Sunday, October 27, 2024

#712 > Cedar County Cobras / McMurrin and Johnson / Illinois John Fever at The Ideal Theater 10/26/24

Cedar County Cobras / McMurrin and Johnson / Illinois John Fever – Oct. 26, 2024

Ideal Theater & Bar
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

By Phillip Smith; Oct. 27, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

I'm always happy to experience live music, and it makes me happier to experience it with like-minded music lovers. The Ideal Theater and Bar in Cedar Rapids, Iowa hosted an absolutely astounding three-act show headlined by Cedar County Cobras. Illinois John Fever kicked the evening off with a very cool set of country blues. This was my first time to hear these artists. They played a quite impressive set and are certainly on my radar now. It was great to see Dennis 'Daddy-O' McMurrin and Dan 'DJ' Johnson again. I have been a fan of them both since I moved to Iowa just over thirty years ago, The Cedar County Cobras, finished off the evening with an outstanding-as-usual performance. They are always a delight to hear. After winning the 2024 Iowa Blues Challenge recently, the band earned an entrance to participate in the 2025 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee which will take place in January. I wish them my very best on their journey.

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· All Photos by Phillip Smith

Illinois John Fever

Dennis 'Daddy-O' McMurrin and Dan Johnson

Cedar County Cobras

· All Photos by Phillip Smith

For more information about Cedar County Cobras visit https://cedarcountycobras.com/

For more information about Illinois John Fever visit https://www.illinoisjohnfever.com/

Sunday, February 4, 2024

#659 : 'daBluesapalooza 2024 (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

Billylee Janey

‘daBluesapalooza 2024

The Olympic Southside Theater

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

February 3, 2024

By Phillip Smith; Feb. 4, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

For the third year in a row, KCCK Jazz 88.3 has celebrated the blues with a fabulous blues event in Cedar Rapids called ‘daBluesapalooza held at Olympic Southside Theater. For nearly five hours, the blues was honored with performances by local and regional artists. The event was sold out and was a complete success.

Funkatude, a funk band from Cedar Rapids gave a stellar performance to start the evening off. A searing set of electric blues from Billylee Janey and Bryce Janey as The Janeys followed. The music continued with D-Dog & the BBits featuring Dennis “Daddy-O” McMurrin, Kat Blue & The True Believers, Homebrewed, The Tanya English Band, Matt Panek & the Electric Kool Aid Trio with special guest Johnny Kilowatt, and Dr. Z’s Experiment.