Summer of the Arts

Street Entertainment – Old Capitol Chorus
2025-06-07 13:30 - 14:30 (America/Chicago) | IA
Old Capitol Chorus location near Washington/Clinton street

About: Iowa City’s Old Capitol Chorus is all about harmony. Under the direction of Chad Knipfer, our chapter in the Barbershop Harmony Society has been ringing chords for 60 years. Nearly 500 men have added their voice to our chorus from the beginning. We simply love to sing! We continue to welcome new singers of all backgrounds. Rehearsing on Thursday evenings, at Robert A Lee Community Center, to bring melody and harmony to this world. As you can see, we have a blast. A heartfelt thank you to Summer of the Arts for inviting us to Arts Fest.

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Subatlantic
2025-06-07 13:30 - 15:00 | Iowa Healthcare Main Stage – Iowa Arts Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: Subatlantic, an indie rock band based in the Quad Cities, where Iowa and Illinois meet, features Becca Rice–lead vocals, guitar, and keyboards; Adam Kaul–guitar; Phil Pracht–drums; and Sean Chapman–bass and cello. Subatlantic formed in 2008 and released their first EP in May of 2015 on Bandcamp. Their first album, Villains, came out in spring of 2019.
Using flexibility in arrangements and instrumentation, Subatlantic displays different textures in their songs, creating a unique sound that ranges from dark and sonorous to danceable post-punk. Subatlantic’s new album will be out Spring 2023.

Contact Information:
Web: http://subatlanticmusic.com/
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Summer of the Arts Festivals:
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Sing Along Time with Music by Katie Roche
2025-06-07 13:45 - 14:00 | Dr. Suzanne Stock Ped Mall Stage – Iowa Arts Festival, 210 S Dubuque Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
More information coming soon!

Family Folk Machine
2025-06-07 14:15 - 15:00 | Dr. Suzanne Stock Ped Mall Stage – Iowa Arts Festival, 210 S Dubuque Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: The Family Folk Machine is an intergenerational, non-auditioned choir supported by the Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center that welcomes kids and adults of all ages and backgrounds to sing together with a folk band. We seek to build community through singing songs with our neighbors, to explore American history and culture through song, to foster individual musical growth, and to pursue excellence as an ensemble.

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

Summer of the Arts Festivals:
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Art Out Loud
2025-06-07 15:00 - 16:00 | United Action for Youth (UAY), 355 Iowa Ave., Iowa City, 52240
Sponsored by Daydreams Comics
Presented in partnership with United Action for Youth
Head 2.5 blocks east of the Iowa Healthcare Main Stage and listen to the artistry of local youth! In its third year, Art Out Loud is always a crowd pleaser!

Street Entertainment – Kinetic Entertainment
2025-06-07 16:00 - 17:00 | IA
About: When Laura was little, her dad told her that if she picked a career that she truly loved then she would never have to work a day of her life. This probably wasn’t what he had in mind. It started innocently enough- learning to juggle for a middle school play in her small Iowa hometown. Her first performances were at street festivals in that hometown, wowing audiences with fire manipulation. Several years later, Laura has made a career out of her passion for entertaining.
In 2008 Laura won 1st place at the World Juggling Federation, placing her among the best jugglers in the world. Then, on the 5th season of America’s Got Talent, Laura performed inside of her human-sized hamster ball- a prop so impressive it caused Howie Mandel to exclaim, “I love you! You are my soul mate.”
Never settling for average, Laura has invented innovative props and brought new life to old favorites. She has performed all over the world, and currently resides in Des Moines, Iowa with her wonderful husband Ryan and adorable daughter Lucy.

Contact Information:
Web: https://lauraernst.com/
Other links: https://www.instagram.com/HamsterBallGirl/

Summer of the Arts Festivals:
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The Trollies
2025-06-07 16:00 - 17:30 | Iowa Healthcare Main Stage – Iowa Arts Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Sponsored by TruArt Color Graphics

About: The Trollies are an original folk rock band established during the Green Room’s Monday Night Blues Jams in early 2000’s. Known for their high energy tunes and musical magic between co-founders Nikki Lunden (vocals/guitar) and Natalie Brown (violin), along with Adam Grosso (bass) and Seth “Puma” Koenig (drums),Trollies shows were packed with devoted fans dancing and singing along to their catchy hooks that still today are embedded on the lips of many nostalgic Trollies followers. The Trollies are reuniting for select shows in 2025 and are excited to bring their energy back to the stage! You can find a recent live performance of The Trollies debut album “Fountain Pennies” at thetrolliesmusic.com

Contact Information:
Web: https://thetrolliesmusic.com/
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Kevin Gordon
2025-06-07 18:00 - 19:30 | Iowa Healthcare Main Stage – Iowa Arts Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Sponsored by Urban Acres Real Estate

About: Kevin Gordon’s Louisiana is a strange place. It’s a place where restless teens road trip to where the highway dead-ends at the Gulf of Mexico; a place where prisoners who are in for life compete in a rodeo while the town watches; where a character can get lost in the humid afternoon and where religion may not signify hope; and where rivers, never far away, carry secrets behind levees. “One of the things I like about it and am mystified by is that what passes for normal in Louisiana would not make the grade elsewhere,” he says.
The kicker? All of these postcards are based on true stories. It’s a place that he’s been exploring for twenty years now, on the eve of the release of his astonishing new album “Tilt And Shine” on Crowville Media. It is work that has earned him fans like noted author and Elvis Presley biographer Peter Guralnick; New West Records artist Buddy Miller; journalist, songwriter, and Country Music Hall of Fame staffer Peter Cooper; Todd Snider; head of the Americana Music Association Jed Hilly; and Lucinda Williams, with whom Kevin dueted on the song “Down To The Well” (which was featured prominently on an Oxford American compilation).
Before you even hear his vivid lyrics, you start feeling the sound of that ’56 Gibson ES- 125 tuned down to open D, often with the tremolo flowing like a river, and an unstoppable groove distilled from swamp blues and Sun Records. His MFA from the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop allows him to capture it with a degree of precision. As the New York Times put it in its headline of a feature on Kevin, “A Musician Or A Poet? Yes to Both.”
Kevin sums it up, “There are so many stories in north Louisiana and it’s a place that nobody pays attention to. For me, you can feel the arc of time passing there. I’m captivated by the power of strong memories—those films that run continuously in your mind, if you let ‘em.” With “Tilt and Shine,” those movies translate into rock-n-roll poetry.

Contact Information:
Web: https://kg.kevingordon.net/
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Southern Avenue
2025-06-07 20:00 - 21:30 | Iowa Healthcare Main Stage – Iowa Arts Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: Southern Avenue, the Blues Music Award-winning, GRAMMY-nominated Memphis-based family band, plays original Memphis blues, modern soul, and gospel-infused roots music that is uplifting and timeless. They are known worldwide for their inclusive, message-driven songs fueled by hard-hitting grooves and electrifying guitar. The band’s new album, Family, makes it clear that Southern Avenue creates musical storytelling magic. The band is unlike any other on the scene today, featuring lead vocalist/songwriter Tierinii Jackson, her husband, guitarist/songwriter Ori Naftaly, and her sisters, drummer/vocalist/songwriter Tikyra “T.K.” Jackson and percussionist/violinist/vocalist Ava Jackson.
“Through our music,” says Naftaly, “we expand our family to include our fans and whomever is moved by our songs.” The inspiring harmonies of the church-raised Jackson sisters are fueled by guitarist Naftaly, whose passion for blues and soul music led him to Memphis from his birthplace in Israel. Together, Southern Avenue blends the city’s musical traditions with their own thoroughly modern worldview.
Their authentic and unfiltered original songs are a bold step in defining the future of Memphis music. They are among the most musically riveting and visually exciting live bands, and are among the few “must see” acts on the scene today. Jambase.com states, “Southern Avenue is jaw-dropping. They are not to be missed.”

Contact Information:
Web: https://www.southernavenuemusic.com/
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Summer of the Arts Festivals:
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Iowa Arts Festival Art Fair
2025-06-08 10:00 - 16:00 | Downtown Iowa City, Linn St., Dubuque St., Clinton St., Iowa Ave., Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Visit more than 100 fine artists working in ceramics/clay, mixed media, painting, photography, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, printmaking, sculpture, and wood!

Iowa Arts Festival Emerging Artist Area
2025-06-08 10:00 - 16:00 | Old Capitol Mall, 201 S Clinton St., Iowa City, 52240
Featuring artwork by high school and college students, and young artists 16-25 years old, the Emerging Artist Area is not to be missed!

Art that makes a House into a Home: Iowa Arts Festival Collaboration
2025-06-08 10:00 - 16:00 | Downtown Iowa City, Linn St., Dubuque St., Clinton St., Iowa Ave., Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Turn art into impact at the 2025 Iowa Arts Festival!
Summer of the Arts is proud to partner with Houses into Homes to collect meaningful donations of artwork during the Iowa Arts Festival weekend. Help provide comfort and beauty to families in our community who are exiting homelessness, domestic violence, or other crises.

How can you help?– Artists: Donate a piece of wall or functional art (e.g., bowls, cutting boards).– Festival-goers: Buy a piece from your favorite artist and donate it at the Houses into Homes booth!

Your donated art will be thoughtfully matched with the style and preferences of families as their new homes are prepared — turning a space into a sanctuary.

– Visit the Houses into Homes booth on Clinton Street during Art Fair hours (Saturday 10 AM – 7 PM & Sunday 10 AM – 4 PM) to drop off your donation and pick up a receipt for tax purposes.– You’ll also have the opportunity to learn more about HiH’s mission and ongoing community impact.

Let’s celebrate the power of creativity, generosity, and local collaboration.

– Learn more about Houses into Homes at: www.housesintohomes.org– Learn more about the Iowa Arts Festival at: www.summeroftheARTS.org

Solon High School Mariachi Band
2025-06-08 11:00 - 11:45 | Dr. Suzanne Stock Ped Mall Stage – Iowa Arts Festival, 210 S Dubuque Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: This year The Solon High School Mariachi band is 26 members strong. High School band director, Desmond Cervantez, created this group in 2013 because of his passion for Mariachi music and the culture surrounding it. Solon Spanish teacher, Martin Chapa, helps the students learn the lyrics to songs as well as performing many songs himself. Throughout its decade of operation, the band has grown to be a student and community favorite, performing five or six shows each season. Last year the band was invited to play at the Cedar Rapids Latino Fest in September, extending their usual spring season. What makes this group so special is the dedication the students bring. Solon does not have a string program, so each year returning members take it upon themselves to teach new members and to hone their own skills.

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Art-Making Sunday
2025-06-08 11:00 - 15:00 | Ped Mall Stage, 210 Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Join Summer of the Arts and other local nonprofits in not just viewing art, but making it!
Enjoy a variety of music, performances and your favorite swing band and international sounds too.
11 AM-11:45 AM – Solon High School Mariachi Band
11:45 AM-11:55 AM – Intro/Teaser to Type Dance
12:00 PM-12:45 PM – Kinetic Entertainment
1:00 PM-1:30 PM – Iowa City Flute Choir
1:30 PM-2:00 PM – Type Dance performance
2:00 PM-3:00 PM – Silver Swing Band

Culinary Delights and Merchandise Sales
2025-06-08 11:00 - 16:00 | Iowa Avenue, 105 Iowa Avenue, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Stroll along Iowa Avenue, buy a festival t-shirt, and pick up food from your favorite food vendors!

Street Entertainment – Pete Balestrieri
2025-06-08 11:30 - 12:30 | IA
Pete Balestrieri location: Outside Yotopia

About: Pete Balestrieri is an Iowa City saxophonist. He toured and recorded with Violent Femmes for twenty years and has a Gold Record for their first album. Most recently, he’s been with Old Scratch Revival Singers, Brooks Strause and The Gory Details, and the Cirque Stupendo Circus Band. He also frequently performs solo.

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Intro to Typedance
2025-06-08 11:45 - 12:00 | Dr. Suzanne Stock Ped Mall Stage – Iowa Arts Festival, 210 S Dubuque Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Learn about typedancing and come back at 1:340 PM for the interactive performance!

About: Typedancing is a collaborative interdisciplinary performance featuring musicians, poets, dancers and visual artists making music with and dancing to obsolete office equipment. With audience participation, it also includes live-produced zines from the artifacts of the performance

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Summer of the Arts Festivals:
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Kinetic Entertainment - Laura Ernst
2025-06-08 12:00 - 12:45 | Dr. Suzanne Stock Ped Mall Stage – Iowa Arts Festival, 210 S Dubuque Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States

Tanya English Band
2025-06-08 12:00 - 13:00 | Iowa Healthcare Main Stage – Iowa Arts Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Sponsored by the Graduate by Hilton Iowa City

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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Beverage Sales
2025-06-08 12:00 - 16:00 | Beverage Garden, 11 S. Clinton St., Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Sponsored by Big Grove Brewery
Parents/Guardians: please note that you can bring minors into the Beverage Garden.
Last call in the Beverage Garden: 30 minutes before closing
Sales stop in the Beverage Garden: 15 minutes before clos

Iowa City Flute Choir
2025-06-08 13:00 - 13:30 | Dr. Suzanne Stock Ped Mall Stage – Iowa Arts Festival, 210 S Dubuque Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: The Iowa City Flute Choir is a semi-professional group composed of adult-age flutists of all ability levels. The ensemble was formed in 2018 and has now grown to nearly 40 members. There are no auditions required. Please email icflutechoir@gmail.com to learn how to join. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated on performances, repertoire, and all things flute.

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Summer of the Arts Festivals:
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Typedance Performance
2025-06-08 13:30 - 14:00 | Dr. Suzanne Stock Ped Mall Stage – Iowa Arts Festival, 210 S Dubuque Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: Typedancing is a collaborative interdisciplinary performance featuring musicians, poets, dancers and visual artists making music with and dancing to obsolete office equipment. With audience participation, it also includes live-produced zines from the artifacts of the performance

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Summer of the Arts Festivals:
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Revolution Musical
2025-06-08 13:30 - 14:30 | Iowa Healthcare Main Stage – Iowa Arts Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: Revolution Musical ,established this year 2025, brings together cultures from Oaxaca, Puebla, Durango, And Mexico City Mexico, revolutionizing music one song at a time. Filled with passion and love of our culture, pouring our all into each song. We hope you enjoy our music as much as we do! And we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the support we get from our friends, family, and community.

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Summer of the Arts Festivals:
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Street Entertainment – Iowa City Flute Choir
2025-06-08 13:30 - 14:30 | IA
Iowa City Flute Choir location: Washington Street

About: The Iowa City Flute Choir is a semi-professional group composed of adult-age flutists of all ability levels. The ensemble was formed in 2018 and has now grown to nearly 40 members. There are no auditions required. Please email icflutechoir@gmail.com to learn how to join. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated on performances, repertoire, and all things flute.

Contact Information:
Web:
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Summer of the Arts Festivals:
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Street Entertainment – Ingrid Streitz
2025-06-08 14:00 - 15:00 | IA
About: Ingrid Streitz is a local guitar player and singer. She has made appearances at Iowa Arts Festival, Iowa City Farmer’s Market, The Englert, and other venues in Iowa. She enjoys covering a variety of artists, from Lorde to Bob Dylan. Ingrid plays chill pop music and strives to help people relax and have a good time.

Contact Information:
Web: https://www.instagram.com/ingridstreitz.music/
Other links: https://www.youtube.com/user/IngridOnGuitar/videos

Summer of the Arts Festivals:
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Silver Swing Band
2025-06-08 14:00 - 15:00 | Dr. Suzanne Stock Ped Mall Stage – Iowa Arts Festival, 210 S Dubuque Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: The Silver Swing Band is a 16-piece ensemble that enjoys “Big Band” music. With the revival of music from the 1940’s, this group has become popular with the younger set as well as the “silver seniors” from that era. The band has expanded its repertoire to include Big Band jazz music in addition to the above “Swing” category.
Silver Swing Band is a subset of the Iowa City New Horizons group started in 1998 and has played for a multitude of events and celebrations over the years. The band plays regularly at the Iowa Arts Fest and has performed at the Iowa City Jazz Fest, local retired residences, “Generations of Jazz”, Iowa City Senior Center, the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts, and the University of Iowa College of Education Homecoming Tailgate party. Recordings can be found on YouTube under the Silver Swing Band listing.
The band is directed by Ryan Carter. Ryan is a graduate of Iowa City High School and currently a student at the University of Iowa School of Music. He is a member of the Johnson County Landmark Band among many other University of Iowa ensembles and also performs with many non-University ensembles.

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

Summer of the Arts Festivals:
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Streamline Deluxe
2025-06-08 15:00 - 16:00 | Iowa Healthcare Main Stage – Iowa Arts Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: Streamline Deluxe brings you western swing, jump blues and hard country music with Warren Hanlin (guitar), Dave Hanson (bass), Marc Janssen (steel guitar and fiddle), Coleen Peterson (guitar), and Joe Peterson (mandolin)!

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Summer of the Arts Festivals:
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Crystal City Trio
2025-06-11 18:30 - 20:00 | PinSeekers, 1515 Andersen Pl, Tiffin, IA, 52340, United States
Sponsored by PinSeekers

About: Crystal City is fronted by Dave Helmer and Sam Drella. Helmer is a Midwestern singer/songwriter from eastern Iowa with blue-collar roots. Influenced by Paul Westerberg, Tom Petty, John Prine, and Townes Van Zandt, Helmer’s songs are approachable and relatable, touching on themes of love and loss, being good to each other, and celebrating life. Crystal City’s most recent release “Three-Dimensionality” brings together some of Iowa’s finest musicians, blending elements of rock, pop, Americana, and jazz, and showcases a more mature and thought-provoking side of the band.

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

Summer of the Arts Festivals:
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Charlotte Blu AND Brad & the Big Wave
2025-06-13 18:30 - 21:00 | Ped Mall Stage, 210 Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Sponsored by Vortex Digital Business Solutions
6:30 PM-7:15 PM: Charlotte Blu
7:30 PM-9:00 PM: Brad & the Big Wave

About: Charlotte Blu is a talented singer-songwriter who has captivated audiences with her soulful vocals and heartfelt lyrics. Born and raised in a small town in the Midwest, Charlotte’s love for music began at a young age when she started playing guitar and singing in church. After her 2019 appearance on NBC’s “The Voice”, Charlotte continues to make a name for herself with her unique blend of blues, soul, and pop influences which is earning her a devoted fan base.
In 2022, Charlotte released her debut EP, “The Colors of You” which showcased her songwriting skills and powerful vocals. Charlotte is currently working on new material and working with other talented artists. In addition to her music career, Charlotte is also an advocate for mental health awareness in women and young people.

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About: Hailing from Iowa City, Iowa, Brad and the Big Wave have made a name for themselves with their versatile sound. Led by singer and songwriter Brad Pouleson, the band has released two studio albums, “Better Side of Life” in 2023 and “This Crazy World” in 2019, both of which have garnered regular airplay on Iowa radio stations. On stage, the band brings a wall of sound that can either rock the house or bring things down and intimate. Their songs, albums and performances are a journey and you’ll want to come along for the ride.
With the release of their second album “Better Side of Life” in the summer of 2023, Brad and the Big Wave have taken their signature sound to new heights. Since thy began in 2017, the band has succeeded at creating a deeply expressive musical sound. Led by singer, musician and songwriter, Brad Pouleson, the band can simultaneously switch from an intricate, soul-searching song, to a soothing ballad, to music that rocks the house. Drawing upon the diverse talents of veteran bandmembers John Kramer on bass, Doug Langbehn on keyboards, Connor Wade on percussion, as well as the breakout new talent, vocalist Katelyn Halverson, Brad and the Big Wave continues to forge new ground. Their debut album “This Crazy World”, released in the spring of 2019, quickly garnered attention on the airwaves. The song “Road to My Redemption” was a semifinalist in the 2020 Music City Songstar songwriting competition.

Contact Information:
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Other links: https://www.facebook.com/bradandthebigwave
https://bradandthebigwave.bandcamp.com/releases

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The P.T.A. (Phillips, Towne and Adams) Organ Trio
2025-06-14 18:30 - 21:00 | Riverfront Crossings Park, 1001 S. Clinton St., Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Sponsored by West Music

About: School may be out for the summer, but the School of Soul IS OFFICIALLY IN SESSION! East meets west in the middle when Omaha-based organist Mitch Towne and Chicago-based drummer extraordinary Ernie Adams combine forces with Iowa City-based saxophonist Damani Phillips. The result of this collaboration is the P.T.A. Organ Trio – a group that specializes in the more soulful, funky and bluesy side of the jazz tracks. The result is a musical mix that is guaranteed to offer a little something for all audiences to enjoy. This group is hard-hitting, hard-grooving, greasy soul jazz goodness at it’s finest!

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