Celebrate Ten Years: Del at The Blue Moose, 6/21/11

Issue #1 of Little Village was published in July 2001. It’s on file at both local libraries, and it’s totally worth seeking out. Every page in the issue evokes a potent sense of place–a place so cantankerously in love with itself, it could only be this place: Iowa City. In the opening pages, the founding editors introduced themselves with a promise “to listen to the people of Iowa City and make Little Village their magazine.” Not to simply walk around loving everything, but to proudly, critically, humorously, intelligently and honestly reflect this place. Warts and all.

Since then, hundreds of locals have contributed thought-provoking work, amplifying Iowa City’s cultural production and helping our town get the attention it deserves as a “City of…” lots of stuff! On behalf of all that have given to the cause, thanks for writing, thanks for reading and, of course, thanks for advertising. We couldn’t have done it without you. Now, let’s party a little, shall we?

Here are a few events we’ve got lined up this summer to help celebrate our 10th. We hope to see you there!

June 21: Del The Funky Homosapien comes to Iowa City!

This summer, our guest of honor is one of the truest artists ever to play the rap game. Del the Funky Homosapien (Hieroglyphics/Deltron 3030/Gorillaz) will make his first ever visit to the state of Iowa and it will start with a visit to the Iowa City Skate Park at 2:00 p.m.! This event is presented by local skate shop The Full Kit (332 E. Washington St.), which is also turning ten this summer. Stop by their store for details if you want to catch a skate with one of the coolest rappers in the world!

In the evening, the coolness continues at United Action for Youth (355 Iowa Ave). Del and producer/manager Tion Torrence (Bukue One) will enjoy some UAY-produced live hip hop and present a panel on the business of being an artist: How do you push yourself creatively? How do you market your work so you can do it for a living? Del and Tion are going to break it down for us, from 5:30-8:00 p.m., at the UAY.

Del the Funky Homosapien (with live band)
w. Serendipity Project, Bukue One, Mac Lethal
June 21 – Blue Moose Tap House (211 Iowa Ave.) – 10 p.m. – FREE
Sponsored by: The Blue Moose, Leinenkugel’s and The Wedge Pizzeria.

This show is going to get started sort of late for the 21+. Thanks to our sponsors for hooking it up so Del and his crew can bring the funk to Iowa City for FREE! You all rock!

July 15: Dave Powers & Max Jacobson w/ Chaircrusher

Dave Powers & Max Jacobson (CHICAGO/Klektik): Three-hour house music tag-team set
Chaircrusher (Cornwarning/LittleVillage): Disco/Soul/House/Techno/Dubstep Eclectic Mix
July 15-Yacht Club (13 S. Linn St.) – $TBD

Factoid: In issue 1, July 2001, the very first ad in LV history is on page 2, for Rotation, the electronica series that Kent Williams helped produce at the old Gabe’s, starting long before he became arts editor for Little Village. Plan on a sweaty night at the Yacht Club on July 15, as Chaircrusher and his crew show you they still know how to make the bass bleed.

Little Village events at the Iowa City Book Festival

Hot Tin Roof (Reading)

July 17 – Public Space One (129 E. Washington St.). 12:30-1:30 p.m. – FREE

Like Little Village itself, this monthly competition spotlights great new writing coming out of Iowa City. Please join us as the honorees read their work for the Iowa City Book Festival. (Read more about Hot Tin Roof on page 20.)