MAY 2022
As of now 2022 is shaping up to be a big return to “normal-ish” operations for the Central Iowa Blues Society. Let us say it feels good to be back!
Thank you for continuing to support us and the music during the last couple of years. We have been able to maintain a strong membership number and have been trying to stay on top of people’s minds throughout this pandemic. Our membership, while not at the same level as 2020’s record level, is still 700 strong.
February saw the return of Winter Blues Fest. It was a great show! Special thanks to our sponsors and volunteers, as well as those of you who were able to attend. We are already making plans for February of 2023.
After some discussion about the timing of our elections and their proximity to the Winter Blues Fest in February, the Board made a recommendation to change in the nomination/election process for CIBS leadership positions. After membership approval at a recent meeting, the new timeline is for Nominations to be accepted in June with Elections in July. If you’re interested in serving, join us at the next membership meeting!
We have been involved with grant writing to increase our profile in the community. We, again, received a grant from BRAVO and just received word that we are recipients of a Polk County Betterment Grant! These funds will help in our mission of bringing more live events to central Iowa, as well as attract new and future blues fans to the genre.
We sponsored the “From Iowa with Love” Benefit Jam on April 24. It was a benefit concert for Ukraine, originally to be held at Lauridsen Amphitheater in Water Works Park but moved to the Val Air Ballroom because of weather concerns.
Here are a few upcoming CIBS events to get on your calendar! Get more details at www.cibs.org when available.
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- SpringFest
Sunday, May 29 at Riverview Park - Doug Deming & the Jewel Tones / Bel Airs
Sunday, July 17 at Noce - Malcolm Wells & the Two Timers
Friday, July 22 at Rendezvous on Riverview – CIBS Sponsored - CIBS 30th Anniversary Party!
Sunday, October 2 at Riverview Park featuring Blues Bureau, Scotty & the Wingtips, Matt Woods Band, and Fat Tuesday & the Greasefire Horns - Halfway to Hall of Fame
Sunday, October 16 at Noce featuring Joe & Vicki Price - CIBS Member Appreciation & Awards
Saturday, November 12 at Lefty’s Live Music
- SpringFest
Of course everyone is welcome to attend our monthly membership meetings. They are held the second Monday of each month at various corporate member venues. The meetings begin at 7pm and feature local musicians afterwards. Keep an eye on the CIBS website calendar for details on each.
Sunday – May 29, 2022 @ 2:00pm
SpringFest 2022
Riverview Park, 710 Corning Ave, DM
FREE! Family Friendly! FUN! Come celebrate great music in a perfect setting at Riverview Park, Memorial Weekend. Admission is FREE! All ages are welcome. Lawn chairs and blankets are encouraged. Concessions and food trucks will be available to purchase food and beverages. *No outside food or beverages allowed.
3:30-4:30 REX GRANITE BAND featuring SARAH BENCK
5:00-6:30 ELIZA NEALS
7:00-8:30 NICK MOSS BAND featuring KATE MOSS
Monday – Jun 13, 2022 @ 7:00pm
CIBS Membership Meeting – Scotty & the Wingtips
Lefty’s Live Music, 2307 University Ave, Des Moines, 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 music after the meeting!
Follow The List
For the latest listings of local live music offerings in the Des Moines area follow “The List” HERE. If you’d like to be included in the emailed version, send an email to Bryan Farland at farlandbr@mchsi.com and ask to be added.
Iowa Blues Hall of Fame News
Nominations for the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame Class of 2023 are now closed. The IBHOF Committee, consisting of Co-Chairs Bryan Church and Terry Cole plus Scott Allen, Suzanne Cantrell, Philip Snyder and Jeff Duskin, are currently reviewing nominees for the Class of 2023. Announcement of the 2023 class will be made at the Halfway to Hall of Fame event on October 16, 2022 at Noce. The event will include a food truck and feature entertainment by Iowa Blues Hall of Famers Joe and Vicki Price, making their only 2022 Des Moines appearance! VIP tickets to the 2023 induction ceremony will also be available at the event. Keep an eye out for more information!
BluesME News
Our resident BITS Educator, Kevin Burt, spread the Blues to approximately fifteen hundred students from April 25th to April 29th. The schools included were, Hoover High School, Meredith Middle School, Monroe, Moore, Samuelson Elementary schools and the addition of Woodlawn Education Center. Big Love to Beth Patschull for the assist on getting BluesME to the wee ones! Kevin also instructed two music classes at the DMACC Ankeny Campus and did a promotional spot for BluesME on KFMG. We hope to expand the BITS program in the 2023-4 school year as Lincoln and Roosevelt have shown interest.
West Des Moines Public Library has a new Adult Services person, Jen Ozhourk. Jen comes from libraries in St. Louis and Chicago. Jen is very much a music supporter and is all in on the full presentation of our Blues Bundle! Stay tuned for dates!
Franklin Public Library has had some budget cuts and will no longer be sponsoring the Crossroads: A Journey With The Blues. Not to worry, thanks to the Marriott, we have funding for a complete Blues Bundle and they have other events they wish to have us participate in! We are looking forward to working with Lynn Heuss and all of the staff at the Franklin Public Library!
I know you are asking, “What is a Blues Bundle?” This is a series of four sessions in Blues education which includes
- Performance with participation – Sing or play along with our clinician.
- Performance with storytelling – Listen to the Blues and hear all about the lives and times of the artists that made this genre.
- Student Harmonica Giveaway with Lesson! Yes, everyone wishing to participate will get a student harmonica and a basic lesson as our clinician shows you all things harmonica!
- Blues History – Our Blues Historians will take you from African music to the field hollers and beyond.
Blues With A Healing is still active at the VA Central Iowa Health System every month. Our clinicians live stream into the long term care facility there. The residents as well as the therapists have enjoyed this immensely.
Guitars For Vets – CIBS BluesME has donated over 40 guitars to this potentially life saving program. Matt Lloyd, Iowa Chapter Administrator and certified music therapist is always looking for more instruments! The Veterans also have a jam on Monday nights and are in need of gear as well as acoustic guitars. Please reach out to Steve Vasquez @ education@cibs.org or 515-664-4430 if you have a donation !
Steve Vasquez
Education Chair
2022 Iowa Blues Challenge
The Central Iowa Blues Society is seeking acts for the 2022 Iowa Blues Challenge to be held Sunday, September 18 at Lefty’s Live Music. This competition will decide who will represent Iowa in the 2023 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN where up to 250 acts from around the world converge on Beale Street to perform before music industry pros searching for new talent, with the chance to win prizes, notable gigs, and make career-changing contacts!
Iowa Blues Challenge applications are available now. We will begin accepting submissions on a first come first serve basis beginning July 1st. NOTE: We cannot accept applications prior to the July 1st date.
Buckmiller-Schwager in International Blues Challenge
Congratulations to the Buckmiller-Schwager duo! They made it to the Semi-Final round of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis last weekend! Way to represent!
Kevin Burt ~ Living Blues Feature
Check out the latest issue of Living Blues magazine.
It includes a nice feature article on Kevin Burt!
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