Iowa City Summer of the Arts Releases 2013 Lineup

Media Release

Downtown Iowa City is the place to be this summer for music, arts, culture and family fun.  Kick off your summer with the Friday Night Concert Series on May 17 with a special performance provided by Hancher – Terrance Simiens and the Zydeco Experience!  Join the fun on the Iowa City Pedestrian Plaza each Friday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and bask in the music of David Zollo, The Fez, Orquesta Alto Maiz, The Feralings, and Jake McVey just to name a few.

On Saturday, May 18^th, the City High and West High Jazz Bands will kick off the Saturday Night Concert Series, presented by the Iowa City Downtown District and Integrated DNA Technologies.  This event features some local favorites and some regional bands in an eclectic line-up each week from 6:30 – 9 p.m. at the Weatherdance Fountain Stage on the Ped Mall.  Check out performers such as Adam Ezra, Tony Brown, Bonne Finken, and The Beaker Brothers.  The rain location for BOTH the Friday and Saturday Night Concert Series is the lower level of the Chauncey Swan parking ramp. 

Iowa City welcomes the Iowa City Arts Festival, presented by Veridian Credit Union, the weekend of June 7-9, 2013.  The main stage on Friday night brings back local favorite Jeffrey Foucault with the band Redbird and guitar legend Richard Thompson Electric Trio.  This special evening will kick off at 7 p.m.  on the main stage on Iowa Avenue.  On Saturday and Sunday you can enjoy a wide range of performers on the main stage including local bands like The Beggarmen, The IowaCity Community Band, and Milk & Eggs.  The Saturday night headliner is alternative country rock band featured in the movie “The Breakup” – Old 97’s! 

Again this year, the Art Fair will be open Friday evening from 5-8 p.m., as well as Saturday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.  Back by popular demand, on Saturday and Sunday we’ll have the Emerging Artist Pavilion with up-and-coming young artists, as well as artist demonstrations outside of downtown businesses on Washington Street.  Children’s Day, sponsored by MidWestOne Bank, takes place Saturday from 10 – 3 p.m. and Global Village, sponsored by West Bank takes place on Sunday from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.  Kicking off Global Village on Sunday will be the Carnaval parade running from the Main Stage to the Family Stage on the Ped Mall.  Add Family Entertainment, Culinary Row, and the Beverage Garden and you won’t want to miss this exciting 30^th anniversary celebration!

New to the Summer of the Arts programming this year is MusicIC, Where Music and Literature meet.  This indoor festival takes place June 13-16 with free concerts at Trinity Episcopal Church on Thursday and Friday, at the Englert Theater on Saturday, and the family concert takes place Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Iowa City Public Library. On Thursday, we’ll showcase Music for Soprano and String Quartet featuring a World Premiere of new work by composer David Gompper with a new poem by Marvin Bell. Music for Soprano and Piano will be on Friday, featuring pianist Conor Hanick and soprano Meagan Brus. On Saturday we’ll be presenting Igor Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soldat with text by Kurt Vonnegut, featuring choreography by George de la Pena. Sunday, we’ll present Ferdinand the Bull along with other children’s favorites – with music!

The Free Movie Series, presented by M.C. Ginsberg Jewelers, will start on June 15, 2013, with Victor/Victoria, Rated PG. Movies will be held Saturdays through August 17 on the Pentacrest lawn in front of Macbride Hall at sunset. The last movie, The Hunger Games, will be shown on Thursday August 22 in conjunction with On Iowa! Be sure to bring your blankets and/or lawn chair to enjoy great movies like Lincoln and Monsters Inc., starting at sun down. Watch for special activities before some movies and extended hours at the UI Museum of Natural History. In case of rain, the movie will be shown in Macbride Auditorium, starting at 8:30 p.m.

The Iowa City Jazz Festival, presented by the University of Iowa Community Credit Union, takes place July 5-7, 2012. Festival goers will enjoy four stages featuring a variety of jazz styles along with a combination of local, regional, and national talent.  You’ll also have the opportunity to enjoy Culinary Row, the Artist Booths, FUN Zone, and Beverage Garden.

The main stage kicks off Friday night with some local talent including the United Jazz Ensemble featuring students fromCity and West High Schools, Laranja, and the Iowa Jazz Orchestra joins vocalist Sachal Vasandani. Vasandani has an extraordinary career and is described as a young “rising star”. Following Vasandani’s performance, stay for the fireworks! On Saturday, you can enjoy more talented young people with the North Corridor Jazz All Stars, followed by Charlie Hunter & Scott Amendola Duo and Christian Scott Quintet. The night wraps up with Dr. Lonnie Smith who has been hailed as a “Legend”, a “Living Icon”, and as the most creative jazz organist by a slew of music publications. Saturday’s performers fuse together jazz, rock, hip-hop and some blues, so definitely something for everyone. 

The excitement continues on Sunday with the Philip Dizack Quartet described by the Los Angeles Times as “One of the top young talents working today”.  Also performing on the main stage are JD Allen Trio and the Fred Hersch Trio. The headliner Sunday night is Grammy Award-winning jazz saxophonist, Pharoah Sanders.

We are proud to announce the addition to our festival schedule, the Iowa Soul Festival presented by Diversity Focus. We will again feature live music throughout the weekend of September 13-15, Culinary Row, Arts & Crafts Booths, FUN Zone, and a Beverage Garden. The main stage on Friday evening will feature Kevin B.F. Burt and Big Medicine, followed by a yet to be announced special performance presented by Hancher. On Saturday we’ll have performances by Tony Brown, Funk Stop, Ayodele Drum and Dance, Carlos Johnson featuring Demetria Taylor, and headliner Mint Condition. The main stage on Sunday will feature jazz from Johnny Kilowatt featuring Gloria Hardiman, and Groove Theory. The afternoon features Local Gospel Choirs, Hargrove Family Choir, James Teague Gospel, and Jason Watson’s gospel rap!