Psychologists have found that the average person’s musical taste “freezes” in their late twenties or early thirties, so for those of a certain age, the music of the Seventies is indelibly stamped on our brains. Doug and Gayle Elliott are taking advantage of this with a cabaret show, “Shamelessly 70s,” where they will revisit famous …
Family Folk Machine is Iowa City’s intergenerational, non-auditioned folk choir. They sing American folk tunes as well as new compositions created by the members. Directors Jean Littlejohn and Gayla Drake say Family Folk Machine offers not just vocal practice and songwriting, but also lessons on traditional folk instruments. The choir’s spring concert, “Many Voices/One Voice: …
Dawn Jones from the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance (ICCA) is in to talk about several upcoming events around Eastern Iowa, including shows at UI Theatres, City Circle, and without any prompting (or payment) from Dennis, KCCK’s own “Taste of Jazz” featuring pianist Michael Wolff, on April 26. Check out Dawn’s own weekly Flashcast about upcoming …
On May 22, 1919, a small fire at the Douglas Starch Works created an explosion which impacted Eastern Iowa. Homes, schools and shops were damaged. Windows were shattered, and businesses slowed. Forty-four people lost their lives. George Douglas, owner of Brucemore Mansion at the time, owned the Starch Works, and Brucemore is producing several events …
Chorale Midwest performs their spring concert, “Seeking Peace in Music,” April 13 and 14 at Immaculate Conception Church in Cedar Rapids. The full choir, along with the Chamber Singers, Women’s and Men’s Ensembles, and the Vocal Jazz group will all perform. Director Brad Barrett and Chorale member, KCCK’s Bob Stewart, talk about the repertoire and …
The 2019 David and Joan Thaler Holocaust Rememberance Speaker is Rachel Goldman-Miller, who will give several talks in Cedar Rapids and Mt. Vernon April 14-16. Rachel’s story is one not often told about the Holocaust. As a small child, she was taken from her Jewish family, and taken in by a Christian couple in rural …
The 2019 Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival takes place at the Collins Road Theatre April 12-13. Festival director Scott Chrisman is very excited to welcome back two friends of the Festival, who have gone on to have a major Hollywood hit. Scott Beck and Brian Woods, Quad Cities natives, watched their original script for “The …
The Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre premieres a brand-new work, celebrating Eastern Iowa’s hometown art legend, Grant Wood. “Strokes of Genius: The Grant Wood Operas” is three one-act original operas, each written by a composer with Iowa ties. Cedar Rapids native Robert Lindsay Nassif’s contribution is “American Gothical,” a comic look at how Wood may have …
