Summer music is here

Temperatures are rising, local farmer’s markets are making their debuts, and schools are preparing for graduation. Summer is right around the corner, which means its prime time for live music, festivals, fairs and family fun.

From jazz to rap to country to rock, there’s plenty to listen, dance and sing along to in Eastern Iowa and beyond this summer.

Brucemore: 2160 Linden Dr. SE. Music at the Big House, 7:30 p.m. May 23-24 and July 18-19, featuring musicians in a diverse range of genres against the backdrop of Queen Anne Victorian mansion, $15 to $25; Bluesmore, 4-10 p.m. Aug. 2, featuring Buckmiller Schwager Band, Avey Grouws Band and Ghost Tom Blues Band with food and cold drinks on Brucemore’s front lawn, $25 to $30; At the Garden, Aug. 8-9, more details and ticket information to come; Music (Not) in the Courtyard, Aug. 21-23 and 28-30, Peggy Boyle Whitworth Amphitheater, ticket information to come. brucemore.org/summer-events-guide/

Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival: Volta Youth Music and Art Festival, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 28, highlighting young artists and musicians, NewBo; Schmidt Brothers, 6 p.m. June 28, NewBo; Celebration of Freedom, 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. July 4, with musical performances from 6-9 p.m., downtown Cedar Rapids. freedomfestival.com/calendar

Cedar Rapids Municipal Band: 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Sundays, June 4 to Aug. 3, 18 free concerts at various locations across Cedar Rapids. crmuniband.org/concert-schedule/

Jazz Under the Starts: 6:30-9 p.m. Aug. 7, 14, 21, Noelridge Park, free; including performances by Daugherty, Davis, McPartland, Naylor’s I-380 Express, Kings of The Blues featuring the Linn County Blues All-Stars, The Janeys, Kevin Burt & The Blues Instigators, Funk Legends with members of Funk 101, Funk Daddies, Mean Street & The Hell Horns, and more. kcck.org/juts/

McGrath Amphitheatre: 475 First St. SW; featuring outdoor concerts, festivals, food and live music. Alison Krauss & Union Station: 7:30 p.m. June 13; Justin Moore with Joe Nichols, 7 p.m. June 21; Blues Traveler and Gin Blossoms, 6 p.m. July 7; Kansas and 38 Special, 6:15 p.m. July 13; Foreigner, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 11; Kip Moore, 7 p.m. Aug. 16. creventslive.com/events/veue/mcgrath-amphitheatre

Paramount Theatre: 123 Third Ave. SE. The Wallflowers, 8 p.m. June 13; Elvis In Person, 7 p.m., July 18, Elvis Presley tribute; Killer Queen, 7 p.m. July 20, Queen tribute; Bachman-Turner Overdrive, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 31. creventslive.com/events/veue/paramount-theatre

Rock the Block: free concerts every Friday from 6-8 p.m. May 16 to Aug. 29, NewBo, featuring a variety of local and national touring bands. newbocitymarket.org/rock-the-block

Coralville 4thFest: S.T. Morrison Park, 1513 7th St. June 28 to July 4, multi-day outdoor festival featuring entertainment, a 5K run/walk, parade, family-friendly activities and more; free outdoor concerts 6:30-8 p.m. July 3 and 8:30 p.m. July 4. coralville.org/346/schedule-of-events

Hinterland Music Festival: Aug. 1-3, Avenue of the Saints Amphitheatre, 3357 St. Charles Rd., Saint Charles, south of Des Moines. Featuring performances by Tyler, the Creator, Kacey Musgraves, Lana Del Rey, Clairo, The Marias, Bleachers, Sierra Ferrell, Rebecca Black and more. Passes: 3-day admission, $330 to $1920; $145 to $950 single day; camping, parking options; hinterlandiowa.com/

Iowa State Fair: Aug. 7-17: Fairgrounds, East 30th Street and East University Avenue, Des Moines. Midway rides, food on a stick, exhibits, livestock, free and ticketed music, contests, Butter Cow. Grandstand lineup: Forrest Frank with special guest Lecrae, 8 p.m. Aug. 7, $34 to $64; Parker McCollum with special guest Josh Abbott Band, 8 p.m. Aug. 8, $54 to $94; Megan Moroney with special guest Kameron Marlowe, 8 p.m. Aug. 9, $54 to $94; Pitbull, 8 p.m. Aug. 10, $59 to $104; Lynyrd Skynyrd, 8 p.m. Aug. 11, $54 to $94; Rascal Flatts, 8 p.m. Aug. 12, $54 to $109; Hairball’s Silver Anniversary Tour, 8 p.m. Aug. 13, $24 to $34; Def Leppard, 8 p.m. Aug. 14, $69 to $134; Hank Williams Jr. with special guest Old Crow Medicine Show, 8 p.m. Aug. 15, $54 to $99; T-Pain with special guest charlieonnafriday, 8 p.m. Aug. 16, $44 to $74; KIDZ BOP LIVE, Certified BOP Tour, 6 p.m. Aug. 17, $29 to $44. iowastatefair.org/entertainment/grandstand/

Back Waters Stage: outdoor venue, Q Casino, 1855 Greyhound Park Rd. Highlights: Jake Owen with special guest Uncle Kracker, 7:30 p.m. June 19; Hairball: The Silver Anniversary Tour with special guest The Pork Tornadoes, 8 p.m. June 27; 311 with special guests Badflower and Sitting on Saturn, 7 p.m. July 5; In This Moment with special guests Wargasm, Kat Von D, and The Pretty Wild, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 1. backwatersstage.com/events/

For indoor concerts in the Q Showroom, go to qcasinoandhotel.com/entertainment/q-showroom/

Englert Theatre: 221 E. Washington St. Highlights: The Magnetic Fields, 7:30 p.m. May 17, $22 to $68.75; Valerie June with Jess Nolan, 7:30 p.m. June 1, $25 to $60; A.J. Croce, 7:30 p.m. June 12, $30 to $79; Steve Earl, 7:30 p.m. June 24, $31.25 to $81.25. englert.org/events/

Friday Night Concert Series: 6:30 p.m. Fridays, May 16 to Sept. 26, Ped Mall Stage, downtown Iowa City; free admission; bring seating; rain site is Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp, Washington and Gilbert streets; summerofthearts.org/

Rhythms at Riverfront Crossings: 6:30 p.m. concerts, Riverfront Crossings Park, 1001 S. Clinton St., Iowa City; Dave Zollo & the Body Electric, May 24; The P.T.A. (Phillips, Towne and Adams) Organ Trio, June 14; Swampland Jewels, July 12; Fex Presents - Iowa Rock and Soul Revue, July 26; Natty Nation, Aug. 2; James Tutson & the Rollback, Aug. 16; The Beaker Brothers, Aug. 30; summerofthearts.org/

Music on the Move: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday nights in June, Tuesday nights in July and August, ending Aug. 27, with performances at various parks in Iowa City, Coralville and North Liberty. summerofthearts.org/

Iowa Arts Festival: June 6-8, downtown Iowa City; features local and national artists, food, kids’ activities, local and national musicians; Friday headliner: The Original Pinettes Brass Band, 8 p.m., Iowa Healthcare Main Stage; Saturday headliner: Southern Avenue, 8 p.m., Iowa Healthcare Main Stage; Sunday headliner: Streamline Deluxe, 3 p.m., Iowa Healthcare Main Stage. summerofthearts.org/

Iowa City Community Band: Free concerts in various Iowa City/Coralville area sites; dates and times to be announced soon at facebook.com/ICCBand/

Iowa City Jazz Festival: July 4-6, downtown Iowa City. Local, regional, national and international jazz artists, fireworks Friday; free admission. Headliners: Ryan Middagh Jazz Orchestra featuring Joel Frahm, 8 p.m. Friday, Strauss Community Stage; Stefon Harris and Blackout, 8 p.m. Saturday, Strauss Community Stage; BYOBrass, 3 p.m. Sunday, Strauss Community Stage. summerofthearts.org/

Northside Saturday Nights: 6-8 p.m. Saturdays, May 17 to Sept. 27, Northside Outside community area, North Linn Street from Market Street to the Hamburg Inn alleyway; free live music series curated by the Englert Theatre to showcase local talent. downtowniowacity.com/

Delaware County Fair: July 7-13, fairgrounds, 200 E. Acers St.; Grandstand concerts: Daughtry, 8:30 p.m. July 10, $50 to $60; Scotty McCreery with opening act Casey Muessigman, 7 p.m. July 11, $50 to $60. delawarecofair.com/visit-the-fair/main-events/

Marion by Moonlight: 6-9 p.m. Thursdays, June 5-26, Central Plaza in Uptown Marion; free summer concert series featuring local bands, food venors, kids’ activities and more. uptownmarion.com/annual-festivals/

Marion Community Bands: 7 p.m. July 10 and July 1, Thomas Park, 343 Marion Blvd.; free, bring seating; uptownmarion.com/annual-festivals/

Marion Big Band “Swingin’” at Sunset Concert Series: 7 p.m. Thursdays in July, Central Plaza, Uptown Marion; classic ‘30s and ‘40s big band hits; free; bring a lawn chair or blanket. uptownmarion.com/annual-festivals/

Uptown Getdown: 6 p.m. Thursdays in August, Seventh Avenue, Uptown Marion; free live music; bring your lawn chair and a cooler. uptownmarion.com/annual-festivals/

Great Jones County Fair: July 16 to 20, fairgrounds, 800 N. Maple St., Monticello. Carnival, food, exhibits, music and more. Grandstand concerts: Sam Hunt with special guest Dylan Marlowe, 8 p.m. July 17, $64.15; Nelly with special guest Chingy, 8 p.m. July 18, $50.15 to $55.15; Hardy with special guest John Morgan, 8 p.m. July 19, $90.15; Roots & Boots Tour with Sammy Kershaw, Aaron Tippin and Collin Raye, 7 p.m. July 20, $25.15. greatjonescountyfair.com/

Ranshaw House Concert Series: 6-8 p.m. Fridays, June 6 to July 25, Ranshaw House Lawn, 515 Community Dr., North Liberty. Free performances by local musicians; bring lawn chairs, blankets, food, wine and/or beer. northlibertyiowa.org/departments/community-relations/ranshaw-house/concert-series-2025/

Riverside Casino Event Center: 3184 Hwy. 22; George Thorogood and The Destroyers, 8 p.m. June 21, $59 to $89; Aaron Lewis and the Stateliners and Travis Tritt, 7 p.m. Aug. 2, $71 to $91; The Happy Together Tour, 8 p.m. Aug. 23, $52.50 to $82.50; Eli Young Band, 8 p.m. Sept. 19, $50 to $80. riversidecasinoandresort.com/eventcenter

Cedar Ridge: 1441 Marak Rd., Swisher. Live music 6 p.m. Fridays, May 16 to June 27; Live music 1 p.m. Sundays, May 18 to June 22; Brittany Sword, 5 p.m. May 17; Memorial Day Music: Jarrod Hogan, 1 p.m. May 26; An Evening with Evan Honer, 6 p.m. Aug. 2. cedarridgedistillery.com/events-calendar/

Meskwaki Casino: 1504 305th St., Tama. Encore Legends, 8:30 p.m. May 16-17; Passion, 8:30 p.m. May 23-25; Tower of Power - 57 Years of Funk & Soul, 8 p.m. May 24, Meskwaki Veterans Convention Center, $41.95 to $62.95; Grand Marshall, 8:30 p.m. May 30-31; Craig Morgan, 8 p.m. July 18, Meskwaki Outdoor Arena, $37.75 to $58.75. meskwaki.com/entertainment/

Cedar County Fair: July 9-13, fairgrounds, 1195 210th St., Tipton. Exhibits, vendors, music and races. Grandstand concert: Jo Dee Messina, 7:30 p.m. July 12, $30 to $35. thecedarcountyfair.com/concerts/

Allamakee County Fair: July 16-20, fairgrounds, 705 Allamakee St., Waukon. Grandstand concert: Shane Profitt with Mae Estes, 8 p.m. July 18. allamakeecountyfair.org/

Muscatine County Fair: July 16-20, 101 N. Clay St., West Liberty. Lakeview, 7:30 p.m. July 17, $12.50 to $17.75; Clay Walker with Timothy Wayne, 7:30 p.m. July 19, $12.50 to $44. etix.com/ticket/v/21994/muscatine-county-fair

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