Sponsored by Think Iowa City and Johnson County

6:30 PM-7:15 PM Blake Shaw AND Alyx Rush

8:00 PM-9:30 PM: Shining Star

About:  

Blake Shaw is a composer/arranger, bandleader, double/electric bassist, vocalist, private lessons teacher, and jazz professor at Cornell College and Mt Mercy College. Originally from Lisbon, Iowa, Blake has earned an Associate of Arts degree from Kirkwood Community College as well as a Bachelor of Music (‘13) and Master of Arts (‘17) degree both from the University of Iowa. He has called Iowa City, IA home for the past 14yrs where he has provided insight on festival boards for around half that time for the Iowa City Jazz Festival as well as the Iowa City Pride Fest where he serves as Entertainment Director. Shaw is a frequent performer and band leader in many different groups across Iowa and the US. He can also be found teaching private lessons to young dedicated classical and jazz double bass players. Shaw has had the pleasure of playing with jazz greats like Carmen Bradford, Wycliffe Gordon, Rachel Eckroth, Dave Pietro, O’had Talmor, and Dick Oatts. He’s also been in groups opening for bands like Kurt Elling, Charlie Hunter, Lake Street Dive, Donny McCaslin, Margaret Glaspy, John Raymond and the Real Feels, Bridget Kearney, Caroline Smith, The Marcus King Band, and Euforquestra. You may go “like” all of his cute pics on instagram @theeblakebass.

Contact Information:

https://www.facebook.com/blakeshawbass

Summer of the Arts Festivals:  

• 2024 Music on the Move
• 2023 Music on the Move
• 2022 Soul & Blues Festival

About:  

Alyx Rush is a sonic sorcerer who has been busy capturing hearts, minds and imaginations across the Midwest with an alluring R&B/pop sound that beautifully smudges the edges of both genres. Adopted as an infant and raised in rural Iowa, he has never been afraid to be his true authentic self. Casting his spell from under the underground, Rush has risen quickly with head-turning independent releases and captivating live performances at festivals and venues across the region. He is both technically gifted and rawly emotive as a vocalist, swooping through irresistible top lines on wavy production that ranges from winter ballads to summer sways. His sound can soar, swagger and swoon, sometimes all at once. Already recognized as one of the top artists in the area, Rush will push his wave even further this summer with a new EP, ‘After the Last Time’ his second collaboration with artist/producer Jim Swim. There’s no ceiling for this one.

Contact Information:

https://www.facebook.com/SignalFlowProducts/

Summer of the Arts Festivals:  

• 2024 Friday Night Concert Series
• 2023 Friday Night Concert Series

About:  

Ten highly talented vocalists and musicians harmoniously join forces to present A TRIBUTE TO EARTH, WIND AND FIRE, a celebration of the four-decade strong success, popularity and resilience of one of the most successful musical stories ever told……EARTH, WIND & FIRE

Earth, Wind & Fire’s music is ‘timeless’, and fans around the world constantly crave the opportunity to hear their songs performed live. Shining Star now fills that void! This amazing recreation of Earth, Wind & Fire’s music and show is based on the 1970’s thru 1980’s the peak time of Earth, Wind & Fire’s magical career, and the highly acclaimed live recordings of their concerts later released on DVD’s. This show’s playlist has been hailed as the definitive collection of Earth, Wind & Fire’s top charting hits, and includes best loved songs such as After The Love Is Gone, Sing A Song, September, the remake of the Beatles classic song Got To Get You Into My Life from the movie Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band and their name sake “Shining Star.”

Shining Star ‘s live show consists of Lead Guitar, Bass Guitar, 2 Keyboardists, Drums, 3 Piece Horn Section & The exact vocal reproduction of Maurice White and Philip Bailey. Shining Star will deliver a national quality performance for a fraction of the price tag of a band of their magnitude and size. Your guest will leave this musical and visual extravaganza feeling as though they have been entertained by the legends and most well-known R&B pop bands ever….EARTH, WIND & FIRE.

Contact Information: