Famed satirical writer David Sedaris will be performing at the IMU Main Lounge on November 11th in Iowa City

SCOPE Productions, AEG Live, and Iowa Public Radio have proudly announced a forthcoming show from famed humor writer David Sedaris to take place on Wednesday, November 11th in the IMU Main Lounge.

Known for his immediately recognizable sardonic wit and incisive social critiques, David Sedaris has made a living crafting intelligent and humorous satirical pieces that offer a refreshingly clear observation of the current social condition.

Sedaris is the author of Barrel Fever (1994), Naked (1997), Holidays on Ice (1997), Me Talk Pretty One Day (2000), Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim (2004), and When You Are Engulfed in Flames (2008), all of which have become New York Times Best Sellers. In 2010, Sedaris released an anthropomorphic collection of stories, Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary.

As of 2008, Sedaris has sold over seven million copies of his books.

General public tickets are now available in the University Box Office, located in the Iowa Memorial Union where students can U-Bill tickets, and all Ticketmaster locations. For additional information regarding SCOPE Productions, please visit http://www.scopeproductions.org.

This year's Iowa Arts Festival is set to take place June 1-3 in downtown Iowa City

Iowa City’s Summer of the Arts is set for its famous Iowa Arts Festival happening June 1-3. Having undergone a variety of changes in styles and events, the focus on arts and culture has remained the same since the festival’s inception. The weekend long, award winning festival features over 125 local and national artists, live music and entertainment on two stages,  a Global Village for kids to learn about other countries and cultures, Children’s Day featuring activities and entertainment geared toward kids, a Culinary Row serving regional and ethnic foods, and new this year an Emerging Artist Area featuring upcoming student artists.

The Iowa Arts Festival kid’s activities are educational and fun, featuring puppets, crafts, music and dance. On Saturday, kids can pick up a passport and tour the Global Village traveling from country to country, all in one day. Families can listen to great music and dance to tunes from all over the world. Children’s Day on Sunday features over 18 booths of hands-on activities, crafts and learning experiences presented by area businesses and groups.

Be sure to come hungry! Culinary Row features local and national food vendors with a global flavor. Roam about munching on some of the area’s best foods from traditional, Indian and African fare to good old fashioned Barbecue.

This year’s festival features an exciting lineup of artists, musicians and food vendors.

For a full schedule of this year’s festival, please visit: http://www.summerofthearts.org/festival-menu/arts-festival/schedule.aspx

Chicago band Panoramic and True will play Public Space One on Wednesday 5/9. Photo credit: CB Lindsey (cblindsey.com)

Chicago orch-pop band Panoramic & True will be playing dates in the Midwest and featuring material from their forthcoming sophomore album “€œWonderlust”€ (summer 2012 on Raymond Roussel Records). The dates follow recent acclaim in the Chicago Reader as well as in national music blogs The Deli and The Vinyl District. In Iowa City P&T will play Public Space One (129 E. Washington St.) on May 9, supported by No Coast. Doors at 8pm; cover $7

P&T’€™s website with video and advance songs from “Wonderlust” available: http://www.panoramictrue.com/

Listen to P&T’€™s debut album at http://panoramictrue.bandcamp.com/

Some recent press about P&T in the Chicago Reader: http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/pitchfork-music-festival-predictions-promise-ring-panoramic-true/Content?oid=5729170

Other recent press about P&T Empty Bottle show March 9: http://www.thevinyldistrict.com/chicago/2012/03/tvd-recommends-panoramic-true-at-the-empty-bottle-39/

Listed among Chicago’s best in 2011 by Huffington Post Panoramic & True is a Chicago-based 8-piece band inspired by orchestrated 1960s pop, rock, and soul, though media have also likened bandleader John Lennox’s vocal and composition styles to those of Lou Reed and Bruce Springsteen. He leads a charge of overdriven tube amps which front a backdrop of strings somewhere between Phil Spector and Mahler.

The current line up features Lennox as band-leader and vocalist/guitarist; A.J. and Amanda Bautista on violin; Randy Mollner on viola; April Savage on cello; Patrick Pritchett on bass; Jamie Carter on guitar and Daniel Majid playing percussion.

IC FilmScene and the Englert are teaming up to present the acclaimed documentary "Crazy Horse" on Friday May 18th

FilmScene & The Englert Theatre are excited to present the area premiere of Crazy Horse, the new film from acclaimed documentarian Frederick Wiseman on Friday, May 18th. Prior to the screening, enjoy a film-inspired performance by the fabulous Les Dames du Burlesque! The show starts at 8pm, with a pre-show reception at 6:30, featuring sweets from Deluxe Cakes & Pastries, drinks, and a photo op with the Dames. Tickets including the reception are only $15.

About the film:
An inside look into Paris’ Crazy Horse cabaret – the most famous nude dance show in the world. Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman explores one of the most mythic and colorful places dedicated to women, the Crazy Horse – a legendary Parisian cabaret club, founded in 1951 by Alain Bernardin. Over the years it has become the Parisian nightlife ‘must’ for visitors, ranking alongside the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. Wiseman’s impeccable eye finds the Crazy Horse a uniquely French showcase, with an emphasis on elegance, perfectionism and a grueling schedule (2 shows a night and 3 on Saturdays, 7 days a week). The film shows us the rehearsals for and the unveiling of the brand new show – Désir – created by the renowned French choreographer Phillippe Decoufle.

“ENGROSSING and MESMERIZING! Plenty of perky bare breasts; swaying bottoms; and eye-popping, sensual and surprisingly artistic avant-garde dance sequences.” – New York Magazine

For more information, please visit: http://englert.org/event_details.php?id=731

*Please note: Admission is limited to 18+ only

FILM SCENE is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the cultural vitality of the Iowa City area through the presentation and discussion of film as an art form. Previous events by the organization included a screening of Terrence Malick’s acclaimed film The Tree of Life. The organization is seeking support in bringing a thriving film community to downtown Iowa City.

For more information regarding FilmScene, please visit: http://www.icfilmscene.org/

Minnesota folk-singer songwriter Peter Mayer will play the Englert this Saturday

The Englert Theatre is welcoming Minnesota folk singer-songwriter Peter Mayer to the stage this Saturday May 5th at 8 pm.

Peter Mayer writes songs for a small planet—songs about interconnectedness and the human journey; about the beauty and the mystery of the world. Whimsical, humorous, and profound, his music breaks the boundaries of “folk”, and transcends to a realm beyond the everyday love song, to a place of wonder at the very fact of life itself.

Peter began playing the guitar and writing songs when he was in high school. He studied Theology and music in college, and then spent two years in seminary. After deciding that the priesthood wasn’t for him, he took a part-time job as a church music director for 8 years, while performing at clubs and colleges, and writing and recording his music. In 1995, he quit his job and started touring full-time. Since then, Peter has gradually gained a dedicated, word-of-mouth following, playing shows from Minnesota to Texas, New England to California. He has nine CDs to his credit, and has sold over 70 thousand of them independently.

Tickets are $18 in advance and $20 the day of the show. Also, there are a limited number of tickets available specifically for youth, priced at $9.

For more information regarding Saturday’s show, please visit: http://englert.org/event_details.php?id=715

For more information on Peter Mayer, please visit his website: http://petermayer.net/news/

The show opened with a quiet set from singer/songwriter Rayland Baxter, offering the audience a mellow and relaxing introduction to the evening. In addition to displaying his talent for creating and performing both thoughtful and reflective compositions, Baxter engaged in dialogue with the crowd between songs, creating a laid-back atmosphere that would build for the rest of the night.

Taking the stage slightly past 9 p.m. and playing well into the night, Grace Potter and her band The Nocturnals dazzled the audience with a careful selection of familiar tunes as well as new ones. Crowd favorites such as “Paris (Ooh La La)”, “Apologies,” and “Medicine” offered some of the evening’s highlights, yet fans also met the novel tunes with a matched enthusiasm Potter acknowledged. Between songs Potter stated her love for Iowa City, claiming it reminded her of her band’s hometown of Waitsfield Vermont. In addition to the town, Potter also commented on her love for the IMU Main Lounge, stating it seemed “strangely psychedelic.”

Effortlessly weaving between uptempo and slow tunes, Potter and the Nocturnals truly highlighted the talents of each band member, particularly Potter’s stunning voice.

Ending a two week span that saw three concerts come to the IMU that spanned several genres and performers, it has truly been a great time to be a music-lover living in Iowa City!

Sleigh Bells took the IMU by storm on Tuesday night

On Tuesday night SCOPE Productions welcomed Brooklyn based noise-pop duo Sleigh Bells to the Iowa Memorial Union as part of the ongoingRiverFest music festival. Taking the stage slightly past 9 p.m., Sleigh Bells unleashed their highly aggressive, energetic, and above all loud stage show upon the eager crowd of devoted fans, a hallmark of the relatively new musical group.

Formed in 2008, the duo consists of Derek Miller (guitar) and Alexis Krauss (vocals). Together they have released to albums, their 2010 debut Treats and, more recently Reign of Terror, which was released on February 21st of 2012. Coupling Miller’s hardcore guitar riffs over Krauss’s melodic vocals and layering both underneath an array infectious dance beats, the two have been creating music that seemingly transcends categorization in favor of forging its own genre. From noise-pop to dance-punk, Sleigh Bells has been offered several labels, and yet they all seem to be the last thing on Krauss and Miller’s minds.

In a preview article for Tuesday’s show on http://hooplanow.com/, Miller was quoted as saying “this is such a stock, boring answer but I tend NOT to define us. I leave that to you…. To me, it’s all just music.” And, based on last night’s performance, it is clear that Miller is staying true to his word. Sleigh Bells is not trying to impress anybody or match the sound of any other musical act on the landscape. To them, it is all about their own music and performance, and as a result, all those attending their shows are greatly rewarded.

The hour long set list included a nice variety of songs off of their first two albums, and blazed by at at a surprisingly fast pace. Not taking much time between songs, Sleigh Bells blitzed through their set bringing a renewed energy to each succeeding song creating a wave of energy that built to a climax during the encore.

Crowd favorites “Crown on the Ground,” “Riot Rhythm,” and the band’s latest single “Comeback Kid” were met with overwhelming approval. Krauss roamed the stage alone for “Kids” and “Rill Rill,” the former being the final song before the encore in which the singer climbed into the crowd and surfed nearly a dozen rows into the screaming fans.

Concluding the evening with the overly energetic and frantically catchy “A/B Machines,” the show reached its peak with nearly the entire crowd bouncing happily along with the band. And just as soon as it began, the show was over, leaving audience members in a peculiar form of shell shock (mostly in due in part to the ringing ears leftover from the band’s performance).

Though at times it was difficult to make out Krauss’s vocals overtop the deafening volume level of the guitars, the energy put forth by both members of the band immediately dispelled any form of potential complaints. Halfway through the show, Krauss exclaimed her confusion as to why they had never played in the state of Iowa before, and with any luck they will be back soon.

In its 34th year, RiverFest is set to invade Iowa City once again

Since its beginning 34 years ago, Riverfest has grown tremendously. In 1978, a group of ambitious students decided there was a dire need for a Spring music festival in Iowa City. As a result, the “River City Spring Festival” made its debut in Hubbard Park. Following the initial festival, under the supervision of the UI Associate Dean of Students, the group decided to rename the event “RiverFest” to remind students and community members that the Iowa River was an integral part of life on campus.

In the beginning RiverFest began as a small event, costing a mere $2,500 and attracting 750 people. At its peak in the mid- and late 80′s, RiverFest was an 11-day event and cost $11,000 to produce. Past daytime events have included family-friendly attractions such as carnivals, KidsFest and Taste of Iowa City, while evening activities often Battle of the Bands and several performers by up and coming musicians.

Today, RiverFest is one of the largest and most successful student-organized events on the UI campus. Now in its 34th year, the festival has refocused its efforts around music, especially artists local to the Iowa City area.

This year’s festival is being headlined by performances by Sleigh Bells (4/24) and Grace Potter & the Nocturnals (4/26), both at the IMU.

For a full list of events, please visit: http://riverfest.uiowa.edu/

Local Iowa City performer DJ Rich Rok got the show underway with an array of classic rap and hip-hop tunes shortly before Glover took the stage. Having released two mixtapes, “I Am Just a Rapper” and “I Am Just a Rapper 2,” and an EP “Freaks and Geeks,” Childish is currently on tour promoting his debut album “Camp,” which was released in November of 2011.

Performing a wide variety of songs from his catalogue, the audience matched to Glover’s enthusiasm to the point of him remarking they were “the illest crowd [they've] had yet.” Highlights of the show included his renditions of his current hits “Heartbeat” and “Bonfire,” a cover of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” and a freestyle verse to open the encore which including none other than the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Clearly on his way to widespread national fame, it was truly a treat to witness a young artist nearing his creative peak.

A gallery of images from Monday’s show are below.

RAYGUN in downtown Iowa City will host a release party for local author Jonathan Sims' new comic book "Floating BunnyHead"

RAYGUN in Iowa City will be hosting a release party for the new comic book Floating BunnyHead by author Jonathan Sims. The celebration is set to take place from 5-7 p.m. on Friday April 20th. Floating BunnyHead is Sims’ debut comic book and copies will be on sale as well as a number of limited edition shirts printed on-demand by RAYGUN. Furthermore, a collection of Sims’ paintings and digital prints will be on display through May 3rd.

Jonathan Sims lives in North Liberty and does all of the illustrations in addition to writing Floating BunnyHead. Sims works as a digital artist and is said to have spent every moment of his spare time during the past year working on this book. FBH has been an ever present entity in Sims’ work since its creation in a college newspaper comic strip. It is every intention of the author to continue the adventures of FBH and crew in further works of art and comic books.

Floating BunnyHead stars a quartet of eccentric cartoon characters with an uncanny knack for making new enemies wherever they go. Sims describes the book’s subject matter as somewhere between Aqua Teen Hunger Force and the Ninja Turtles. The book contains some alcohol use, blood, and violence, and as a result is not recommended for younger readers. Floating BunnyHead Chapter #1 is 40 full-color pages and is being published through KaBlam.com, an on-demand comic book printing service.

For more information, please visit: http://floatingbunnyhead.com/