Summer of the Arts

Danilo Perez Trio WITH SPECIAL GUEST Chris Potter
2019-07-06 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Strauss Community Stage – Iowa City Jazz Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: As a solo artist and as a collaborator with Jazz giants, Danilo Pérez is one of the most creative pianists-composers on the scene. His music is a blend of Panamanian roots with elements of Latin American folk music, jazz, European impressionism, and African and other musical heritages that promote music as a multidimensional bridge between people. Since 1993 Pérez has released 12 albums which have earned him critical acclaim, numerous accolades, Grammy Awards wins and several nominations.
Since 2001, Pérez has been part of the Wayne Shorter Quartet, alongside bassist John Patitucci and drummer Brian Blade. The band developed an unusual chemistry that has made their live performances and recordings among the most significant in modern jazz and their latest recording called Emanon won a Grammy in the category of best jazz instrumental album in 2019.
The Danilo Perez trio featuring Ben Street and Adam Cruz was formed in 2003. Critic John Kelman from All about Jazz wrote “Groups that remain together for a period of years are a rarity these days. With Live at the Jazz Showcase Perez proves that longevity clearly cultivates a deeper sense of interplay and a more intuitive sense of oneness”.

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Summer of the Arts Festivals:
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The George Jazz Group
2019-07-07 12:00 | Ped Mall Stage, 210 Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: The George Jazz Group is committed to playing the music of the 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond; music more commonly know as – “Jazz Standards.” This is the music that is truly an American art form which conjures up composers with titles such as Duke and Count; musicians such as Dizzie, Ella, Buddy and Sinatra. Songs with poetic lyrics found in titles such as Autumn Leaves, Our Love Is Here To Stay, I Bought You Violets For Your Furs and I’ve Got You Under My Skin.
This is the musical culture that helped form the American landscape from New York to LA, with points between such as Chicago, St. Louis and New Orleans. This is the music of our parents and grand parents as well as members of America’s youth before the word “Teenager” was coined.

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

Summer of the Arts Festivals:
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The Blake Shaw Big(ish) Band
2019-07-07 13:00 | Ped Mall Stage, 210 Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
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The Dick Watson Trio, Plus
2019-07-07 14:00 | Ped Mall Stage, 210 Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: Dick Watson grew up in Indianola, Iowa. He started taking classical piano lessons at age 8. At age 13 he added jazz lessons in Des Moines, Iowa with Speck Redd, a good friend of Duke Ellington. Dick went to Park College in Parkville, Missouri for one year and then transferred to the University of Iowa where he graduated with a degree in German. All through school the weekends were filled with playing gigs. Dick has played most of the last 20 years on Friday and Saturday nights with his trio at The Lighthouse Inn in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He has played in a number of local festivals and venues in the area over the years including the Bix Festival in Davenport and the Cedar Basin Festival in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Dick has played with Al Jarreau, David Sanborn, Boots Randolph, Roy Clark, Al Hirt, Smokey Stover, Ray Blue, Rusty Jones, Bill Allred, Pee Wee Matese, J. R. Monterose, Ira Sullivan and Dave Bennett among others.

Contact Information:
Web: http://www.dickwatsonjazz.com/
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Summer of the Arts Festivals:
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Brick Street Ramblers
2019-07-07 15:00 | Ped Mall Stage, 210 Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: Brick Street Ramblers is an Iowa City-based eight-member group of traditional jazz musicians playing “the world’s happiest music,” Dixieland.

Contact Information:
Web:
Other links: https://www.facebook.com/Brick-Street-Ramblers-216736205924720/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFYcNon97Dg

Summer of the Arts Festivals:
None yet!

Ritmocano
2019-07-07 16:00 | Ped Mall Stage, 210 Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: ¡RITMOCANO! is a dynamic Latin jazz group led by percussionist James Dreier (founding member of Orquesta Alto Maiz) and featuring some of the best jazz musicians in the Midwest. ¡RITMOCANO! plays Latin jazz, including mambo, cha cha chá, rumba and bembé from Cuba, samba, bassa nova and maracatú from Brazil, merengue, and calypso form the Caribbean and more.

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

Summer of the Arts Festivals:
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The Bad Plus
2019-07-07 17:00 | The Mill, 120 E Burlington St, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Purchase tickets at: https://tickets.midwestix.com/event/the-bad-plus-early-show

About: Since its outset, iconic trio The Bad Plus has dared to be different, challenging all preconceived notions of jazz. Through a provocative style of arrangements and compositions they call ‘avant-garde populism’, their unique blend of influences, ranging from experimental jazz, indie rock, pop, and classical music has earned this ‘audacious, rule-breaking jazz trio’ (Billboard) a reputation as one of the most universally well-respected bands in jazz today. The intensely collaborative trio has constantly searched for rules to break and boundaries to cross, bridging genres and techniques while exploring the infinite possibilities of three exceptional musicians working in perfect sync.
2018 heralded a new and exciting chapter for the band consisting of founding members Reid Anderson (bass) and Dave King (drums) and new member Orrin Evans (piano): a group of passionate collaborators with no single ‘leader.’ Never Stop II is the first full-length release from this lineup, comprised entirely of original music with each member contributing fresh compositions. The New York Times calls it ‘an exhilarating document’ that sparks an exciting new journey for the iconic group. The BBC summed up the band best when they said, ‘from album to album, The Bad Plus continues to evolve and improve.’ They will never stop doing just that.

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Summer of the Arts Festivals:
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The Bad Plus
2019-07-07 21:00 | The Mill, 120 E Burlington St, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Purchase tickets at: https://tickets.midwestix.com/event/the-bad-plus-late-show

About: Since its outset, iconic trio The Bad Plus has dared to be different, challenging all preconceived notions of jazz. Through a provocative style of arrangements and compositions they call ‘avant-garde populism’, their unique blend of influences, ranging from experimental jazz, indie rock, pop, and classical music has earned this ‘audacious, rule-breaking jazz trio’ (Billboard) a reputation as one of the most universally well-respected bands in jazz today. The intensely collaborative trio has constantly searched for rules to break and boundaries to cross, bridging genres and techniques while exploring the infinite possibilities of three exceptional musicians working in perfect sync.
2018 heralded a new and exciting chapter for the band consisting of founding members Reid Anderson (bass) and Dave King (drums) and new member Orrin Evans (piano): a group of passionate collaborators with no single ‘leader.’ Never Stop II is the first full-length release from this lineup, comprised entirely of original music with each member contributing fresh compositions. The New York Times calls it ‘an exhilarating document’ that sparks an exciting new journey for the iconic group. The BBC summed up the band best when they said, ‘from album to album, The Bad Plus continues to evolve and improve.’ They will never stop doing just that.

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

Pigs & Clover AND Flash in a Pan
2019-07-12 18:30 - 21:30 | Ped Mall Stage, 210 Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Sponsored by: Knutson Construction

About: Pigs and Clover is a folk-rock project and a way of life, founded by Iowa singer-songwriters and multi-instrumentalists, Matt and Jamie Kearney. Their original songs feature pithy lyrics, harmony vocals, driving guitar and drum rhythms, and electric harmonica, and have been described as “smart, heartfelt and funny.” Pigs and Clover believe in the power of art to influence and inspire thought and action.

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Summer of the Arts Festivals:
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About: The Iowa City-based quartet has been refining their sound and performance all across the Midwest since 2012. Founded by guitarist Blake T. Daly, the current line-up also consists of banjo player Alex Flesher, mandolinist Max Lipnick, and bassist Lee Eckles. Over the years and through hundreds of shows, Flash in a Pan has cultivated a unique tonality balancing tradition and innovation in folk and bluegrass music. Noted for their shining vocal harmonies, vibrant stage energy, and modern sensibility in composition, Flash in a Pan has become a darling to festival stages, theaters, and bar rooms alike. Their musical style is all at once familiar and refreshingly unexpected.
Iowa Public Radio recognized Flash in a Pan as artist of the month in February 2024. Flash in a Pan has shared a stage with bluegrass royalty like The Travelin’ McCourys and Sam Bush, as well as rising acts and regional favorites like Chicago Farmer, Them Coulee Boys, The Lil Smokies, Miles Over Mountains, Pert Near Sandstone, The Kitchen Dwellers, and Horseshoes & Handgrenades.
Flash in a Pan has released two studio albums, Off The Rails (2017) and Folklore (2018) (available on Spotify). Currently, the band is developing new studio releases for 2024.

Contact Information:
Web: https://www.flashinapan.com/
Other links: https://www.facebook.com/flashinapanband/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YdH54cVKi4

Summer of the Arts Festivals:
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Robin Hood Men in Tights
2019-07-13 20:45 - 22:30 | Outside Macbride Hall, 17 N Clinton St., Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Sponsored by: Z’marik’s Noodle Cafe
Run time: 1 hr 45 min
Rating: PG-13
Starring: Mel Brooks, Cary Elwes, Dave Chappelle
Plot: Crusading nobleman Robin of Loxley (Cary Elwes) escapes from prison in Jerusalem and returns home to find that the evil Prince John (Richard Lewis) has confiscated his family estate and is abusing the citizenry. Robin enlists his blind attendant, Blinkin (Mark Blankfield), his friend Will Scarlett O’Hara (Matthew Porretta) and Little John (Eric Allan Kramer) to help regain his home.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX4Ik-cyp-I

Kevin BF Burt & Big Medicine
2019-07-19 18:30 - 21:30 | Northside Market Place, Market Street, Linn Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Sponsored by: Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service

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Summer of the Arts Festivals:
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Incredibles 2
2019-07-20 20:30 - 22:45 | Van Allen Hall Auditorium, 225-291 E Jefferson St, Iowa City, IA, 52245, United States
Sponsored by: Plato’s Closet
Note: due to excessive heat and a chance of storms on Saturday evening, we are moving the movie to Van Allen Auditorium.
Run time: 2 hr 5 min
Rating: PG
Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Brad Bird
Plot: Everyone’s favorite family of superheroes is back in “Incredibles 2” – but this time Helen (voice of Holly Hunter) is in the spotlight, leaving Bob (voice of Craig T. Nelson) at home with Violet (voice of Sarah Vowell) and Dash (voice of Huck Milner) to navigate the day-to-day heroics of “normal” life. It’s a tough transition for everyone, made tougher by the fact that the family is still unaware of baby Jack-Jack’s emerging superpowers.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5qOzqD9Rms

Fundraiser at Big Grove Brewery
2019-07-21 18:30 - 22:00 | Big Grove Brewery, 1225 S Gilbert St, Iowa City, IA, IA, 52240, United States
Join us at Big Grove Brewery on Sunday July 21 for food and drink, music, and a movie. This is a fundraiser for Summer of the Arts!

Brick Street Ramblers AND Vandello
2019-07-26 18:30 - 21:30 | Ped Mall Stage, 210 Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Sponsored by: TIAA and Hawkeye Title & Settlement

About: Brick Street Ramblers is an Iowa City-based eight-member group of traditional jazz musicians playing “the world’s happiest music,” Dixieland.

Contact Information:
Web:
Other links: https://www.facebook.com/Brick-Street-Ramblers-216736205924720/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFYcNon97Dg

Summer of the Arts Festivals:
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About: Vibrant. Unique. Magnetic. Vandello has been described in a lot of ways – mostly because they’re so hard to define. A little bit early jazz, a little bit modern swing, and a whole lot of fun, this cheeky trio is influenced by artists like Squirrel Nut Zippers, Caro Emerald and Postmodern Jukebox – but their fresh take on vintage sounds is completely their own. Their original tunes run the gamut from bouncy and boozy to “dark…but with a wink”. Folks often enthusiastically ask the band after their first Vandello experience, “What the heck do you CALL that?”
They call it Gypsy-Speakeasy. But if you’ve got a better idea, they’d love to hear it.

Contact Information:
Web: https://www.bandmix.com/vandello/
Other links:
Summer of the Arts Festivals:
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The Proposal
2019-07-27 20:45 - 22:45 | Outside Macbride Hall, 17 N Clinton St., Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Sponsored by: CHOMP
Run time: 1 hr 48 min
Rating: PG-13
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Sandra Bullock, Betty White
Plot: Faced with deportation to her native Canada, high-powered book editor Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) says she’s engaged to marry Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds), her hapless assistant. Andrew agrees to the charade, but imposes a few conditions of his own, including flying to Alaska to meet his eccentric family.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFL8b1p1ELY

DJ Freeze and Mr. DJ Ice at the Main Stage
2019-08-02 17:00 - 19:30 | Main Stage – Soul & Blues Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States

Soul & Blues Fashion Show
2019-08-02 19:30 - 20:00 | Main Stage – Soul & Blues Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Sponsored by ACT, Inc.

Dance Party with DJ Freeze and Mr. DJ Ice
2019-08-02 20:00 - 21:30 | Main Stage – Soul & Blues Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States

Soul Shake After Party
2019-08-02 22:00 - 2019-08-03 00:30 | Gabe’s, 330 E. Washington Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States

Black Authors Panel
2019-08-03 11:00 - 12:00 | Prairie Lights, 15 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
This year’s panel includes local authors Venise Berry, Steven Torriano Berry, Rachelle Chase, and Caleb Rainey. Moderated by Alfred Martin.
Venise Berry is a national bestselling novelist and prominent speaker. Her novels include: So Good, An African American Love Story, All of Me: a Voluptuous Tale and Colored Sugar Water. She is also published in academic circles based on her research which focuses on media, pop culture, and African Americans. Non-fiction books include: Black Culture and Experience: Contemporary Issues, The Historical Dictionary of African American Cinema and The 50 Most Influential Black Films.
Berry is an associate professor of Journalism and African American Studies at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA. For more information visit: www.veniseberry.com
Offering words of wisdom, personal examples, cultural analysis, historical context, and suggestions for change, these essays will help readers think about the complexity of life’s choices and the challenges facing women today, particularly when it comes to relationships vs. careers.
Book: Driven

Steven Torriano Berry
Steven Torriano Berry is an award winning filmmaker and former associate professor at Howard University’s Department of Radio, Television and Film. He has created and produced Black Independent Showcase, a television series for independent and student films, and has produced two, short, made-for-television movies for WPVI-TV 6 in Philadelphia. He wrote, produced and directed Embalmer, a feature length film now available on Netflix. He currently lives in Iowa City.
Books: Cry Tough! TEARS, and The Honeyman’s Son

Rachelle Chase
Rachelle Chase has always loved books. In 2005, her love reading books turned into a love of writing them with her first publication, “Out of Control”, a romance novella in SECRETS VOLUME 13. Rachelle went on to write romance for New York’s Kensington Publishing and others.
While writing romance and living in San Francisco, Rachelle stumbled upon the amazing town of Buxton, Iowa while visiting fellow author, friend, and her former romance writing instructor Leigh Michaels in 2008. Unable to forget Buxton, Rachelle researched the town from afar and when visiting Iowa, not knowing what she would do with her research while writing romance. In 2014 she decided: She’d move to Iowa and write a book. Her first nonfiction book, LOST BUXTON, was born on January 9, 2017. Still unable to stop researching, her second one, CREATING THE BLACK UTOPIA OF BUXTON, IOWA was released January 28, 2019. Rachelle continues to write about Buxton at LostBuxton.com
In addition to being a nonfiction and romance author, Rachelle is currently a business analyst and speaker who’s appeared on local and national television – such as, WHOTV Channel 13 (Des Moines), NJTV, CBS (San Francisco), and New York’s “The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet” – plus local and national radio shows, including Iowa Public Radio (2017 and 2019, In Depth with Dr. Bob Leonard, KBIZ (Ottumwa, IA), KRUUFM.com’s “Writers’ Voices,” the “Hip-Hop Connection,” the “Jordan Rich Show” and more.
As a speaker, Rachelle has been touring Iowa and beyond for the last two years, giving more than 60 presentations–many to standing-room-only crowds–on “Buxton, Iowa: A Coal Mining Town Ahead of Its Time.” She’s also given workshops on writing, created and co-hosted an online writing contest for writers (which resulted in numerous landing agents and book deals) and hosted two popular podcasts. Visit RachelleChase.com for more information.
Book: Creating the Black Utopia of Buxton, Iowa

Caleb Rainey
Caleb Rainey is a writer, performer, and producer. He hails from Columbia, Missouri, and holds a bachelors degree in English (Creative Writing) from the University of Iowa. He co-founded the literary magazine Black Art; Real Stories, and has been published in the Little Village Magazine. As a performer he is the winner of the Des Moines Poetry Slam, the Iowa City Poetry Slam, and a two-time winner of the Fire & Ice Poetry Slam. He has done spoken word around the country, including New York City, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa. He was the opening poet for Dan Brown, featured on the album Blk Boi Joy, and acted in the Iowa debut of the plays, Exit Strategy and Luna Gale. When he is not writing and performing he is actively producing local events, like Drop The Mic, to showcase the immense talent in the Iowa City community, as well as workshops to teach youth how to write and use spoken word.
Book: Look, Black Boy

Kevin B.F. Burt
2019-08-03 12:30 - 13:30 | Main Stage – Soul & Blues Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States

Goose Town
2019-08-03 14:00 - 15:00 | Main Stage – Soul & Blues Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: Goose Town is made up of past and present jazz students from the University of Iowa and Northern Iowa. The band is lead by a killin’ horn section and fronted by Emily Snyder on vocals. GT’s mission is to get your booty shakin’ and they do this with music from Erykah Badu, Vulfpeck, Stevie Wonder, Hiatus Kaiyote, Michael Jackson and many more. You can find out more about them on FB or follow them on instagram @goosetown5000.

Contact Information:
Web:
Other links: https://www.facebook.com/Goosetown-Stringband-328310767210516/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJ6ag8C7zpk

Summer of the Arts Festivals:
None yet!

Tanya English Band
2019-08-03 15:30 - 16:30 | Main Stage – Soul & Blues Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: Classic and contemporary blues from the woman’s point of view. The Tanya English Band started out at the George’s Buffet Monday Night All Stars gigs in Iowa City. After several years of showing up to sing a few tunes, she formed her own band with husband, Ed, on bass. The current line-up includes Dave Rosazza will join us on guitar and Paul Cunliffe is on drums. It’s family-friendly blues for fun.

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

Summer of the Arts Festivals:
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Rico McFarland Band
2019-08-03 17:00 - 18:30 | Main Stage – Soul & Blues Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: Biography by Jason Birchmeier
For years, Rico McFarland played guitar for such luminous blues artists as James Cotton and Lucky Peterson, before finally launching his solo career in 2001 to much acclaim. Born on March 5, 1960, the Chicago guitarist worked with countless blues artists over the years: Albert King, Otis Clay, Syl Johnson, Artie White, Kinsey Report, and more. He is perhaps best known for working with Cotton and Peterson, however. McFarland recorded his solo debut album, Tired of Being Alone, for Evidence Records in 2001 with a large roster of guests, including vocalists Otis Clay, Syl Johnson, Billy Branch, and Teela. The album won much acclaim and earned McFarland a 2002 W.C. Handy nomination for Best New Artist of the Year.

Contact Information:
Web: https://www.allmusic.com/artist/rico-mcfarland-mn0000211538/biography
Other links: https://www.facebook.com/rico.mcfarland

Summer of the Arts Festivals:
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Spoken Word Poetry with Steven Willis
2019-08-03 18:30 - 18:40, 2019-08-03 20:30 - 20:40 | Main Stage – Soul & Blues Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States

JC New King of Funk
2019-08-03 19:00 - 20:30 | Main Stage – Soul & Blues Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States

Sister Act
2019-08-03 20:30 - 22:30 | Outside Macbride Hall, 17 N Clinton St., Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Sponsored by: AW Welt Ambrisco
Run time: 1 hr 40 min
Rating: PG
Starring: Whoopi Goldberg, Maggie Smith, Harvey Keitel
Plot: When lively lounge singer Deloris Van Cartier (Whoopi Goldberg) sees her mobster beau, Vince LaRocca (Harvey Keitel), commit murder, she is relocated for her protection. Set up in the guise of a nun in a California convent, Deloris proceeds to upend the quiet lives of the resident sisters.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7j2aEJxxDY

Tomar and the FC's
2019-08-03 21:00 - 22:30 | Main Stage – Soul & Blues Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: Tomar and the FCs is a soul band from Austin, Texas formed in 2015 and released their first EP “Day by Day” in October of that year. The Austin American-Statesman picked it as a top release and wrote that “ [Tomar] Williams shows his own soul chops with searing vocals that drip with blood, sweat and tears.”
2016 saw the band become mainstays on the Austin scene and throughout Texas. In March, they were selected to play an official showcase at SXSW. “Heart Attack,” the band’s debut album, was released in November of 2016. It was recorded and mixed at Level One studio with Grammy-winning artist/engineer Adrian Quesada.
In early 2018, the band was voted in the top five of the Austin Chronicle’s Music Poll for Best Blues, Funk, or Soul Artist. In March, they returned to SXSW performing as official artists and were awarded a prestigious Black Fret nomination. In addition to a busy
performance schedule, with an appearance at Old Settler’s Music Festival and three summer tours, the band is hard at work on their third recording.

Contact Information:
Web: http://thefcs.band/
Other links: https://www.facebook.com/TomarandtheFCs/

Summer of the Arts Festivals:
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Boogie Nights: the Official After Party of the Soul & Blues Festival
2019-08-03 22:30 - 2019-08-04 00:30 | Yacht Club, 13 S. Linn Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Boogie Nights is the official after party of the Soul & Blues Festival.
The record spinning of DJ Freeze and Mr. DJ Ice is guaranteed to end this festival with a bang, not a whimper. Don’t miss it!
