Author Amanda Montell has never been to the Midwest before. But she’s rectifying that with a visit to the Des Moines Public Library on April 21 to talk about her 2021 release, Cultish: The Language Of Fanatacism. The event begins at 7 p.m., and is a part of the 2022 Authors Visiting in Des Moines […]
Five questions with…
Five questions with Fashion is Murder zine creator Kane Edwards
The first issue of Iowa City DIY fashion zine Fashion Is Murder is about to drop, and it’s got the party of the season to back it up. Before tonight’s release party, I asked DJ CEO of Fashion is Murder, Kane Edwards, five questions about the creation of the zine and what folks can expect. […]
Five questions with Rainbow Kitten Surprise, who just sold out Hoyt Sherman Place
After meeting at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, Rainbow Kitten Surprise (RKS to fans) has gone from recording music in their dorm rooms to becoming a festival favorite. In 2022, they are embarking on their first national tour since the start of the pandemic, 50 shows of which are already sold out. For […]
Five questions with Luke Pettipoole of the Envy Corps
Des Moines music fans know the Envy Corps as an alt-pop band from Ames that has over time become a festival staple. This summer is no exception. In the recent lineup announcement, 80/35 festival revealed that the Envy Corps will take the stage there for the fifth time. I talked with the founder of the […]
Five questions with film editor and UI alum Erin Casper
Film editor and Iowa alum Erin Casper returns to Iowa City on Sunday to participate in the Vino Vérité series at FilmScene. She will be sharing the film Fire of Love, which recently won her the Jonathan Oppenheim Editing Award at Sundance, and will be doing a Q&A with the audience. Woven together from dramatic […]
Five questions with Mabel Gladly of Chicago disco-pop group Glad Rags
It’s no secret that the Windy City is home to many great indie artists of all genres. And being only five hours away, Des Moines gets to experience a lot of those artists when they hit the road. That’s the case with Glad Rags, a self-described art-pop collaboration of some of Chicago’s top musicians. The […]
Five questions with: Director Anne Bogart
Director Anne Bogart has influenced decades of actors and directors as one of the most formidable minds in American theater. She trained at Bard College and New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Bogart currently serves as one of three co-artistic directors of SITI Company, which she founded in 1992 with Japanese director Tadashi Suzuki. SITI Company is currently
Five questions with: Kev Marcus, of Black Violin
Kev Marcus (Kevin Sylvester) and Wil B (Wilner Baptiste) were just kids when they met in the orchestra room at Dillard High School of the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (the majority-black magnet school also counts Nonpoint’s Elias Soriano and upcoming Rum Tum Tugger Jason Derulo among its alumni). But what began as a
Five questions with: Singer-songwriter Rochelle Riser
Iowa native Rochelle Feldkamp, who performs now as Rochelle Riser, didn’t exactly head to Nashville to chase her dreams, as so many have before her. She went right after high school to attend college, but ended up finding her voice. Now, with one EP under her belt (recorded under her given name), she’s touring, writing and stretching
Five questions with: Musician John Paul White
John Paul White returns to Iowa City as a solo musicia, playing the Mill on May 26 at 8 p.m. and featuring Caleb Elliott as an opening act. Tickets are $20 in advance, $22 at the door. White tours in support of his new album, ‘The Hurting Kind.’
Five questions with: Author Caite Dolan-Leach
Reading: Caite Dolan-Leach, We Went to the Woods Prairie Lights — Friday, July 19 at 7 p.m. Caite Dolan-Leach’s second novel, We Went to the Woods, focuses on the cyclicity of the young person’s desire to abandon all and run with those who share their beliefs. She will read from her newest work at Prairie […]
Five questions with: Heather Mae
The Singing Out Tour, a Pride-centric passion project by musicians Heather Mae and Crys Matthews, stemmed from an impactful, longtime friendship. Then it turned into an outpouring of love, from the two artists on stage to everybody in their audience.




