra IV: Crown Imperial, 7:30 p.m., Brucemore, 2160 Linden Dr. SE. Orchestra Iowa’s season opener features pomp from English and Roman empires. www.orchestraiowa.org

Iowa Women’s Music Festival, Iowa City

Sept. 10: Daystage, noon to 5:30 p.m., Upper City Park, free admission; food and drink, arts and crafts; www.prairievoices.net Headliner: Janis Ian, 8 p.m., Englert Theatre, 221 E. Washington St., $25, Englert Box Office, (319) 688-2653 or www.englert.org

Funk-Stop to play extra Uptown concert

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uptownThe Cedar Rapids Junior Chamber is excited to announce that it will be presenting an extra Uptown Friday NightsTM concert July 31 to make up for ones affected by inclement weather.  The June 12 concert was cut short due to rain and the June 19 concert was cancelled.

Uptown Friday NightsTM is an outdoor concert series that features live music, food, and beverages from 5-8pm for 10 consecutive Fridays starting Memorial Day weekend.  This event allows the Jaycees to raise money to support local charities as well as Jaycee programs like Christmas Toy Shop and youth sporting events.  Since 2001 the Jaycees have contributed over $300,000 in Uptown Friday Nights proceeds to other local organizations.

Funk-Stop will be performing live at the July 31 makeup concert.  Funk-Stop is an 11 member band performing music in the R&B, funk, and soul styles. Funk-Stop delivers a high-impact show featuring soulful lyrics backed by the hottest horn and rhythm section around.  Funk-Stop consists of music educators and other Cedar Rapids Metro area professionals. 

Bands still scheduled include:

July 24, Richie Lee and the Fabulous 50s

July 31, Funk-Stop

Admission costs $5 and requires an ID.  Must be 21 or older to attend.  For more information visit www.UptownFridayNights.com.

Three things to do this weekend

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Uptown Friday Night
Friday, July 17

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Kick off your weekend at a favorite of hip, young Corridor professionals – Uptown Friday Night in downtown Cedar Rapids. Wicked Liz and the Bellyswirls out of the Quad Cities will be on stage with an energetic performance of a rock meets blues nature. The event starts at 5 p.m. in Greene Square Park, with plenty of cool beverages and great food available. Whether you’re in the mood to get together with friends, meet new people or just celebrate the beginning of the weekend, Uptown is a place to mix and mingle in the Corridor. Then mosey downtown afterward for specials at local bars and restaurants. Check it out. Only two more Uptowns left in the summer. Next week, join guest pourers, the Hoopla Crew.
Uptown Friday Night
5 to 8 p.m. Friday (7/17) Greene Square Park, Cedar Rapids, $5, www.uptownfridaynights.com

Iowa City Book Festival
Saturday, July 18

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Stop by Gibson Square in Iowa City Saturday to celebrate books, reading and writing. The University of Iowa Libraries is presenting the Iowa City Book Festival from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. just outside the Main Library’s south entrance. The festival will host local and regional booksellers offering new, used and collectible books. A space for children’s readings and activities also will be set aside, making the event friendly for the whole family. Of course no festival would be complete without music – Bern Schmidt, The Starlings, Shannon’s Fancy, Goosetown String Band and Stable Hands will each be on stage throughout the day. Local food vendors also will be on hand and the Center for the Book at the U of I will be providing hands-on activities and demonstrations of printmaking, papermaking, bookbinding and calligraphy.
Iowa City Book Festival
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday (7/18), Gibson Square (the corner of Burlington & Madison Streets), Iowa City, Free, www.iowacitybookfestival.org

Movie nights
Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18

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Nothing beats an outdoor movie on a warm summer evening. And there’s two chances to grab a blanket and watch a movie under the stars this weekend. Friday, catch “Field of Dreams,” which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year at Marion Movie Night at Thomas Park. Head over at 7 p.m. with a blanket or lawn chairs. The movie starts at sunset. Then Saturday, “Happy Feet” will show at the second Downtown Drive-In hosted at Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust’s downtown location. Food vendors and games for the kids begin serving at 7:30 p.m. and the movie will begin at dusk. There’s space for lawn chairs and blankets or “drive in” and listen to the movie from your car.
Movie nights
7 p.m. Friday (7/17), Marion Movie Night, 335 Marion Blvd., Marion, free, (319) 377-6316
7:30 p.m. Saturday (7/18), Downtown Drive-In, 500 First Avenue NE, Cedar Rapids, free, www.downtowncr.org

THREE OTHER THINGS

Women Building Better Communities; 75 Years of the Junior League of Cedar Rapids
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday (7/17) to 8/18
The Carl & Mary Koehler History Center, 615 First Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, free, www.historycenter.org

CR Green Drinks
5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday (7/16)
DC’s River Walk Pub & Eatery, 401 First St. SE, Cedar Rapids, free, www.theiowagreenteam.com

Downtown Farmers Market
7:30 a.m.to noon Saturday (7/18)
Downtown Cedar Rapids, www.downtowncr.org

Jaycees’ Uptown Friday Nights Shuttle to BBQ Roundup

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After the Uptown Friday Nights concert this Friday, June 26, hop onto the “Pig Shuttle” and ride over to the BBQ Round-Up, for some finger lickin’ good barbeque, and live entertainment by Stampede. The Shuttle will run on approximately 20 minute intervals from 7:45 – 11:30 pm taking patrons between Greene Square Park and Veterans Memorial Stadium. For details on this year’s BBQ Round-Up, visit http://www.uscellularcenter.com/BBQ/bbqroundup.html.

Uptown Friday Nights is an outdoor concert series organized by the Cedar Rapids Jaycees that runs ten consecutive Fridays, starting Memorial Day, in Greene Square Park.  

Music Notes: Super Size Seven

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Super Size Seven

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The Talent: Steve Junge (drums), Mark Moss (guitar), Emmet Berry (bass)
The Sound: Contemporary and original rock
The Gigs: 5 p.m. June 5 @ Uptown Friday Nights, downtown Cedar Rapids; 6:30 p.m. June 26  @ Chrome Horse Saloon (outdoor show)
The Music:

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The Rest of the Story: www.supersizeseven.com or www.myspace.com/supersizeseven

Often when you hear a good recording by a band, what really jumps out is the harmonies. When you go to see them live, however, the back up vocals are mysteriously missing from the experience. That is not the case with Super Size Seven.

Steve Junge and Mark Moss, friends since grade school, ran into each other at a class reunion, and decided to get together to jam. Lead singers who also play their instruments, the duo went looking for a bass player with similar singing ability. Emmet Berry, another Benton Community High School alum, was already fronting another group.

“(Emmett) joining rounded things out perfectly,” Mark says.  “Everything came together really quickly. Many beers were had and many songs were sung.”

In addition to performing at least two times a month as SS7, they play at least two times a month with side projects. All three have performed in countless other ensembles, including Insomniac, Vicious Circle and Lebeneezer Scrooged but remain focused on long term goals with Super Size Seven.

“We’re still humble, but believe we’re one of the best bands in the Midwest,” Mark says. “We’re constantly pushing ourselves to be better in every aspect and hence are never complacent. We crank up the energy until everyone is having a good time and then give a little more.”

Looking for tunes featuring two and three part harmonies for nearly every song on their set list allows them to be selective. While they have recorded some acoustic material, it was released on iTunes and CDBaby under Moss’ name only. The band looks to put down a new recording later this year.

“We try to inspire each other to be better performers as well as better musicians while pulling from some of the bands we look up to,” Mark says. ”We’re always very critical about our performances while studying ways to make the show better or how to spice up the songs to make them more us.”

– JUSTIN

Music Notes:
Crazy Delicious

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Crazy Delicious
The talent: Steve Gritman (guitar/fiddle), Peter Cacioppo (keyboards), James Boeding (percussion), Larry Kovarik (lead guitar, vocals), Steve DeForest (bass) and Jenni Lisenbee (vocals)
The sound: Classics from every era
The gigs: 5 p.m. May 29 @ Uptown Friday Nights, Greene Square Park; and 9 p.m. May 30 @ Otis Tailgators, 3969 Center Point Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids.
The rest of the story: www.crazydeliciousband.com

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Looking for something more than a few dudes wearing T-shirts and jeans playing the same old covers? Possibly you are ready for the complete experience of Crazy Delicious.

Formed when three-piece acoustic group Adagio crossed paths with bassist Steve DeForest in a recording session for common friends, they quickly called childhood friend and Party Mix Specialist drummer James Boeding to join the group. The only spot left was for a lead singer. Following a karaoke trip to Chappy’s Lounge, vocalist Jenni Lisenbee was added and the band was complete.

So. What makes them different?

“We’ve established ourselves as somewhat of a Las Vegas-style dance band,” Larry says. “We play a wide variety of music that has morphed into a musical journey, complete with coordinated wardrobe changes for each set. One thing we try to look for in a new song is its dance potential as we definitely are focused on being a band that our fans can come out and dance to all show long. Now our sets are organized by eras so we have to be very selective in which songs make the list.”

The first set consists of ’70s funk and disco complete with Afros and platform shoes,and segue into ’80s dance. The second set moves to top 40 and country, featuring vests and cowboy hats. Finally, the third set is a straight-ahead rock set, including songs from Jon Bon Jovi and Heart. “We try to keep the dance floor hopping throughout the entire night to gradually build the music to be more rocking by the time we hit the last set,” Larry says.

While essentially focusing on covers, the band is just now putting the final touches on their first original track, despite having all written songs before joining this particular group.
“There is a desire to see what we can unearth by way of our covers as well as with exploration of original music,” Larry says. “We hope that we can spend more time on working up some of our own material as the band continues to grow.”

- JUSTIN

Three Things to do this Memorial Day weekend

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Friday Night Concert Series and Uptown Friday Nights
Thursday, May 21, and Friday, May 22

Kick off your three-day weekend — and the start of a summer-long weekly event — by attending this year’s first Summer of the Arts Friday Night Concert Series on Thursday and Friday in Iowa City on the Ped Mall and Uptown Friday Nights Friday in downtown Cedar Rapids at Greene Square Park. In Iowa City, the Friday Night Concert Series starts Thursday with a special performance by the Iowa City High and West High jazz ensembles. It continues Friday night when Big Wooden Radio takes the stage. Check it out each Friday night from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. through August 28. In Cedar Rapids, perennial favorite The Swing Crew is on deck Friday at the Jaycees summertime staple, Uptown Friday Nights. Go back every Friday through the end of July from 5 to 8 p.m. Stay downtown afterward for specials from area bars and restaurants.

 

 

 

Friday Night Concert Series
6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday (5/21) and Friday (5/22), Ped Mall, Iowa City, Free, www.summerofthearts.com

Uptown Friday Night
5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday (5/22), Greene Square Park, Cedar Rapids, $5, Must be 21 or older to attend, www.uptownfridaynights.com

LIBERTY CENTRE BLUES & BBQ

Liberty Centre Blues and BBQ
Sunday, May 24

There’s nothing like a little barbecue and blues to get in the mood for summer. And there’s no time like Memorial Day weekend to kick off the season. The annual Liberty Centre Blues and BBQ in downtown North Liberty is a  family-friendly event with all-day live music, a variety of local food vendors, kids’ activities ranging from fishing to carnival games and a beverage garden for the 21 and over crowd. The regional entertainment includes the music stylings of Wise Fools and Bob Dorr and the Blue Band. So bring your lawn chairs, blankets, big appetites and friends down to the celebration. P.S. It’s free!

Liberty Centre Blues and BBQ
Noon to 10 p.m. Sunday (5/24), Liberty Centre, North Liberty, Free, www.northlibertyiowa.org/bluesandbbq/

Iowa Renaissance Festival

Iowa Renaissance Festival
Saturday, May 23 through Monday, May 25

The 18th annual Iowa Renaissance Festival and Gathering o’Celts returns to Middle Amana this weekend with three days of festivities. New and returning classic acts will bring the large living history campment fields and entertainment to life. There will be comedy, street performers (nearly 200 from Iowa, Minneapolis, Chicago and Kansas City), traditional horseback jousting tournaments, Highland Games demonstrations, a beer garden and wine tasting and the military history exhibits. The merchant’s includes artisans and products that can only be found at a Renaissance faire. The children’s realm will also have new surprises and games, along with story-tellers and faerie greeters.
Iowa Renaissance Festival
11 a.m. to 6p.m. Saturday (5/23), Sunday (5/24), Monday (5/25), Middle Amana Park, Amana, single day admission $10 for adults, $5 children ages 6 to 14, children under six free,$15 two-day pass, $18 three-day pass www.iowarenfest.com

 

Stay downtown after Uptown

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The Cedar Rapids Jaycees has partnered with several downtown businesses to keep Uptown downtown after the music is over.

With an Uptown Friday Nights TM iWireless TM hand stamp, take advantage of specials at several downtown businesses after Uptowns. These businesses and specials are displayed at the entrance and exit of Uptowns, as well as at each establishment.

Uptown Friday Nights kicks of May 21 with The Swing Crew.

Check it out:

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