Summer of the Arts brings full slate of events to IC

By Deanna Howard

IOWA CITY – Get ready for music in the summer.

Be it rock, folk, jazz, bluegrass – Summer of the Arts is bringing it to the heart of the city, and as always, for free.

“It’s a lot of great things every single weekend this summer,” said Lisa Barnes, executive director.

Summer of the Arts kicked off May 16 with the Friday Night Concert Series. It continues with special events and festivals through September.

The two largest events attracting crowds of more than 35,000 people are the Iowa Arts Festival, June 6-8, and the Iowa City Jazz Festival, July 3-5.

Headlining the Arts Festival are the folk rock duo Indigo Girls, June 6, and singer-songwriter Steve Earle & The Dukes, June 7.

“Both should draw a huge following,” said Kevin Hanick, chairman of the Arts Festival entertainment committee. “It is great music and it’s all free, people just need to come out, put their chairs down and have a great time.”

Among the Indigo Girls’ most well-known songs are: “Closer to Fine,” “Galileo,” “Crazy Game” and “Peace Tonight.”

Mr. Earle’s hits include: “Copperhead Road,” “Six Days on the Road,” “Guitar Town,” “I Ain’t Ever Satisfied” and “What’ll You Do About Me.”

The Iowa City Jazz Festival’s big names include The Pedrito Martinez Group, July 3, Joe Lovano US Five, July 4, and Tom Harrell Colors of a Dream with Johnathan Blake, Wayne Escoffery, Ugonna Okegwo, Jaleel Shaw and Esperanza Spalding, July 5.

It is not uncommon for audience members to travel thousands of miles to come to either event, Ms. Barnes said.

“A lot of it is word of mouth,” she said. “We had somebody drive up from Texas last year for the Jazz Festival who kept saying – ‘really it’s free?’ It is.”

The festival is literally showcasing bands from around the world, Ms. Barnes said.

Traditionally, the Jazz Festival has been a Friday-Sunday event. However, this year, the committee is trying a Thursday, Friday, Saturday schedule to give travelers Sunday to get home, Ms. Barnes said. In years past they found that people were missing the last headliner as they had to leave to make sure they got back home for work on Monday, she said.

Summer of the Arts will celebrate its 10th anniversary in the fall of 2015. The Iowa Arts Festival has been going strong since 1983. The Iowa City Jazz Festival began in 1991.

Some of the events under the Summer of the Arts umbrella are newer. The Iowa Soul Festival, Sept. 19-20, is celebrating its second year. Music IC, a chamber music festival inspired by literature, is in its fourth year. The Saturday Night Concert Series started in 2010.

The Free Movie Series reaches its 10-year-milestone this summer.

Honoring the 10 years, the committee has chosen movies for each week that has that week’s number in the title. They include: “Captain America the First Avenger,” June 14; “Despicable Me 2,” June 21; “Three Musketeers” (double feature night), June 28; “Fantastic Four,” July 12; “The Fifth Element,” July 19; “Fast and Furious 6,” July 26; “Seven Years in Tibet,” Aug. 2; “Super 8,” Aug. 9; “9,” Aug. 16; and “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” Aug. 21.

“I always tell people no matter how hot it is, it is going to be nice at the movies, because of the nice shade by MacBride Hall,” Ms. Barnes said.

Summer of the Arts Board President Diana Lundell encourages residents to come out and enjoy an event or two.

“They are great free family events,” Ms. Lundell said. “Summer of the Arts is ingrained in the downtown Iowa City scene.”

Ms. Barnes agreed.

“We feel very strongly that this is such an integral part of Iowa City,” Ms. Barnes said. “I am one of those people who came to Iowa City for college and stayed.  Part of what kept me here is the arts and culture.”