OCTOBER 2025

 


Join us for the 2025 Iowa Blues Challenge at Lefty’s Live Music in Des Moines, IA this Sunday, October 5th! NO COVER – FREE EVENT!!! The performance schedule is as follows:

1:00- 1:20 – SOLO/DUO
Berdo & Jones

1:35-1:55 – BAND
The Chuggaluggers Band

2:10-2:30 – SOLO/DUO
Weary Ramblers

2:45-3:05 – BAND
The Other Brothers

3:05- 3:45 – INTERMISSION

3:45- 4:05 – SOLO/DUO
The Crawling Kingsnake

4:20-4:40 – BAND
Izzy Starchild and the Psychedelic Rose

4:55-5:15 – SOLO/DUO
Vorvick & James

5:30- 5:50 – BAND
HomeBrewed

Participating acts will be vying for a prize package that includes cash, opportunities for paid gigs (including but not limited to the Winter Blues Fest) and travel expense stipend for the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee, presented by The Blues Foundation. The Central Iowa Blues Society is an Affiliate of the Blues Foundation, which produces the annual International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee.

 


Membership Appreciation Party featuring John Nemeth & the Blue Dreamers, Sunday October 26 at xBk Live! FREE for all CIBS Members / $25 for non-members. Doors at 5PM / Show at 6PM.

Do you need to renew or join?
You can do that HERE

 


Sunday, November 9 we will have the Halfway to the Hall of Fame event featuring an ALL-STAR IBHOF BAND LINEUP with Tina Haase-Findlay, JC Anderson, Scotty Hartung, Dartanyan Brown, and Del “Saxman” Jones!

The Inductees for the 2026 Iowa Blues Hall of Fame Class will be announced! This will be your first chance to score VIP tickets for the IBHOF Induction Ceremony!

$25 includes Pizza & Show! 5:00 Doors / 5:30 Pizza /6:00 Show

TICKETS HERE

 


BOG REWIND CHRISTMAS

Sunday, December 12 2025
@ Lefty’s Live Music
– 2307 University Ave, DM

SAVE-THE-DATE! We will have a pot-luck and live blues by Andrew Duncanson (Kilborn Alley Band). More details coming soon!

 


Line-up announcements are coming soon but you can book your hotel room NOW at the Winter Blues Fest group rate. The group rates are available for a LIMITED number of rooms. Do not delay in reserving your room to take advantage of the reduced rates — they will sell out!

BOOK HERE NOW!

 


CIBS Membership Meetings

CIBS Membership Meetings

7PM on Second Mondays @ Confluence Brewing
1285 Thomas Beck Rd, Des Moines, IA 50315

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!

 


Public Library’s Crossroads Series

  • October 11th (2pm-3pm) Matt Woods *
  • October 26th (2pm-3pm) Matt Woods – Delta Guitar **
  • November 1st (2pm-3pm) Bob Pace – Student Harmonica ***
  • November 16th (2pm-3pm) Malcolm Wells – Student Harmonica Giveaway With Lesson **

Library location
*
West Des Moines Public Library – 4000 Mills Civic Pkwy, West Des Moines, IA
** Des Moines Public Library – Central – 1000 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA
*** Des Moines Public Library – Forest Ave. – 1326 Forest Ave, Des Moines, IA

The Crossroads: A Journey with the Blues Series
is sponsored by Central Iowa Blues Society

 


BluesME Fundraiser

BluesME Fundraiser! Wed, November 5th
(5-7PM) @ Middlebrook Mercantile

Live Music, Silent Auction, and Guest Bartender slinging “Special” Blues Themed Cocktails

 


Blues With A Healing

The following Blues with a Healing performances can be viewed online on CIBS Facebook page as it is happening!

  • October 4th 2pm-3pm Rob Lumbard (Facebook live only)

Other private performances are scheduled at the VA and Kavanaugh House Hospice

The Blues With A Healing performances
are sponsored by Central Iowa Blues Society


 

MORE UPCOMING SHOWS

Bryan Farland keeps us all in the live music loop with his
The List – Live Music in DSM Area
weekly posts and emails. Thank you Bryan!

 



CORPORATE MEMBERS

Bills Window & Screen Repair

DinosStorage_Mast

5Talents_final_High_res

FlyingMango

ClassicHats


leftys

LloydsCounseling

Strong Music Productions

CIBS Crew

PRESIDENT
Scott Allen

ADMINISTRATOR
Suzanne Cantrell

PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE
& MERCHANDISE
Scott Kirstein

MEMBERSHIP & TALENT
Philip Snyder

EDUCATION
Steve Vasquez

DIRECTOR
Scott Benton

DIRECTOR
Marcus Kirtstein

PRODUCTION
Diane Hoffman

MEDIA
Jen Taylor

IOWA BLUES CHALLENGE
Julie Spong

IOWA BLUES
HALL OF FAME

Terry Cole / Bryan Church

 

CIBS Address

Central Iowa Blues Society
900 Keosauqua Way, #440
Des Moines, IA 50309

Become a member
today at cibs.org!

 

BLUES ANGELS

Beth Bloom
Kim Mason
Roger Morrison
Randi Rae Schulz
Kathy VanderEcken
Jeff “Doc” Wagner

Contributing Friends
  • Lanny Battani
  • Jodi Bodley
  • Deb Bodson
  • Lucy Brown
  • Dewey & Suzanne Cantrell
  • Dirk & Carol Cavanaugh
  • Ron Cooper & Connie Molison
  • Bob Dahlberg
  • Pete Damiano (Homebrewed)
  • Dr. Timothy & Sheila Drevyanko
  • Marty Enslow & Sarah Cartwright
  • Bryan & Pat Farland
  • Rachel Filzer
  • Steve Flood
  • Dave Grieve
  • Laure Guisinger
  • Scott Hartung
  • Georgia Helmick & Bob Pace
  • Serena James
  • Ron Jarboe
  • Gary Jensen
  • Doug & Cindy Johnson
  • Mark & Deb Kean
  • Scott & Susan Kirstein
  • Fred & Jane Koogler
  • Brenda Leimberer
  • Eddie & Mary Lindell
  • Gerri Lyon
  • Barb McClintock
  • James Merritt & Lynne Ramsey-Merritt
  • Gary Mishler
  • Jonann Molloy-Earp
  • Ken Morse
  • Shawn Plank & Susan Patterson-Plank
  • John Poston
  • Greg & Sheila Robinson
  • Philip Snyder
  • Roy & Ann Snyder
  • Dan & Jill Stevenson
  • Jeff & Vickie Suchomel
  • Phil & Martha Thien
  • Paul & Cindy Valin
  • Doug & Susan Walkup
  • Bill & Linda Weidmaier
  • Matt, Rachel & Rodney Woods
  • Mark Wuilleumier
Special Thanks

Dr Timothy & Sheila Drevyanko

Jodi Bodley

for renewing as
Contributing Friends

Welcome New Members

Jon Banwart

Jessica Fredregill

Robert & Theresa Metcalf – 3 years

James Tielebein

Renewing Members

Patrick Fitzgerald – 3 years

Robert Swarts

Cindy Grill Kirkpatrick

Christina Cotton-Baker & Brian Baker

Tim & Wendy Devries – 3 years

Todd & Roxanna Mason

Steve Selzer & Wanda Hurley

Travas & Tyler Powell – 3 years

Greg & Gail Schultz – 3 years

Michael Peterson

Become a member
today at cibs.org!

 

SUPPORT PROVIDED BY


CENTRAL IOWA BLUES SOCIETY IS A GRATEFUL RECIPIENT
OF A POLK COUNTY BETTERMENT GRANT AWARDED
BY THE POLK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

OPERATIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED IN
PART BY BRAVO GREATER DES MOINES


SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE IOWA ARTS COUNCIL,
A DIVISION OF THE IOWA DEPT OF CULTURAL
AFFAIRS THROUGH THE FEDERAL CARES ACT

About CIBS

Keeping the Blues Alive through Celebration, Preservation & Education!

The Central Iowa Blues Society was incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in 1992 by 200 blues lovers. Our mission is to keep the blues alive through celebration, preservation, and education. We endeavor to increase awareness of and appreciation for blues music by providing a network of association for blues enthusiasts. We recognize and honor our Iowa blues heritage through the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame program. We celebrate blues performance by promoting numerous concerts throughout the year including the Winter Blues Fest and the Iowa Blues Challenge. We strive to educate and ensure the future of the blues through Blues in the Schools.

Central Iowa Blues Society received The Blues Foundation’s Keeping the Blues Alive Award in 2016. Each year, The Blues Foundation presents the Keeping the Blues Alive (KBA) Awards to individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the Blues around the world.