CIBS Blues Crier :: AUGUST 2019

UPCOMING CENTRAL IOWA BLUES SOCIETY EVENTS

SATURDAY – AUG 31, 2019 @ 7:00PM
CIBS Salutes – Chicago Blues Legends
Lefty’s Live Music, 2307 University Ave, DM

Doors at 6PM / Show at 7PM – $30 (CIBS Members receive $5 rebate a the door)

JOHN PRIMER – Two-time Grammy nominated artist and American blues legend John Primer was the bandleader and guitarist for Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon and Magic Slim & The Teardrops. The sound and style of Chicago blues as we know it today.  – johnprimerblues.com

JOANNA CONNOR – Queen of Blues/Rock guitar – passionate, flaming guitar and strong vocals with a hard funky, tight groove. “Her incendiary slide playing is absolutely breathtaking.” Elmore Magazine – joannaconnor.com

LIL’ ED & THE BLUES IMPERIALS  – Gloriously rollicking slide work and deep bluesstring bending and rough-edged soulful vocals. “…hottest purveyors of bottleneck boogie to come out ofChicago since Hound Dog Taylor.” Chicago Sun-Times – liledblues.com

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FRIDAY – SEP 6, 2019 @ 9:30PM
Keeshea Pratt Band
Lefty’s Live Music, 2307 University, DM

With special guests, 2019 Iowa Blues Hall Of Fame Inductee
Jeff Banks and Toni Williams of The Bitter Sweet Band

$15 (CIBS Members receive a $5 rebate a the door when checking in at the venue)

The Houston based, 2018 International Blues Challenge Champions, Keeshea Pratt Band possesses the skill and artistry reminiscent of Blues old school Motown; a rarity among bands of any genre today. The 9 piece musical collective, lends its energy and passion to traditional blues, contemporary blues and offers a preview to the future of blues. The musical artistry and dexterity of The Keeshea Pratt Band allows it to journey unapologetically across the genres of classical, jazz, Southern rock, soul, gospel, country and back again.

Keeshea Pratt is the siren featured on the microphone with soaring and soulful lead Mississippi inspired vocals. She is supported by a talented and diverse group of singers and musicians representing 5 states (Texas, California, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi) and Japan. The 4-piece horn section produces thrilling chorded in-sync rhythms that rival those of big bands.

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MONDAY – SEP 9, 2019 @ 7:00PM
CIBS Membership Meeting
featuring Matt Woods Band
Confluence Brewing, 1235 Thomas Beck Rd, DM, IA

CIBS members that attend the membership meeting are eligible to win door prizes at the end of the meeting… prizes such as tickets to a Blues show, CDs, DVDs, Books, etc. Enjoy some live blues after the meeting!

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SUNDAY – SEP 15, 2019 @ 2:00PM
Reds Whites & Blues
Cellar at White Oak, 15065 NE White Oak Dr, Cambridge, IA

A full day of music, fun, wine, beer, and food! – MORE INFO >

2-3:30 – KEVIN BURT
4-5:30 – DOUG DEMING & THE JEWEL TONES
6-8:00 – THE STEEPWATER BAND

Sponsored by Central Iowa Blues Society

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SATURDAY – SEP 21, 2019 @ 11:00AM
Art on the Lake
Copper Creek Lake Park, Pleasant Hill, IA

Over 50 local artists, children’s activities,
food for purchase, and live blues music.

 11-12:30 – FAT TWOSDAY
1-2:30 – THE SOUL SEARCHERS
3-5:00 – DOUG DEMING & THE JEWEL TONES

Sponsored by Central Iowa Blues Society

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SUNDAY – SEP 29, 2019 @ 2:00PM
Jimmy the Weasel
Summerset Winery, Indianola, IA

FREE Admission sponsored by Central Iowa Blues Society

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SUNDAY – SEP 29, 2019 @ 6:00PM
Damon Fowler
Lefty’s Live Music, 2307 University, DM

Doors at 5PM / Show at 6PM – $20 (CIBS Members receive a $5 rebate a the door when checking in at the venue)

Damon Fowler’s guitar work has been compared to Johnny Winter and Jeff Beck, while his slide guitar has a hint of the late Duane Allman. He can play fiery guitar runs with the best of them, but it’s his lyrical work on lap steel and Dobro that makes him stand out among the legions of guitar heroes.

On the strength of his hybrid of roots rock, blues, and sacred steel, the Florida native started wowing audiences with his musical exploits as a teenager, building a reputation as one of the hottest young players on the scene. Adding songwriting and vocal skills to his repertoire over the years has brought him many accolades, with critics extolling his originality and maturity as well as his technical guitar expertise.

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Forest Avenue Library, 1326 Forest Ave

• October 5th (1:30-4pm) Heath Alan and Chad Elliott
  Party On The Patio – outdoors with snacks and drinks provided

Franklin Ave Library,  5000 Franklin Ave

• October 5th (10:30am-11:30am) Malcolm Wells
  Student Harmonica giveaway and lesson

West Des Moines Public Library, 4000 Mills Civic Pkwy

• October 27th (2:30-3:30pm) Matt Woods
  Performance with Storytelling

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Crossroads: A Journey with the Blues Series in the Des Moines Public Libraries has been very busy! The Des Moines Public Libraries recently played musical chairs and I am now reaching out to some new librarians. This is actually a good thing as the “new faces” are very enthusiastic about the program.

Here is a recap on some of the recent programs…

Forest Ave Library – July 27th, 2pm-3pm – Student Harmonica Giveaway with Lesson featuring Bob Pace. This was a lot of fun as Bob talked about the workings of the harmonica as well as a bit of history. The entire hour was as much demonstration as it was one on one interaction between Bob and the harmonica students.

Franklin Ave Library – August 3rd, 10:30am – 11:30am – Performance with storytelling featuring Tina and Rob. These two have way too much fun! Rob tells  stories of guitar playing techniques as well as the instruments themselves. Tina brings out the Ladies of The blues and relates their lives and feelings through song and storytelling. All in all a very interactive experience for the audience that kept people smiling, laughing and even singing along!

Eastside Library – August 10th, 10:30am – 11:30am – Performance with storytelling and Wilderman book signing featuring Chad Elliott. This was a celebration of the Summer Reading Program. The Eastside library along with Eastside Hy-Vee provided refeshments and snacks. This was our first BluesME outdoor event and the weather was perfect! Chad Elliott  had as much fun as the audience as he sang his way through his Wildermans Treetop Tales.

All of these were well attended leaving both the librarians and the audience very happy and enlightened.

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Guitars For Vets – Iowa Chapter Ambassador Matt Lloyd is proud to announce that the donations brought in has enabled them to expand to giving lessons at the Knoxville Veterans Clinic! A huge THANK YOU to all that have donated instruments or gear! As of the last CIBS membership meeting we have donated eighteen instruments. A huge thank you also to Dewey Cantrell for becoming a G4V Ambassador!

We are still looking for instruments to be donated. Please contact me at education@cibs.org or 515-664-4430

~ Steve Vasquez
CIBS Education Chair