Biographies of each band performing during Friday Night Concert Series this summer are listed below in order of when they play.
City High and West High Jazz Programs – 5/21/09
Under the direction of Michael Moehlmann, the City High Little Hawks Jazz program will be playing their 5th FNCS. The Little Hawks play at multiple venues each year, and always look forward to the opportunity to play on the Ped Mall. Rich Medd directs the dynamic Trojan Jazz program, presenting their top two jazz ensembles. The FNCS is a great opportunity for the kids to get out and share their music with each other and the community.
Big Wooden Radio – 5/22/09
Area favorites Big Wooden Radio are a roots-based acoustic band featuring tight harmony vocals. Their eclectic sets are highlighted by original compositions as well as unique arrangements of traditional and contemporary songs. The band has appeared at numerous national, regional, and local music & arts festivals, including the famous Telluride Bluegrass Festival, South by Southwest (SXSW-Austin, Texas), Iowa Arts Festival, Des Moines Arts Fest, the College Hill Arts Festival, and many others. This will be their 18th performance at the Friday Night Concert Series - the only performers to play every year the series began.
The Diplomats of Solid Sound, Featuring The Diplomettes – 5/29/09
The Diplomats of Solid Sound have been mining Americas vast deposits of soul music to create a sound all their own -- a spare-but-spicy groove sired equally by progenitors such as Booker T., James Brown and The Funk Brothers. After three full-length releases as an instrumental outfit, the Diplomats of Solid Sound expanded the family in 07 with the addition of The Diplomettes for a whole new set of soul stunners. The girls invoke the sound of The Ikettes, the Raylettes, maybe a little funky Marva Whitney in front of the DOSS' trademark heavy funk artillery. This supercharged group is a dance party in a jewel box, guaranteed to groove its way into your head and your feet -- and get both moving fast! Its sound is both new and old. Timeless. Soul.
The Beaker Brothers – 6/12/09
The Beaker Brothers music has been inspired by everyone from Eric Clapton to Jimi Hendrix to The Grateful Dead. They have gone back in time to jam bands where rock, jazz, blues and Latin music took over. Their music has been labeled as, post-psychedelic, proto-alternative, protest music, and retro. They have been playing music that has been in their heads and hearts since they were first inspired. This is not your father's rock band. No, wait, maybe it is. Anyway, we're sure you're gonna dig it.
The Recliners – 6/19/09
The Recliners play such a wide variety of music that they are hard to classify. If there were a category labeled “contemporary Acoustic-Pop-Folk-Rock-Turkish”, this group would certainly top the list. Within their repertoire there is something for everyone, from classic ’60s and ’70s numbers to songs by contemporary singer-songwriters, from traditional and modern Turkish tunes to American folk songs, Irish melodies, from Van Morrison to the edgy rock and traditional ballads of Richard Thompson.
Awful Purdies – 6/19/09
A 5 piece all female band of singers and songwriters, the Awful Purdies original music is as diverse as the backgrounds of the women in the group. To say they play one genre of music would be wrong, but to say that they play their kind of music would only be a start. From Upchurch's story telling bluegrass tunes and Roche's word-heavy tangential songs to Rosenbaum's a capella testimonials and Burnes and Savage's soaring string compositions, the Awful Purdies are always a surprise.
Iowa Summer Music Camp Jazz Combos – 6/26/09
The 57th annual Iowa Summer Music Camps (formerly known as the Iowa All-State Music Camps) offers students musical training and experience beyond what may available in their home schools, including group instruction, masterclasses, and classroom instruction in most phases of instrumental music. The entire program, together with a preview of life on a major university campus, is an invaluable experience for young people, not only in music but also in human relation.
The jazz division gives students opportunities to interact and perform with professional jazz musicians throughout a week of music-making in small group/combo settings. Areas of study will include jazz improvisation, jazz theory, basic arranging skills, Soundpainting, and the art of jazz listening.
Euforquestra – 7/10/09
Originally from Iowa City, IA, recently relocated to Fort Collins, CO, Eufórquestra (pronounced "yoo-fohr-keh-struh" -euphoria+orchestra) has been touring more than ever and is continuing to take its progressive, genre-crossing afro-jazz-funk fusions to new horizons. Emerging as a musical powerhouse, Eufórquestra is quickly spreading its self-proclaimed “Afro-Caribbean-Barnyard-Funk;” a unique, rhythmic blend of sound, integrating such genres as Afrobeat, Reggae, Afro-Cuban, Samba, Soca, Funk, Salsa, and Dub. Eufórquestra’s music appeals to anyone and everyone, with a sound that “explodes, dances and melts in your ear with sheer bliss” (Chris M. Slawecki; AllAboutJazz.com). As percussionist and lead vocalist Matt Grundstad puts it, "Eufórquestra just wants to make people dance.
B.F. Burt and the Instigators – 7/17/09
This high energy band serves up a funky musical cocktail of a cold shot of blues with a splash of funk, a soul mixer and R&B cherry. B.F. Burt and The Investigators perform a Blues repertoire of old and new songs.
Blue Cat Alley – 7/24/09
Blue Cat Alley will get you on your feet! Playing a danceable mix of blues, rock and country, their shows have a little bit of something for everyone. Their original tunes are rooted in a funky blues sensibility that hooks you in and doesn't let go, and the fun onstage always moves the crowd.
Dennis McMurrin and the Demolition – 7/31/09
Dennis McMurrin & The Demolition Band continues to appeal to a wide audience with their 23 year blues-based history. A true entertainer, McMurrin expertly weaves his super-funky, soulful style of Blues with a friendly and engaging stage presence that keeps the place jumping. The group’s grass root fan base has been dedicated enough to propel McMurrin into the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame in 2008.
New Beat Society – 8/7/09
Reuniting for the FNCS crowd, New Beat Society was formed in August of 2005 and quickly took Iowa City by storm. The six piece ensemble’s unique Jazz Groove was a young hip take on classic soul, striking a chord with all music lovers in the community. Active members of the music community, bassist Ben Soltau, drummer Justin LeDuc, trumpeter Brett Messenger, guitarist Nik Gruber, tenor sax Eddie McKinley, and vocalist Kathy Ruestow continue to extend their musical passion to audiences everywhere.
Burlington Street Bluegrass – 8/14/09
The Burlington Street Bluegrass Band is a testament to what can happen in a town with a vibrant musical community. With about two hundred years of professional experience between them, and some pretty darn impressive musical resumes, the band is a collection of some of Iowa’s most treasured musicians. Featuring Dale Thomas on dobro, Alan Murphy on fiddle, Bob Black on banjo, Aleta Murphy on standup guitar, Joe Peterson on mandolin, and Mike Finders on guitar, the band plays bluegrass and country music straight-up, with hot pickin’, harmonizing and good humor.
Orchestra Alto Maiz – 8/21/09
Known as “the salsa band” this group is an Iowa City favorite. This eleven piece Latin-jazzdance band plays a wide range of Latin musical styles, including merengue, samba, cha-chacha, salsa, calypso, and boleros. This music
represents twenty years of musical evolution for the members on stage and the faithful throng of dancers and fans.
Rod Pierson and his Not So Big Band - 8/28/09
Public Property – 9/11/09
Public Property is a 9-piece reggae band out of Iowa City. While Public Property’s main
inspiration is the sound of 60s and 70s Jamaican reggae, the band fuses hip hop, reggae, ska, soca, dub, hawaiiana, and rock/pop elements into its music. Public Property has a sound that is full-tilt reggae even though they don’t try to sing in fake patois and write original material that actually sounds original. While harmony, vocals, and a textured rhythm section drive the bands music, its one love/one world message completes it, promoting humanism and understanding in a complex world.