There was plenty to explore during the first day of the Witching Hour. The festival returns in its sophomore year and once again opened with a diverse collection of discussions, including Jason Sole’s From Prison to PhD: A Journey of Pain, Promise, and Protest, in which Sole discussed his path from gang life, through prison, to becoming a community leader.
Discussions continued with former athletes and local residents Leslie Nolte, Nate Kaeding and Shumpei Yamaki speaking about the transitions from their initial athletic careers to other endeavors in First Death at The Mill. The final day-one conversation at the Englert Theatre included Maria Alekhina of feminist punk rock protest group Pussy Riot in conversation with renowned music critic Jessica Hopper.
The live music events were just as eclectic as the conversations, starting with the traditional Guzheng mastery of Wu Fei at Englert and ending with Canadian punk rock quartet White Lung and a high energy performance from Chicago rapper Psalm One. Joining the lineup were indie duo Night Stories and Duluth-based slow core legends Low.
It wasn’t all heady and heavy though. There were plenty of laughs at The Mill during the Super Talent Show with Friends which brought together up-and-coming comedy acts like Super Talent Show and Cleveland Anderson.
Jason Sole during his presentation From Prison to PhD at the Iowa City Public Library. Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Jason Sole during his presentation From Prison to PHD at the Iowa City Public Library. Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Shumpei Yamaki speaks during First Death at The Mill. Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Leslie Nolte speaks during First Death alongside Shumpei Yamaki (left) and Nate Kaeding (right) at The Mill. Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Nate Kaeding and Leslie Nolte discuss their athletic careers during First Death at The Mill. The two are former athletes wh have forged new careers as leaders in the local community. Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Maria Alekhina speaks during during the Pussy Riot conversation at Englert Theatre. Music critic Jessica Hopper moderated the conversation. Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Super Talent Show starts off with a song at The Mill. Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Chicago comedian Clevland Anderson on stage at The Mill during Witching Hour. Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
“Billy Mays” makes an appearence during the Super Talent Show at The Mill. Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Wu Fei plays the Guzheng on stage at Englert Theatre during Witching Hour. Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Night Stories at Gabe’s during Witching Hour. Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Indie duo Night Stories perfomring at Gabe’s during Witching Hour. Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Psalm One with collaborator Angelenah at The Mill during Witching Hour. Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Psalm One showing some love at The Mill during Witching Hour. Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Selling merch is a tough gig. Seen at Gabe’s during the White Lung show. Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Ne-Hi on stage at Gabe’s during Witching Hour. The Chicago favorites took the stage between Night Stories and White Lung. Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Chicago’s Ne-Hi rocking at Gabe’s during day one of Witching Hour. Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Minneapolis’ Low performing at the Englert Theatre during Witching Hour. Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
White Lung wrapping up day one of Witching Hour at Gabe’s. Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Artemisa Marie Dolores Clark speaks about her process and exploration of Ana Mendieta’s work at the Iowa City Public Library. Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Cards Against Humanity creater Max Temkin makes a suprise appearance at Beforeplay: An exploration of the art of playtesting at The Mill. Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Journalist Aimee Groth talks abotu her new book The Kingdom of Happiness at Praire Lights for Witching Hour. Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Gabrielle Miller performs “Say Her Name’ during the Writers of Color reading at The Mill. Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Andy Stoll leads the Englert crowd in a redition of “Happy Birthday” to welcome White House Videographer Arun Chaudhary to the stage. Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
White House Videographer Arun Chaudhary talks about political storytelling in digital mediums. Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Actor and comedian Phillip Earl Johnson tells a story on stage at The Mill during Failing or Flying. Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Rachel McKibbens speaks about her expirences in female only spaces during Broad Perspectives. Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Writer Jason England during his talk about racial discourse in American sports. Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Chicago comic Fran Hoepfner opens for Jen Kirkman at Englert Theatre. Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Jen Kirkman performs at Englert Theatre during Witching Hour. Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Jen Kirkman shows off her tattoo at Englert Theatre. Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Rhys Chatham talks a bit about the bass flute at Gabe’s. Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
Multi instrumentalist Rhys Chatham at Gabe’s for Witching Hour. Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016. –photo by Zak Neumann.
