“Thirty-seven years and four months, but who’s counting?” That’s how long Iowa blues icon Bob Dorr has been hosting his rock and roll history show, Backtracks — a mainstay of […]
Iowa music
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 […]
We Are Here online concert addresses the state of the arts in Iowa
“As difficult as it feels to acknowledge it, I have not fared well through the pandemic,” Iowa musician River Glen Breitbach said in an email. “I have been a hard […]
Video Premiere: The Hollowmen, “Need It Most”
The music scene in Iowa in the ’80s was vibrant. Inspired by similar regional scenes nationwide, bands across the state were springing from their garages, basements and practice spaces ready […]
Twenty for 2020: Songs that shaped Iowa’s sonic landscape
This is not a “best of.” For a brief moment, I thought I would try to collect the best songs of 2020 from Iowa artists. But there are too many […]
Video Premiere: The Hex Girls, “Cats With No Teeth (Catch No Mice)”
While live shows are effectively throttled in-person, it has become more important than ever for bands to come up with ways to maintain visibility on their fans’ radar. One such […]
Top five 2018: A look back on Iowa music
2018 has been a trial, as we’ve watched the country succumb to the increasingly outlandish and horrible thrashing in the mud of President Tony Clifton. People have said that great music comes out of dire political times, but I hate that idea … Making great music is a personal, inward-focusing task.
Highlights from the 30th Annual Folk Alliance International Conference
The 30th Annual Folk Alliance International Conference recently wrapped up in Kansas City, Missouri. The five-day event boasted 180 nightly official showcase performances and over 3,000 private showcase listening room sessions.
See it here: Des Moines band Tires premiers a new video ahead of its single, out May 27
This January, Des Moines band Tires headed into Flat Black Studios to finally record the full album their fans have been waiting for. With a couple of EPs under their […]
Daytrotter show to celebrate new studio and concert space
Grand Opening Show Daytrotter — Monday, Jan. 18 at 6 p.m. Music website and recording studio Daytrotter announces the culmination of a five-year-long odyssey: a new all-inclusive recording space and […]
Jessica Lea Mayfield is heading to Codfish Hollow this Friday for an alt-country blowout
Love live music? What about barns? What about live music in a barn? If you like all of the above, you might have your Friday night plans set, as Daytrotter’s…
Fairfield’s Beauty Shop to host final show tonight
The Beauty Shop in Fairfield, Iowa will be holding it’s final show Friday, March 14, and it’s going to be an incredible opportunity to say goodbye to one of the […]