May 19- Kevin BF Burt & Big Medicine
This concoction of R&B, funk, rock & soul rooted in down home Blues, is just what the Dr. ordered. Frontman Kevin "B.F." Burt (voted the Best Entertainer in the Corridor 2011), bassist Shawn Burt, and percussionist Dante Ware deliver a high powered soul vaccination of classic soul, blues, rock and original music. Kevin "B.F." Burt & Big Medicine might not cure you, but they will definitely make you feel better!
May 26- Slip Silo
Comprised of veteran musicians in the Iowa City band scene, Indie Pop-Rock powerhouse Slip Silo delivers a winning fusion of powerful rock, pop hooks, and high energy that brings superb musicianship to diverse audiences everywhere.
June 9- Natty Nation
Hard roots rock Reggae & Dub is the unique blend of music that is Natty Nation. 2012 marks their 17th anniversary of keeping the positive messages of their unique indigenous Wisconsin reggae beats throbbing through the heartland. It’s almost impossible not to dance at a Natty live performance. Their energy is infectious and their dubtastic jams are complex, yet their message is simple.
June 16- Porch Builder
Hippies playing country and blues with a punk rock attitude and jam band energy; it's hard to pin down Porch Builder's music, but their shows are always a good time! The band formed in the 90's when three brothers, Tom, George and Mike Spielbauer picked up guitars and started jamming together in Riverside, Iowa. A few years later, their friend Justin Huffman who grew up down the street, joined in on drums. Porch Builder play mostly originals and a handful of covers of blues standards and obscure country songs found only on scratchy old records.
June 23- Roster McCabe
In the hometown of Minneapolis, MN, Roster McCabe likes to stay one step ahead. Musically, people know they love it, but they can't fully describe it. The bands coined phrase “Funky Reggae Dance Rock” gives a good hint of what you can expect from the 5 piece rock band, but speaks nothing to the depth and sincerity of the music.
July 7- Mad Monks
Locally based in Iowa City, Mad Monks combine vintage psychedelic progressive blues rock with the most deadly and forbidden forms of kung fu.
July 14- Recliners
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.
July 21- Henhouse Prowlers
After seven years of hard work and a relentless tour schedule, Chicago’s The Henhouse Prowlers have gained a growing reputation for their highly original, tradition-inspired bluegrass built around intricate harmonies and electrifying stage energy. In 2010, while balancing time on the road and in the studio in Colorado, the Prowlers placed third in the prestigious Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition and took top honors in the RockyGrass Band Competition.
July 28- Brother Trucker
The Americana roots rock band Brother Trucker’s first 3 albums were released on what was widely considered the seminal, Iowa Independent record label, Trailer Records. Based out of Iowa City, Trailer Records featured the very best of what was nationally coined as “The Iowa Sound.” Since 2000, Brother Trucker has toured the Midwest extensively and in 2009, provided the score for the award winning independent film, by Rod McCall “Becoming Eduardo.”
August 4- Zeta June
Zeta June is a jam band based out of Iowa City, Iowa, which draws their influences heavily from iconic jam bands such as The Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, Umphrey's McGee, Phish and so many more. The band formed in October of 2011 and things have been moving quickly for them here in the local scene. They recently won a battle of the bands at the Iowa City Yacht Club earning them a spot to play this years Summer Camp Music Festival. All the members are college students with ages ranging from 20-22 years old. You can check them out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/zetajune.
August 25- Beaker Brothers
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.
September 1- Chicago Afrobeat Project
Afrobeat cannot stand still. As the genre’s tempting sounds continue a resurgence across the globe, Chicago Afrobeat Project (CAbP) remains true to its original vision of breathing the intensity of Chicago’s rich music scene into the infectious sounds of afrobeat. Afrobeat’s range of influences––funk, rock, jazz, afro-cuban, high life and juju music––settle into a hypnotic, dance-compelling pulse at the core of CAbP. CAbP was nominated as Best African Artist in the Chicago Music Awards (CMA) in 2004 and 2005, and was nominated for the CMA’s “Award of Honor for Contribution to World Beat Music” in 2006.