Community Corner
American Pie's McLean and 'Hairspray' Come to Downtown Iowa City: Things to Do in Iowa City this Weekend
ALSO: Nerdcore hits Gabe's and a pair of soulful singers are set to hit the Pedestrian Mall.
Did I miss some good things to do this weekend? Let me know in the comments below!
Ben Soltau and The Funk Guarantee at Friday Night Concert Series
Friday, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., on the Pedestrian Mall near the Weatherdance Fountain
Cost: Free
Soltau's bio from the Summer of the Arts webpage
Ben Soltau is a musician, singer and songwriter originally from Eastern Iowa. He has been involved in the founding of several Iowa City groups such as New Beat Society, We Funk and The Funk Guarantee. Recently moved back to Iowa after touring as the bass player in Iowa Cities' own, Euforquestra, he is now finishing his debut album. Soul Music is his self described style, from prerecorded hits of the last fifty years to originals. Soltau works with many of the best local talents, so his band the Funk Guarantee, is always full of familiar faces sharing a love of the music and a love of performing.Â
Saturday Night at sundown
Cost: FreeÂ
The remake of the classic musical about a precocious teen who won't let her body type keep her from dancing her way to stardom. Also: see Amanda Bynes before she became the strange media-fuelled slow motion car crash of today.
More on Iowa City Free Saturday Movie Series
Movies take place outside of Macbride Hall (on the East side of the building) at sunset (which varies from 9 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. later in the season).
Find out what's happening in Iowa Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Bring your lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy FREE entertainment. Â The UI Museum of Natural History is open each Saturday night until the movie starts for more FREE fun before the movie!Â
Don McLean at the Englert TheatreSaturday at the Englert Theatre, 8:00 p.m.
Cost: Tickets are $40-$65
Englert event description
Don McLean is one of America's most enduring singer-songwriters and is forever associated with his classic hits "American Pie" and "Vincent (Starry Starry Night)". Since first hitting the charts in 1971, McLean has amassed over 40 gold and platinum records world-wide and, in 2004, was inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame. His songs have been recorded by artists from every musical genre, most notably Madonna's No. 1 recording of "American Pie" in 2000 and George Michael's version of "The Grave" in 2003, sung in protest at the Iraq War.Â
Bonne Finken Saturday Night Concert Series
Saturday, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., on the Pedestrian Mall near the Weatherdance Fountain
Find out what's happening in Iowa Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Finken's bio from the Summer of the Arts web page
If you’re into the Des Moines music scene at all, chances are you’ve had the good fortune to run into Bonne Finken and one of her energy-packed, passion-fueled live shows where the music and the atmosphere are on fire. Much like Finken herself.Â
Able to move easily between genre’s from soul and R&B to high-intensity rockers and maybe a ballad or two, Finken’s voice is her greatest strength, having drawn comparisons to both Janis and Aretha. A close second is her massive stage presence. A beautiful spitfire, she projects a girl-power vibe that seems unintentional, a feat for which many strive for and fail. Couple that with the top-notch musicians Finken always brings with her and the formula is complete. Come out an experience a show....Be ready to rock.
M.C. Chris at Gabe's
(event ends at 2:00 am)
Cost: Tickets cost $15
Note: This is 19-year-old or over show.
Gabe's Event Description:
mc chris (born Christopher Brendan Ward IV on September 2, 1975, Libertyville, Illinois) is an American rapper, voice actor, writer, and improvisational comedian.
He attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and New York University's (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts. He self releases with no current record label. mc chris originally performed with The Lee Majors (aka Dirt Bike Annie). Sometimes associated with the genre of Nerdcore hip-hop, his trademarks include the synthesis of his "geek" heritage with the "gangster" image associated with hip hop artists, and the high pitch of his stage voice. He has released five albums, three EPs, one re-release, and a tenth anniversary edition of his recordings with The Lee Majors.
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