PhillyCheeze's Rock & Blues Reviews: Central Iowa Blues

Sunday, February 16, 2025

#731 : Winter Blues Fest 2025 (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

Downtown Marriott

Des Moines, Iowa

February 15, 2024

By Phillip Smith; Feb. 16, 2025

Original source: phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

I made the trek to Des Moines this weekend for my second visit to the Central Iowa Blues Society’s Winter Blues Fest, and had a spectacular time. Although the festival runs for two days, I was only able to make it over to the Saturday shows again. Acts I was able to catch included Hudspeth & Taylor, Cedar County Cobras, Duke Robillard, Altered Five Blues Band, Orphan Jon & the Abandoned, Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, John Nemeth & the Blue Dreamers, and Anson Funderburgh & the Rockets featuring Big Joe Maher.

* All Photos by Phillip Smith

Hudspeth & Taylor

Duke Robillard

Cedar County Cobras

Altered Five Blues Band

Orphan Jon & the Abandoned

Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal

John Nemeth & the Blue Dreamers

Anson Funderburgh & the Rockets feat. Big Joe Maher

w/ Duke Robillard

* All photos by Phillip Smith

Monday, February 12, 2024

#661 : Winter Blues Fest 2024 (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

Winter Blues Fest 2024

Downtown Marriott

Des Moines, Iowa

February 10, 2024

By Phillip Smith; Feb. 12, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

I finally made it to Des Moines for the Central Iowa Blues Society’s Winter Blues Fest, and it was a blast. Although the festival runs for two days, I was only able to make it over to the Capital City for the Saturday shows which included Matt Woods, Studebaker John, Heath Alan’s Iowa Blues Expo, Rush Cleveland Trio, Gabe Stillman Band, Jimmi & the Band of Souls, Tony Holiday, Indigenous, Max Kaplan & the Magic, McKinley James, Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, Tom Holland & the Shuffle Kings, Cashbox Kings, & Toronzo Cannon. The Friday shows, which I unfortunately missed, consisted of Ben Levin Duo, Josh Hoyer, The Cold Stares, JD Simo, Mike Morgan & the Crawl, and Carolyn Wonderland. With five stages for music, choices had to be made. I did not get the opportunity to see everyone, but I did see some fantastic acts. Although the snow and ice were kept at bay this year, there was certainly a “Blizzard of Blues” going on at Winter Blues Fest.