Des Moines Arts Festival

While the Des Moines Art Festival is not a blues festival, it is a huge gathering of visual and performing artists. Also, it has a few good blues bands as well:-) The pre fest started tonight at Blues On Grand with a live radio broadcast of one of the hottest blues performers in the US, Watermelon Slim! I must admit that I missed that one, and should have posted about it, since they streamed the show live on the internet on KUNI. Anyway, people in the upper Midwest should try to catch this fest. BTW, the fest winds up with the Iowa Blues Hall Of Fame induction at Blues On Grand! So the might BOG starts and ends the fest!!!


Here is the schedule from the Des Moines Art Festival website.

Thursday, June 28

Des Moines Arts Festival and Iowa Public Radio present LIVE! Load-In Thursday at Blues on Grand
Join us in downtown Des Moines as we celebrate the load-in of the 10th anniversary edition of Iowa's most celebrated festival at LIVE! Load-In Thursday on June 28! Curt Snook of WOI 90.1 FM will take his live show on the road with blues artists Watermelon Slim and The Workers from 7-8:30 p.m. at the legendary Blues on Grand (1501 Grand Ave.).

Friday, June 29
U.S. Cellular Stage
3:30 p.m. - Roxi Copland Trio
5 p.m. - Big Wooden Radio
7 p.m. - Iowa Blues Hall of Fame Band

Meredith Corporation Stage
4 p.m. - DiJohn
6 p.m. - Inner Rain
8 p.m. - Stallions versus Unicorns

Prairie Meadows Performing Arts Stage
4 p.m. - Kelly's Clan
6 p.m. - Hot Club of Des Moines
7:30 p.m. - Party Gras Classic Jazz Band
9 p.m. - The 34th Army Band Rhythm Majors directed by Sergeant First Class Roscoe Porch

Saturday, June 30
U.S. Cellular Stage
10 a.m. - The Heroes
11 a.m. - The Trained Professionals
Noon - Bob Hillman
1 p.m. - Forty Watt Bulb
2 p.m. - Josh Davis
4 p.m. - The Tyler Thompson Band
5 p.m. - Dick Prall
6 p.m. - Benjamin Wagner
7 p.m. - Randy Burk and the Prisoners
8 p.m. - The Nadas
9:30 p.m. - All-Star Jam

Meredith Corporation Stage
10 a.m. - Nic Arp
11:30 a.m. - Las Guitarras de Mexico
1 p.m. - Lojo Russo
2:30 p.m. - Homemade Headtrip
3:30 p.m. - Isiserettes
4:30 p.m. - Deja Voodoo Band
6 p.m. - Little Mojo
8 p.m. - Blue Island Tribe

Prairie Meadows Performing Arts Stage
10 a.m. - Nurturing a Student's Vision Visionary Artists' Ceremony
Noon - Clubhouse at the Playhouse
1 p.m. - Iowa Dance Theatre/Tap Des Moines
2 p.m. - Makeup Application Demonstration by Bobbi Brown Cosmetics exclusively at Younkers Jordan Creek
2:30 p.m. - Des Moines Playhouse-Selections from Disney's High School Musical
3 p.m. - Foy School of Irish Dance
4:30 p.m. - Roberto the Magnificent
6 p.m. - Party Guise
8 p.m. - WORLDPORT

Library Loading Dock Concert for Teens
If you love to listen to local garage bands, you will want to head to the Central Library’s loading dock where local bands will be perform on Saturday, June 30, from 5-9 p.m. From rock to hip-hop and high school to professionals, you can see (and hear) them all for free!

Sunday, July 1
U.S. Cellular Stage
11 a.m. - Lady Blue featuring Tina Haase Findlay
1 p.m. - Electric Junction
3 p.m. - The Kissers

Meredith Corporation Stage
11 a.m. - Box Brothers Band
1 p.m. - The Sons of Gladys Kravitz
3 p.m. Swing Crew

Prairie Meadows Performing Arts Stage
11 a.m. - Des Moines Poetry Slam
12:30 p.m. - The Railmen Lincoln High School All-Male Dance Squad
1:30 p.m. - Roberto the Magnificent
3 p.m. - Capitol City Swing
4 p.m. - Clubhouse at the Playhouse