Iowa City Song Project Album Now Available

Over the past year, The Englert Theatre commissioned 31 musicians and bands to write and record songs inspired by experiences or impressions of Iowa City. The songs were collected into a compilation album called the Iowa City Song Project. The album features new music from Greg Brown, Bo Ramsey, William Elliott Whitmore, Pieta Brown, Rene Hell, Caroline Smith, The Poison Control Center, Wet Hair, and many more.

The album is available now via Maximum Ames on 2xLP, CD, and digital formats. Visit maximumamesrecords.com or stop by the Englert Box Office to purchase a copy.

Kelly Hogan

Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at 8:00pm

The Georgia native is a supremely talented and multi-faceted singer profoundly respected within the music world. She was recently touted "a national treasure" by colleague, friend and former Chicago neighbor, Andrew Bird. On her new album, I Like To Keep Myself In Pain, Hogan curates an ambitious and moving labor of love, mining the perfect intersection between classic pop, country and soul. She utilizes her incredible voice to interpret compositions penned for her by musical luminaries including M. Ward, Vic Chesnutt, Magnetic Fields, the Mekons' Jon Langford, the Handsome Family, Bird, Freakwater's Catherine Irwin, John Wesley Harding, Robbie Fulks, Gabriel Roth and Robyn Hitchcock.

Part of the Intimate at the Englert Series presented by Hands Jewelers, with additional support from Little Village.
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Ark Life

Friday, June 21, 2013 at 8:00pm

From 2007 to 2012, Iowa native Jesse Elliott led his rock&roll band These United States through 5 studio albums and nearly 1,000 live performances in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, appearing everywhere from Glastonbury to SXSW and Daytrotter to Lollapalooza, and garnering praise from NPR, the New York Times, SPIN, KEXP, and more.  In December 2012, Elliott made a pitstop in Denver for a month on his way to a new life in New York City. New connections were made, Ark Life began to take form and it became clear he was going to stick around a bit longer.

Part of the Intimate at the Englert Series presented by Hands Jewelers, with additional support from Little Village.
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Sonny & The Sunsets

Saturday, June 22, 2013 at 8:00pm

Sonny & The Sunsets are the energetic accompaniment to the dynamic workings of Sonny Smith. Adopting a range of sounds -- including '50s and '60s pop, old-time country, folk, and much more -- Smith's sardonic, laid-back style is interwoven throughout his compelling songwriting and vocals. What results is an ensemble stripped of superfluous noise that provides perfect accompaniment for Smith's vintage callbacks. While Sonny & The Sunsets draw on a variety of retro inspirations, their albums arguably stand as intangible classics of their own.

Part of the Intimate at the Englert Series presented by Hands Jewelers, with additional support from Little Village.
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The Audience

Saturday, June 29, 2013 at 7:00pm

Helen Mirren reprises her Academy Award winning role as Queen Elizabeth II in the highly-anticipated West End production of The Audience. For sixty years Elizabeth II has met each of her twelve Prime Ministers in a weekly audience at Buckingham Palace – a meeting like no other in British public life – it is private. Both parties have an unspoken agreement never to repeat what is said. Not even to their spouses. The Audience breaks this contract of silence – and imagines a series of pivotal meetings between the Downing Street incumbents and their Queen.

Part of the National Theatre Live Series presented by M.C. Ginsberg.
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Seldom Seen Festival 2013

Friday and Saturday June 28 & 29, 2013

Seldom Seen is a music, art and literature festival in the heart of rural Iowa. Currently in our third year, we’re taking our first stab at creating an all-sensory experience for our attendees. Our farm is 625 acres of glorious Iowa land, and we intend to fill every nook and cranny with amazing visual art, compelling literature performances and your new favorite band. We’ll start the day with yoga and explore creeks into the afternoon. Check it out for a day, or stay with us for two nights of camping. Seldom Seen strives to illuminate the unique beauty of Iowa’s countryside while placing a layer of culture on top.
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Brandi Carlile

Friday, July 5, 2013 at 8:00pm

A singer/songwriter whose music splits the difference between pop/rock and folksy Americana, Brandi Carlile blends modern pop sensibilities with the honest country sound of years gone by. After breaking into the bar scene at age 17, Carlile teamed up with musical twin brothers Tim and Phil Hanseroth, and together the trio has released five acclaimed studio albums and toured with the likes of Dave Matthews, Shawn Colvin, and India.Arie. In 2012, Carlile returned with her most successful album to date, Bear Creek, which reached number 10 on the Billboard Top 200.

Co-presented by True Endeavors.
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Arlo Guthrie

Wednesday, July 10, 2013 at 8:00pm

Folk music icon Arlo Guthrie is a legendary artist who shares timeless stories and unforgettable classic songs as he carries on the Guthrie family legacy. With his singular voice as both a singer-songwriter and social commentator, he has maintained a dedicated fan base that spans the globe. A celebrated figure in American music, Arlo connects with communities far and wide leaving a lasting impression of hope and inspiration. His artistic ventures help bridge an often-divided world through his powerful spirit of song, and his inimitable musical ingenuity forges to new creative heights as he continues to entertain generations.
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Glenn Jones

Saturday, July 13, 2013 at 8:00pm

A 30+ year devotee of the American Primitive school of acoustic steel string guitarists, Glenn Jones has been playing guitar since the age of 14. Jones furthers the exploratory path he’s committed himself to with tranquil yet compelling acoustic steel-string guitar compositions built from thoughtful open tunings, expressive bottleneck guitar, and even banjo.

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Mavis Staples

Friday, July 19, 2013 at 8:00pm

A soul/gospel legend, Mavis Staples holds a special place in music history. With her bold, Grammy-winning album, You Are Not Alone, the legendary vocalist adds a remarkable new chapter to an historic career. Staples is a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner, and a National Heritage Fellowship Award recipient. VH1 named her one of the 100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll, and Rolling Stone listed her as one of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.

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Munch: Munch 150
Exhibition Series

Friday, July 26, 2013 at 7:00pm

This year, all of Norway celebrates the 150th anniversary of the birth of Edvard Munch (1863 - 1944), one of the towering figures of modern art. Munch 150, co-hosted by the National Museum and the Munch Museum (both in Oslo), is already being hailed a "once-in-a-lifetime show".The event film will be going behind-the-scenes to show some of the process of putting the exhibition together -- as well as touring Norway to provide an in-depth biography of a man who lived from the mid-19th century right through to the German occupation of Norway in the Second World War.

Part of the Exhibition Series presented by M.C. Ginsberg, Chait Galleries Downtown, & University of Iowa Museum of Art.
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Pre-Exhibition Series Screening Reception At Chait Galleries

Friday, July 26, 2013 at 6:00pm

Join us for a free pre-screening wine and cheese reception at 6pm, with a short program by University of Iowa Museum of Art Director Sean O'Harrow. Hosted across from the Englert at Chait Galleries Downtown.
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Don McLean

Saturday, July 27, 2013 at 8:00pm

Don McLean is one of America's most enduring singer-songwriters and is forever associated with his classic hits "American Pie" and "Vincent (Starry Starry Night)". Since first hitting the charts in 1971, McLean has amassed over 40 gold and platinum records world-wide and, in 2004, was inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame. His songs have been recorded by artists from every musical genre, most notably Madonna's No. 1 recording of "American Pie" in 2000 and George Michael's version of "The Grave" in 2003, sung in protest at the Iraq War.

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John Hiatt & The Combo

Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at 8:00pm

John Hiatt is a powerful singer, guitarist & talented songwriter. The critically acclaimed artist has released twenty-four albums - including his latest Mystic Pinball. As one of music's most respected and influential singer-songwriters, Hiatt's songs have been covered by a variety of artists in multiple genres, including Bob Dylan, Ry Cooder, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Willie Nelson, and many more. The Los Angeles Times has called Hiatt "one of rock?s most astute singer-songwriters of the last 40 years".

Co-presented with True Endeavors.
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Mickey Hart Band

Thursday, August 8, 2013 at 8:00pm

Mickey Hart is best known for his nearly three decades as an integral part of an extraordinary expedition into the soul and spirit of music, disguised as the rock and roll band the Grateful Dead. As half of the percussion tandem known as the Rhythm Devils, Mickey and Bill Kreutzmann transcended the conventions of rock drumming. Their extended polyrhythmic excursions were highlights of Grateful Dead shows, introducing the band's audience to an ever-growing arsenal of percussion instruments from around the world. Exposure to these exotic sounds fueled Mickey's desire to learn about the various cultures that produced them.

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The Official Blues Brothers Revue

Saturday, August 10, 2013 at 8:00pm

The Official Blues Brothers Revue, featuring Wayne Catania and Kieron Lafferty as Jake and Elwood, recreates the live concert experience, integrating the humor and songs from the original film and subsequent albums. Produced by Judy Belushi Pisano and Dan Aykroyd, the Revue pays homage to Chicago's rich history of blues, soul music and gospel in the true spirit of the original Blues Brothers. Under the musical direction of Paul Shaffer, Jake, Elwood and the high-energy eight-piece Intercontinental Rhythm & Blues Revue Band lay down a big sound, performed with the passion and precision of the original Blues Brothers. Fun for all ages, The Official Blues Brothers Revue strikes the right balance of humor, music and mayhem.
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Bob Mould Band

Thursday, August 15, 2013 at 8:00pm

From his pioneering early ’80s work with Hüsker Dü to the pop sparkle of Sugar to his genre-blurring solo work, Bob Mould’s decade-spanning career has been celebrated by fellow musicians and fans alike. His latest album, 2012’s Silver Age, is an intense, concise ten-song blast reminiscent of Bob’s latter-day Hüsker Dü output that careens out of the speakers with a sense of exhilaration and power. With his live band, which consists of bassist Jason Narducy (Spl:t S:ngle, Verbow) and drummer Jon Wurster (Superchunk, The Mountain Goats), Bob Mould brings to the stage the energy and musicianship that has made him so renowned among fans and the music community as a whole.

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Steel Magnolia

Thursday, August 22, 2013 at 8:00pm

96.5 Kiss Country welcomes Steel Magnolia

In the years since winning season two of CMT's Can You Duet, Steel Magnolia have gone on to win over many more influential fans and supporters. Their bracing take of "Keep On Lovin' You" broke through as the highest charting debut single by a co-ed duo in Billboard history and climbed all the way to No. 5 on the Billboard Country Charts. The song has been downloaded more than a million times and landed in the major motion picture, “Valentine’s Day.” Steel Magnolia has shared the stage with Brad Paisley, Reba McEntire, and Blake Shelton and appeared on the Late Show With David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Lopez Tonight.
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Mary Gauthier & Ray Wylie Hubbard At The Mill

Friday, August 23, 2013 at 8:00pm

Note: This event takes place at The Mill (120 E Burlington St, Iowa City).

Mary Gauthier and Ray Wylie Hubbard share the stage for a special Englert presents event at The Mill. Alt-country singer/songwriter Mary Gauthier exploded onto the scene in 1999 following the release of her classic album Drag Queens in Limousines. Ray Wylie Hubbard has been a leading figure of the progressive country movement since the 1970s.

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The John Scofield Überjam Band

Wednesday, September 4, 2013 at 8pm

John Scofield’s guitar work has influenced jazz since the late 70’s and is going strong today. Possessor of a very distinctive sound and stylistic diversity, Scofield is a masterful jazz improviser whose music generally falls somewhere between post-bop, funk edged jazz, and R&B. The Überjam Band features Andy Hess, Avi Bortnick, and Tony Mason.
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Master Class With Dweezil Zappa

Friday, September 6, 2013 at 2:00pm

Prior to the Zappa Plays Zappa concert, Dweezil Zappa will host a master class at 2pm. For the price of a fuzz pedal, learn techniques from the son of Frank Zappa. Dweezil has the motto "Learn and destroy." It refers to destroying the boundaries that confine music creativity. While on tour with Zappa Plays Zappa, Dweezil is previewing some of the guitar concepts during a special pre-show session.

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Zappa Plays Zappa

Friday, September 6, 2013 at 8:00pm

Roxy & Elsewhere 40th Anniversary Tour

Dweezil Zappa keeps alive the musical legacy of his legendary father, Frank Zappa, with the tribute Zappa Plays Zappa. The group is devoted to performing the music of Frank Zappa. In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the classic album "Roxy & Elsewhere", the band will play the entire album in sequence!

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The Stupid Economy

Friday, September 20, 2013 at 8:00pm

Award-winning actress Chrissy Hogue brings her comedic and dramatic tour de force to the stage in Robert Lynn’s, “The Stupid Economy.” Chrissy takes the audience on a dizzying ride through her roles as seven women struggling with their personal finances since the economic crisis of 2008 and into the present. From the bottom to the top of the economic ladder, Chrissy weaves a story that will make you laugh, cry and stomp your feet in frustration at our current economic condition.

Part of the Intimate at the Englert Series presented by Hands Jewelers, with additional support from Little Village.
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Over The Rhine

Tuesday, September 24 at 8:00pm

Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist are a husband and wife folk duo who perform as Over the Rhine alongside a rotating cast of extras. They have been touring and consistently releasing albums for nearly twenty five years and show no signs of slowing down. With their most recent record, The Long Surrender, they have gained high marks from the likes of Paste Magazine who praise the album as “a lovely, heartbreaking, and ultimately uplifting musical mosaic.”
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John Hodgman

Friday, September 27, 2013 at 8:00pm

Before he went on television, John Hodgman was a simple writer, humorist, expert, and former professional literary agent living in New York City. In this capacity, he has served as the Humor Editor for the New York Times Magazine, frequent contributor to “This American Life,” advice columnist for McSweeney’s, comic book reviewer for the New York Times Book Review, and a freelance journalist specializing in food, culture, non-wine alcohol, “Battlestar Galactica,” and most other subjects.

Co-presented with True Endeavors.
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Suzanne Vega

Saturday, September 28, 2013 at 8:00pm

“Widely regarded as one of the most brilliant songwriters of her generation,” (Biography Magazine) Suzanne Vega emerged as a leading figure of the folk-music revival of the early 1980s when, accompanying herself on acoustic guitar, she sang what has been labeled contemporary folk or neo-folk songs. The resilience of Vega’s songs and her one-of-a-kind delivery make certain that when the smoke clears on late twentieth century singer-songwriters, she’ll remain in good company toward the top of the heap.

Part of the Iowa Women's Music Festival.
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Dawes

Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at 8:00pm

Dawes returns to the Englert for a special evening of music. The four-piece bands is touring in support of their new album Stories Don’t End. The spotlights the group’s maturing skills as arrangers, performers and interpreters who shape the raw material supplied by chief songwriter and lead vocalist Taylor Goldsmith into an artfully concise and increasingly soulful sound.

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Mason Jennings

Saturday, October 5, 2013 at 8:00pm

Singer-songwriter Mason Jennings returns to The Englert Theatre for a special solo performance. Effortless melody, dexterous wordplay and tight compositions come easy for Jennings, whom Rolling Stone recently dubbed "one of the best songwriters you've never heard of." Jennings blends the deeply personal insights of a poet, the political broadsides of a protest singer, and the broad musical eclecticism of a jazz musician with the passion and commitment of a rock & roller.

Sponsored by the Motley Cow Cafe.

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Mary Chapin Carpenter & Shawn Colvin

Sunday, October 6, 2013 at 7:00pm

An acoustic evening with Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin on stage together. Acclaimed songwriters and longtime friends share the stage as an intimate duo, performing material spanning their vast catalogues as well as some of their favorite songs.
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Drew Carey
Stand-Up Show

Friday, October 18, 2013 at 7:30pm

Drew Carey is a stand-up comic turned actor and producer who had the distinction of having two hit shows simultaneously: the long-running comedy "The Drew Carey Show," which ran from 1995-2004, and the improv/sketch show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" on which he was host and a producer. The success of that show led to the creation of "Drew Carey's Improv All-Stars," an improv troupe that performs in showrooms across the country. In July 2007, Carey was named the host of "The Price is Right", succeeding longtime host Bob Barker.
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Vermeer: Vermeer And Music
Exhibition Series

Saturday, October 19, 2013 at 7:00pm

The National Gallery, London, is offering a major exhibition on one of the most startling and fascinating artists of all-time Johannes Vermeer, painter of the Girl with a Pearl Earring. Vermeer painted little more than 30 works that still exist, and the National Gallery has chosen to focus on his art in relation to music. Music was one of the most popular themes of Dutch painting and revealed an enormous amount about the sitter and the society. The event film goes beyond the exhibition to tell the entire story of Vermeer's life and, in doing so we show in detail many other of the artist's great works.

Part of the Exhibition Series presented by M.C. Ginsberg, Chait Galleries Downtown, & University of Iowa Museum of Art.
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Pre-Exhibition Series Screening Reception At Chait Galleries

Saturday, October 19, 2013 at 6:00pm

Join us for a free pre-screening wine and cheese reception at 6pm, with a short program by University of Iowa Museum of Art Director Sean O'Harrow. Hosted across from the Englert at Chait Galleries Downtown.

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Peter Yarrow

Saturday, October 26, 2013 at 8:00pm

Peter Yarrow’s talents as a creative artist—both with the legendary trio Peter, Paul & Mary and as a solo performer—are frequently directed at using music to convey a message of humanity and caring. His gift for songwriting has produced some of the most moving songs from Peter, Paul & Mary, including “Puff, the Magic Dragon,” “Day is Done”, “Light One Candle” and “The Great Mandala.” As a member of the renowned musical trio, Yarrow has earned multiple gold and platinum albums, as well as numerous GRAMMYs.
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James Blake

Saturday, November 16, 2013 at 8:00pm

SCOPE Productions & The Englert Theatre are proud to host James Blake. Blake is an English electronic music producer and singer-songwriter. He is touring in support of his critically acclaimed new album "Overgrown".

Co-presented by SCOPE Productions.

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Kathleen Madigan

Friday, November 22, 2013 at 8:00pm

In her 22 year career, Kathleen Madigan has never been hotter. With her new Showtime special, "Gone Madigan," in constant rotation and the DVD-CD of the special topping the Amazon and iTunes charts, Madigan has the entire year booked with over 100 theater gigs across the country and numerous television appearances. She's recently back from her second Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff's USO Holiday Tour of Iraq and Afghanistan. This year Madigan shared the stage with Robin Williams, Lewis Black, Lance Armstrong, Kix Brooks and Admiral Mike Mullen who hosted the tour. After the ten day tour, she returned home to tape appearances on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson," "The Green Room with Paul Provenza" and "The Joy Behar Show in New" York.
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