The Cedar Rapids Municipal Band begins its season this week, with concerts Wednesday at The History Center and Sunday at Bever Park. Retired Independence band director David Lang, a world class euphonium player, will be the guest artist this week. He will also play a number on the Alpine Horn, the stretched-out instrument most of … Continue reading

The James Theater in Iowa City is a new venue, opening this month in the Gilbert Street space formerly occupied by Riverside Theatre. Kicking off their grand opening month is the Curtis Taylor Quartet on June 11. Curtis is finishing his first year on the UI jazz Faculty. An Ohio native, the trumpet player has … Continue reading

Culture Crawl 720 “Putting the Revival in Revival Theatre” Revival Theatre Company presents “The Color Purple,” June 10-19 at CSPS Hall in Cedar Rapids. The cast is a mix of local performers, along with actors from out of the area, including one who spent time in this show’s touring company. Alicia Strong leads the cast … Continue reading

The Iowa Arts Festival returns to downtown Iowa City June 3-5. More than 90 artists, including students in the Emerging Artists Center, and musical headliners including Asleep At The Wheel, and self-proclaimed Chicago Blues Kitten, Ivy Ford. Free admission. Full schedule at www.summerofthearts.org.

The play “God Help Us” was originally written as a vehicle for Ed Asner, but the legendary actor passed away before he could bring the show to Cedar Rapids’ Rich Heritage Theatre. Stepping in is Gregory Harrison, of TV’s “Trapper John, M.D.” and “General Hospital,” who was a close friend of Asner’s. The play takes … Continue reading

Wave Cage is a forward-thinking jazz quartet that mixes standards with unique originals. They are getting ready to release their first album, “Even You Can See In the Dark” collaborating with former teachers and other friends, including singer Elly Hofmaier and spoken word artist Caleb Rainey. It’s not out of the question one or two … Continue reading

Orchestra Iowa’s final concert for the season is focused on pieces with a sense of humor, such as Hayden’s “Surprise Symphony,” written expressly to wake up an audience member who habitually fell asleep during Hayden’s concerts. But Tim says that doesn’t mean the pieces are easy to play! He also says violinist Max Hagen’s performance … Continue reading

The Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale will be joined by a jazz combo to present Paul Winter’s Earth Mass “Missa Gaia,” May 15 at 2:30pm at Sinclair Auditorium. It’s a stunning chorale work by an artist who is perhaps better known for his Jazz and New Age compositions on soprano sax in the Paul Winter Concert. … Continue reading

The Friday Night Concert Series returns to a normal schedule post-pandemic, kicking off the summer music season May 13. Lisa Barnes from Summer of the Arts says not only will concerts will be held at the Ped Mall in downtown Iowa City, but also in the Northside neighborhood, on Linn Street. Tribute bands to Prince, … Continue reading

Cedar Rapids Opera presents “La Voix Humaine” (The Human Voice), May 13 on the CRST 4th Floor Balcony. Director Haley Stamats says the one-woman show consists entirely of one side of a telephone conversation between a woman and man after the end of their relationship. Which presents some interesting requirements in staging, blocking, and singing. … Continue reading