Sunday, August 3, 2025

#762- > Bluesmore Festival 2025 - Cedar Rapids, Iowa~ PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com

Bluesmore Festival 2025
Brucemore Mansion
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
August 2, 2025

By Phillip Smith; August 3, 2025

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

It has been twelve years since the Linn County Blues Society from Cedar Rapids, Iowa has produced an event on the front lawn of the historic Brucemore Mansion. It felt really good to be back where our blues festivals began in 1994. The weather was perfect, and the tribe of blues fans which made the pilgrimage was a most impressive one. Three amazing bands played yesterday for a total of over six hours, making for an extraordinary music-event. The first act was Buckmiller/Schwager Band from Des Moines, Iowa comprised of Tom Buckmiller, Brian Schwager, bassist Eric Smidt drummer Drew Salim, and special guest Tom ‘T-Bone’ Giblin on keys. Next was Quad-Cities-based Avey Grouws Band with Chris Avey, Jeni Grouws, bassist Randy Leasman, and drummer Bryan West. Des Moines-based multi-instrumentalist Heath Alan made an appearance to perform with the band toward the end of their set, before playing the rest of the evening with the headliners Ghost Town Blues Band. Fronted by guitarist/vocalist Matt Isbell, this Memphis-based band is comprised of bassist Matt Karner, Grayson Smith on keys, and Garrett Marshall on drums. Heath Alan and Michael Peloquin both performed on sax. I could not have asked for a better evening of music. It was an absolute blast.

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· *All photos by Phillip Smith

Buckmiller/Schwager Band

Avey Grouws Band

Ghost Town Blues Band

*All photos by Phillip Smith

For more info on Buckmiller/Schwager Band, visit their website at https://www.buckmillerschwager.com/

For more info on Avey Grouws Band, visit their website at https://www.aveygrouwsband.com/

For more info on Ghost Town Blues Band, visit their website at https://www.ghosttownbluesband.com/

For more info on Linn County Blues Society, visit their website at https://www.lcbs.org

Read my previous reviews for Buckmiller/Schwager Band > https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=Buckmiller+Schwager

Read my previous reviews for Avey Grouws Band > https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=Avey+Grouws

Read my previous reviews for Ghost Town Blues Band > https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=Ghost+Town+Blues+Band

Monday, September 2, 2024

#701 > Bowlful of Blues Festival - 2024 (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

Bowlful of Blues Festival – Sep 1, 2024
Fred Maytag Bowl
Newton, Iowa

By Phillip Smith; Sep. 2, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

Soaking up the blues in Newton, Iowa at the Bowlful of Blues Festival on Labor Day Weekend is one of my favorite things to do. Presented by The South Skunk Blues Society, this event is like a summer family reunion for Iowa blues fans. A crisp blue sky and temperatures hovering in the seventies made for perfect weather at Maytag Park this year.

The music kicked off this year with Newton’s own The Sears Band fronted by Jim Sears on guitar and vocals. Their high-energy set the pace for the rest of the day. Next up was Des Moines-based bluesman and 2005 Iowa Blues Hall of Fame inductee Steve E. George. I don’t know how I’ve missed this entertainer over the years, but I am very happy to have caught him in this stellar performance. Between sets, Clayton Ryan provided a mix of original songs and covers. This balladeer has a hell of a knack for writing songs. Brandon Santini took the stage and delivered a searing ninety-minute set of harmonica-fueled blues. I’ve been wanting to see him play live for a long time. Headlining the fest was Iowa’s Avey Grouws Band. I’m used to seeing the band as a quartet. This show was special in that they added Leo Albertoni on keys, Heath Alan on saxophone, and Jeni Grouws’ daughter Lillian Grouws on backing vocals. They rocked the park for two hours, with their final two songs being joined by Santini. I loved every bit of it.