Edited release
04/17/23
Summer of the Arts has released the lineup for the nationally-renowned Iowa City Jazz Festival this June 30th through July 2nd.
The free festival includes music on two stages, culinary delights, artists and activity booths with free admission adjacent to the Pentacrest on Clinton Street and Iowa Avenue.
The main stage kicks off Friday at 6 PM, with Jon Ailabouni, followed by the Benny Benack III Group at 8 PM. Benny has performed internationally as an Emcee/Host for the YouTube sensation Postmodern Jukebox.
Saturday opens at 11:30 AM with the United Jazz Ensemble, a collective of students from Iowa City High, West High, and Liberty High Schools. The student focus continues at 12:15 PM with the North Corridor All-Star Combo, a similar ensemble comprised of students from I-380’s northern region, from Cedar Rapids all the way to Cedar Falls.
Multi-reed instrumentalist Christopher Merz and Shorter Stories takes the stage at 2 PM, and Des Moines native and Jazz Festival veteran Hannah Marks will play with her quartet at 4 PM.
At 6 PM, the Brooklyn-based band Huntertones hits the main stage. 8-time GRAMMY® Award-winning bassist, composer and arranger Christian McBride and his band New Jawn headline the Festival and will play Saturday night at 8pm. Along with years of performing and accolades, McBride is currently the artistic director of the Newport Jazz Festival.
Fireworks follow at 9:30pm.
University of Iowa Director of Jazz Studies and Associate Professor of African American Studies Damani Phillips opens Sunday’s performances on the main stage at 1 PM. Closing out the festival at 3 PM is Latin-jazz-dance band Orquesta Alto Maiz.
A second stage will feature some of the Corridor’s top area musicians. The Main Stage and Local Stage events are staggered, to ensure that everyone can catch all the performances.
Summer of the Arts has already announced the lineup for the Friday Night Concert Series, the Northside Concert Series, and the Free Movie Series. The full lineup for the first festival of the season, the Iowa City Arts Fest June 2-4, will be announced soon. Current details are available at www.summerofthearts.org.