The Cedar Rapids Municipal Band always plays patriotic music headed into the July 4th holiday. But director Steve Shanley will bring in other facets of American music at this week’s concerts, including selections from the Great American Songbook featuring singer Amy Friedl Stoner, and the quintessentially American story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons … Continue reading

Red Cedar’s final concert of the 2020-2021 season will feature the largest ensemble the organization has ever presented, a whopping eleven players. Miera Kim and Carey Bostian say “Music By The Gross” will feature for Baroque pieces called Concerto Grosso (Concerti Grossi if you’re a stickler for the correct plural in Italian), plus a new … Continue reading

This week’s guest artist with the Cedar Rapids Municipal is trombonist Rich Medd, mainly known as a jazz musician and teacher, getting to play some classical trombone, on a piece called “Atlantic Zephyr.” Also on the program, Leroy Anderson’s “The Musical Clock,” and a medley from the animated movie “Sing.” Both concerts at Bever Park … Continue reading

The Cedar Rapids Municipal Band returns to in-person performance this week. But director Steve Shanley says the ensemble will be smaller each week and the band will perform in park parking lots, rather than the mobile band shell. Week 1 begins with the “Iowa Band Law” song, written in honor of the funding mechanism that … Continue reading

Taylor Bergen from CSPS Hall is our first in-studio guest since March 2020! He’s in to talk about how the organization has dealt with the pandemic, while also trying to erase significant debt, and to get us hyped for a set of performances that are a partnership with New Bo Market’s “Rock the Block” series, … Continue reading

Magician and mentalist Scott Silven brings his virtual show “The Journey” to Hancher through May 15. Only 30 virtual “seats” are available for each show, but tickets are still available. “The Journey” is a mind-bending, personal experience, as Scott weaves stories from his own youth and teases out reflections from audience members, with truly magical … Continue reading

Summer of the Arts is transitioning to in-person events this summer. The Friday Night Concert Series will be virtual in May and June, with a mix of new and Best Of streaming shows. Kevin Burt and Dave Zollo will reprise last year’s traveling concerts, doing mobile sets around Iowa City. The Free Movie Series will … Continue reading

The National Czech and Slovak Museum & Library hosts “The Iowa Pop Art Market,” May 15 at the Museum, during Czech Village Houby Days. A cooperative project with Iowa BIG, and local artists including Cara Briggs Farmer and Chainbreakers. You’ll see work from many different artists and creators as well as community-focused student projects including … Continue reading

The Arthur Collins Legacy Association premieres its third documentary detailing the critical role Collins Radio has played in the U.S. space program. “Steps To The Moon” tells how the company became a leader in successful communication and tracking of satellites from a site north of Cedar Rapids called Echo Hill, in the very early days … Continue reading

The History Center of Cedar Rapids is returning to in-person events, with appropriate precautions. Oral Histories Live returns May 4, featuring longtime Gazette columnist Dave Rasdal. And entrepreneur Steve Shriver will be “eulogized” during the next “Famous Last Words,” May 8. The History Center will also host a Roaring Twenties-themed lawn party in July. Listen … Continue reading