Summer of the Arts

Blake Shaw Trio
2025-06-25 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Mercer Park, 1317 Dover St, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Society

About: 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.

Contact Information:
Web: https://blakeshawbass.bandcamp.com/music
Other links: https://www.facebook.com/blakeshawbass

Summer of the Arts Festivals:
None yet!

Kevin Burt
2025-07-02 18:30 - 20:00 | Old Town Plaza, 405 N Front St., North Liberty, 52317, United States
Sponsored by City of North Liberty

About: For nearly 3 decades, Kevin Burt, Iowa Blues Hall of Fame member (class of 2019), has been mesmerizing audiences with his powerfully smooth and soulful vocal. Paired with his unique harmonica and guitar presentation along with his quick wit, Burt engages with his audience touching their souls while tickling their funny bones.

Contact Information:
Web: https://www.kevinburtmusic.com/
Other links: www.facebook.com/KevinBurtMusic
https://www.instagram.com/kevinburtsblues/
www.twitter.com/KevinBurtMusic

Summer of the Arts Festivals:
None yet!

Alone Tonight Quartet
2025-07-09 18:30 - 20:00 | North Market Square Park, 600 Fairchild St., Iowa City, 52245
Sponsored by Artifacts

About: After spending the past year playing under the name Seul Ce Soir Quartet, this group of Django Reinhardt fans recently settled on the much easier to spell Alone Tonight. Piano, drums and bass make up the steady back line, while a cast of guest soloists sit in to fill out the fourth in this combo. Expect to hear songs from old films, cabarets, and Looney-Tunes as heard through the floorboards of your cheap apartment upstairs from the theater.

Contact Information:
Web:
Other links: https://www.facebook.com/seulcesoirquartet/

Summer of the Arts Festivals:
None yet!

Saul Lubaroff & Andy Parrott
2025-07-16 18:30 - 20:00 | Willow Creek Park, 1117 Teg Dr, Iowa City, IA, 52246, United States
Sponsored by ImOn Communications

About: Saul Lubaroff and Andy Parrott have a combined 85 yrs of playing music. Friends since high school, Saul and Andy have performed as a duo, Trio and Quartet for over 30 yrs. Expect a wonderful musical stew of pop standards, Bossa Nova grooves and timeless standards.

Contact Information:
Web: http://www.sauljazz.com/
Other links: https://www.facebook.com/sauljazz

Summer of the Arts Festivals:
None yet!

RESCHEDULED to 9/3: Zebra Maneuver
2025-07-23 18:30 - 20:00 | James Alan McPherson Park, 1858 7th Ave Ct, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Due to today’s heat, this event has been rescheduled to September 3.
Sponsored by Martin Construction

About: Zebra Maneuver is an Iowa City-based trio that defies musical boundaries with their innovative covers of tunes from many genres—jazz, country, rock, and more. Drawing inspiration from the natural phenomenon of a “dazzle,” in which a group of zebras confounds predators with mesmerizing patterns, the band’s name reflects their penchant for transforming familiar songs into unexpected experiences. Members are Chris Dimond on guitars, Oriana Ross on violin and vocals, and Jennifer Horn-Frasier on bass guitar, flute, and vocals.

Contact Information:
Web:
Other links:
Summer of the Arts Festivals:
None yet!

Silt Creek
2025-07-30 18:30 - 20:00 | Terry Trueblood Recreation Area, 579 McCollister Blvd, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Sponsored by Navigate Homes

About: Silt is highly fertile soil formed by the repeated collision of rocks, and sediment found in flowing water or beneath glaciers. It is a great place to grow things. Silt Creek is a trio comprised of three diverse musicians who share a love of song and have been crossing paths for the last 25 years. Ryan Bernemann, Chris Dimond, and Ben Schmidt have been performing in various local and regional bands and join forces to bring a unique and refined sound rich with vocal harmony, playful lead playing, and stunning songcraft. Their sound comes from a broad palette of training and influences from singer/songwriter to Alt-Country to Blues, Jazz and Soul music. Live shows include a mix of original compositions, collaborations, and re-envisioned covers.
Personnel: Ryan Bernemann – Bass / Vocals
Chris Dimond – Guitar
Ben Schmidt – Guitar / Vocals

Contact Information:
Web:
Other links:
Summer of the Arts Festivals:
None yet!

Steve Grismore Trio
2025-08-06 18:30 - 20:00 | City Park, 200 E. Park Rd, Iowa City, IA, 52246, United States
Sponsored by Stuart Carmen & Associates
Note: this performance will be on the Riverside Festival Stage. If you know where the Shakespeare plays take place, then you know where this performance will take place!

About: This trio has been together for several years now and really focuses on music by my favorite guitarists including John Scofield, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, John Abercrombie, Pat Martino and more. We also play jazz standards and a few original tunes of mine. We have played clubs all over the state and several special events such as KCCK’s Jazz Under the Stars, the Iowa City Jazz Festival, the Quad Cites Polyrhythms 3rd Sunday Jazz, and many more….
This rendition of the Steve Grismore Trio features Drew Morton on bass and Justin LeDuc on drums and cymbals.

Contact Information:
Web: https://www.gizmojazz.com/
Other links:
Summer of the Arts Festivals:
None yet!

Nicole Dean
2025-08-13 18:30 - 20:00 | Cardigan Park, 500 Huntington Dr, Iowa City, IA, 52245, United States
Sponsored by ImOn Communications

About: Nicole was born and raised in the south where her love for music was cultivated. That love has deepened and widened as she’s made her way through the world to her current home in the Midwest. From nostalgia-fueled 90’s country to Brandi Carlile to writing original songs, music has always been a vivid source of human connection for her.

Contact Information:
Web:
Other links:
Summer of the Arts Festivals:
None yet!

The Feralings
2025-08-20 18:30 - 20:00 | Emma J. Harvat Square, 904 Walker Cir, Iowa City, IA, 52245, United States
Sponsored by the Peninsula Neighborhood

About: Ralph Waldo Emerson. Diesel. Morning glories. AM radio. These all influence Iowa acoustic roots 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 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.
Their debut EP, titled simply “The Feralings”, was recorded over the course of several years, as the band navigated parenthood, life changes, and personal struggles, and it showcases the power and intimacy of the band’s enthralling live performances. The band is currently in the process of recording their long-awaited follow-up album.

Contact Information:
Web: http://www.theferalings.com/
Other links: https://www.facebook.com/TheFeralings

Summer of the Arts Festivals:
None yet!

Ioannis Alexakis and friends
2025-08-27 18:30 - 20:00 | Chauncey Swan Park, 405 E Washington St, Iowa City, IA, 52240
Sponsored by Martin Construction

About: Ion’s music is an inward reflection focusing in on resilience of the worker. Enduring the working class hardships through the Guthrie lens over a sonic guttural rawness that hones in on the prospect of our power as the people to maintain vigilance and hope. As a solo artist he has shared the stage with the artists such as GZA, Blackalicious, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Makaya McCraven, Dessa, Wyclef Jean & Black Milk.

Contact Information:
Web: https://linktr.ee/signalflowproducts
Other links: https://www.facebook.com/SignalFlowProducts/

Summer of the Arts Festivals:
None yet!

Zebra Maneuver
2025-09-03 18:30 - 20:00 | James Alan McPherson Park, 1858 7th Ave Ct, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Sponsored by Martin Construction

About: Zebra Maneuver is an Iowa City-based trio that defies musical boundaries with their innovative covers of tunes from many genres—jazz, country, rock, and more. Drawing inspiration from the natural phenomenon of a “dazzle,” in which a group of zebras confounds predators with mesmerizing patterns, the band’s name reflects their penchant for transforming familiar songs into unexpected experiences. Members are Chris Dimond on guitars, Oriana Ross on violin and vocals, and Jennifer Horn-Frasier on bass guitar, flute, and vocals.

Contact Information:
Web:
Other links:
Summer of the Arts Festivals:
None yet!
