"I want to see Iowa bands, but I don't know any. And I'm afraid if I go to a show, they'll all suck! Then I'll have wasted my money!"
I have two things to say to you!
One - Don't be such a wimp! Most shows featuring local bands are only five dollars!
And two - There are a lot of places to check out local bands live for FREE!!
As I am writing this in my hometown of Des Moines, our arts festival - which featured 3 stages of music filled mostly by Iowa artists - was two weekends ago. Our town's annual Jazz in July - featuring local and national acts - is just beginning. And this weekend is 80/35 - featuring four stages with local and regional artists.
And you know what else is in common about these three besides the fact that they feature Iowa artists and bands? They're FREE! (Yes, 80/35 is not free, but those two stages are!)
I did a cursory look around Iowa on the internet to see what free festivals featuring local artists I could find. I put the ones I found below, but I'm sure I could find plenty more if I wanted to make the time.
It seems many towns and wineries have a free music series, where they have a local band play once a week for FREE. Also, many towns have local bands play at their town's festivals, again for FREE!
And to help you, below is a list of all the free music festivals and music series in Iowa that I found in my not very deep search! I'm sure you could find more and one near you if you don't see anything nearby on this list! So get out there and discover a band you're dying to see again!
The festival and series with free music that feature Iowa artists and bands (that I could find):
Ames
Roosevelt Summer Sundays Concerts
http://www.summersundays.org/
Ames
Maximum Ames Music Festival - certain events
http://maximumames.com/
http://maximumames.com/events/
Des Moines
Jasper Winery Summer Concert Series
http://jasperwinery.com/events-list/
Des Moines
Jazz in July
http://metroarts.org/programs/jazz-in-july/
Des Moines:
Music in the Junction
http://www.valleyjunction.com/event/farmers-marketmusic-junction/
https://www.facebook.com/musicinthejunction/
Des Moines
World Food and Music Festival
http://worldfoodandmusicfestival.org/
http://worldfoodandmusicfestival.org/about/entertainers/
Des Moines
Zenith Chamber Music Festival
http://zenith.wordpress.drake.edu/
http://zenith.wordpress.drake.edu/2016-artists/
Dubuque
Music in the Gardens
http://dubuquearboretum.net/special-events/music-in-the-gardens/
Dyersville
Fort Dodge
Soldier Creek Winery's Sunday Vineyard Vibrations
http://dubuquearboretum.net/special-events/music-in-the-gardens/
I have two things to say to you!
One - Don't be such a wimp! Most shows featuring local bands are only five dollars!
And two - There are a lot of places to check out local bands live for FREE!!
As I am writing this in my hometown of Des Moines, our arts festival - which featured 3 stages of music filled mostly by Iowa artists - was two weekends ago. Our town's annual Jazz in July - featuring local and national acts - is just beginning. And this weekend is 80/35 - featuring four stages with local and regional artists.
And you know what else is in common about these three besides the fact that they feature Iowa artists and bands? They're FREE! (Yes, 80/35 is not free, but those two stages are!)
I did a cursory look around Iowa on the internet to see what free festivals featuring local artists I could find. I put the ones I found below, but I'm sure I could find plenty more if I wanted to make the time.
It seems many towns and wineries have a free music series, where they have a local band play once a week for FREE. Also, many towns have local bands play at their town's festivals, again for FREE!
And to help you, below is a list of all the free music festivals and music series in Iowa that I found in my not very deep search! I'm sure you could find more and one near you if you don't see anything nearby on this list! So get out there and discover a band you're dying to see again!
The festival and series with free music that feature Iowa artists and bands (that I could find):
Ames
Roosevelt Summer Sundays Concerts
http://www.summersundays.org/
Ames
Maximum Ames Music Festival - certain events
http://maximumames.com/
http://maximumames.com/events/
Anamosa
Thursday Night Music in Wapsiana Park
Cedar Falls
Cedar Basin Jazz Festival
http://www.cedarbasinjazz.org/
Cedar Falls
Live to 9
http://liveto9.com/
Cedar Falls
Sturgis Falls Celebration
http://www.sturgisfalls.org/
http://www.sturgisfalls.org/Entertainment
Cedar Basin Jazz Festival
http://www.cedarbasinjazz.org/
Cedar Falls
Live to 9
http://liveto9.com/
Cedar Falls
Sturgis Falls Celebration
http://www.sturgisfalls.org/
http://www.sturgisfalls.org/Entertainment
Cedar Rapids
AsianFest
Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids BBQ Roundup
Cedar Rapids
Make Music Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids
St Ludmila's Kolach Festival
Cedar Rapids
Three One Nine Music & Arts Festival
http://www.319fest.com/
Clear Lake
Lakeside DixieFest
http://showcase.netins.net/web/dixiefest/
Davenport
Celtic Festival and Highland Games
http://www.celtichighlandgames.org/
http://www.celtichighlandgames.org/pages/Performers
Davenport
Friday Live at 5
http://rivermusicexperience.org/Venues/Courtyard
Davenport
River Roots Live's Junior Jam Stage
http://www.riverrootslive.com/
Davenport
Street Fest
http://www.downtowndavenport.com/play/festivals/street-fest
Des Moines
80/35 Music Festival's Kum & Go Stage, Nationwide Stage, Generation Z Stage, and IPR Stage
http://2016.80-35.com/
http://2016.80-35.com/lineup.phtml
Des Moines
Des Moines Arts Festival
http://desmoinesartsfestival.org/
http://desmoinesartsfestival.org/livemusic/
Des Moines
Clear Lake
Lakeside DixieFest
http://showcase.netins.net/web/dixiefest/
Davenport
Celtic Festival and Highland Games
http://www.celtichighlandgames.org/
http://www.celtichighlandgames.org/pages/Performers
Davenport
Friday Live at 5
http://rivermusicexperience.org/Venues/Courtyard
Davenport
River Roots Live's Junior Jam Stage
http://www.riverrootslive.com/
Davenport
Street Fest
http://www.downtowndavenport.com/play/festivals/street-fest
Des Moines
80/35 Music Festival's Kum & Go Stage, Nationwide Stage, Generation Z Stage, and IPR Stage
http://2016.80-35.com/
http://2016.80-35.com/lineup.phtml
Des Moines
Des Moines Arts Festival
http://desmoinesartsfestival.org/
http://desmoinesartsfestival.org/livemusic/
Des Moines
Ingersoll Live
Des Moines
Jasper Winery Summer Concert Series
http://jasperwinery.com/events-list/
Des Moines
Jazz in July
http://metroarts.org/programs/jazz-in-july/
Des Moines:
Music in the Junction
http://www.valleyjunction.com/event/farmers-marketmusic-junction/
https://www.facebook.com/musicinthejunction/
Des Moines
World Food and Music Festival
http://worldfoodandmusicfestival.org/
http://worldfoodandmusicfestival.org/about/entertainers/
Des Moines
Zenith Chamber Music Festival
http://zenith.wordpress.drake.edu/
http://zenith.wordpress.drake.edu/2016-artists/
Dubuque
Music in the Gardens
http://dubuquearboretum.net/special-events/music-in-the-gardens/
Dyersville
Downtown Friday Nights
Fort Dodge
Soldier Creek Winery's Sunday Vineyard Vibrations
http://dubuquearboretum.net/special-events/music-in-the-gardens/
Grinnell
Music in the Park
http://www.grinnellarts.org/music-in-the-park.html
Iowa City
Friday Night Concert Series
http://www.summerofthearts.org/festival-menu/concert-series/about.aspx
http://www.summerofthearts.org/festival-menu/concert-series/schedule.aspx
Iowa City
Iowa City
Friday Night Concert Series
http://www.summerofthearts.org/festival-menu/concert-series/about.aspx
http://www.summerofthearts.org/festival-menu/concert-series/schedule.aspx
Iowa City
Iowa Arts Festival
Iowa City Jazz Festival
Iowa Soul Festival
Iowa City
Iowa Women's Music Festival
http://iwmf.weebly.com/
Iowa City
Mission Creek Festival - certain shows are free
http://www.missionfreak.com/
Iowa City
Mission Creek Festival - certain shows are free
http://www.missionfreak.com/
Iowa City
MusicIC
http://www.musicic.org/schedule/
Marion
Marion by Moonlight
http://uptownmarion.com/upcoming-events/annual-festivals/
Marion
Uptown Getdown
http://uptownmarion.com/upcoming-events/annual-festivals/
Marion
Marion by Moonlight
http://uptownmarion.com/upcoming-events/annual-festivals/
Marion
Uptown Getdown
http://uptownmarion.com/upcoming-events/annual-festivals/
North Liberty
North Liberty Blues & BBQ
http://northlibertyblues.org/schedule/
Omaha
Rockbrook Village Friday Night Concerts
http://rockbrookvillage.com/event/friday-night-concert-series
Sioux City
Saturday in the Park's Abe Stage
http://saturdayinthepark.com/
http://saturdayinthepark.com/2nd-stage/
Omaha
Rockbrook Village Friday Night Concerts
http://rockbrookvillage.com/event/friday-night-concert-series
Sioux City
Saturday in the Park's Abe Stage
http://saturdayinthepark.com/
http://saturdayinthepark.com/2nd-stage/
Solon
Beef Days
Swisher
Cedar Ridge Winery and Distillery's Bourbon & Blues Festival
West Branch
Hoover's Hometown Days
West Branch
Music on the Village Green
319-643-5888
Labels: festivals, free live music, free music, free music festivals, free music series, live music, music festivals, music series, Other Sources
Labels: festivals, free live music, free music, free music festivals, free music series, live music, music festivals, music series, Other Sources
