2008 Woodie Awards
Summer greetings from Iowa City
Jazz Festival
Matt Murphy
Issue date: 4/26/07 Section: Iowa City
In 1991, a group of Iowa City residents began a small, yearly gathering that brought friends and family together in celebration of jazz music. Over the last 16 years, the once small and intimate gathering has steadily evolved into a nationally honored three-day event.
The Iowa City Jazz Festival is now host to some of the country's most popular jazz musicians. Past festival performances by John Scofield, Soulive and the Grammy Award-winning Neville Brothers have helped draw an estimated yearly attendance of 25,000. This year's festival will be held the weekend of June 29 on the lawn of the Pentacrest.
Admission to the festival has always been free, made possible by grants from the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and various other local and statewide sponsors.
Headlining this year's festival is The Derek Trucks Band. According to Pop Matters, Trucks formed the band in 1997 when he was just 18 years old. Now at the age of 27, Trucks has more than 10 years of touring experience and has played with famed musicians Eric Clapton, B.B. King and Bob Dylan. For a complete list of artists and performance times students should visit iowacityjazzfestival.com.
The festival also focuses on music education by providing an opportunity for young local musicians to attend workshops led by jazz musicians. Local vendors will also be on hand selling food and refreshments.
The Jazz Festival is not the only chance to catch some free live music this summer. A weekly concert series will showcase a variety of music every Friday night downtown in the streets of the pedestrian mall. Concerts will be held every Friday from May 18 through Sept. 14 and begin around dusk.
The Iowa City Jazz Festival is now host to some of the country's most popular jazz musicians. Past festival performances by John Scofield, Soulive and the Grammy Award-winning Neville Brothers have helped draw an estimated yearly attendance of 25,000. This year's festival will be held the weekend of June 29 on the lawn of the Pentacrest.
Admission to the festival has always been free, made possible by grants from the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and various other local and statewide sponsors.
Headlining this year's festival is The Derek Trucks Band. According to Pop Matters, Trucks formed the band in 1997 when he was just 18 years old. Now at the age of 27, Trucks has more than 10 years of touring experience and has played with famed musicians Eric Clapton, B.B. King and Bob Dylan. For a complete list of artists and performance times students should visit iowacityjazzfestival.com.
The festival also focuses on music education by providing an opportunity for young local musicians to attend workshops led by jazz musicians. Local vendors will also be on hand selling food and refreshments.
The Jazz Festival is not the only chance to catch some free live music this summer. A weekly concert series will showcase a variety of music every Friday night downtown in the streets of the pedestrian mall. Concerts will be held every Friday from May 18 through Sept. 14 and begin around dusk.
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