Here’s a breakdown of concerts coming to Iowa City this autumn, from Indie pop to sludge metal
Whether the velvety tones of classic tunes or inspirational bops strike your fancy, the upcoming Iowa City concert scene has something for everyone.
From reimagined folk country music to rising indie artists, here are the 10 most exciting shows coming to Iowa City this fall:
Ani DiFranco
When: 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10
Where: Englert Theatre, 221 E Washington St, Iowa City
Price: Tickets start at $65 on ci.ovationtix.com
Considered a feminist icon by many, Grammy winner Ani DiFranco grew up in the DIY scene before creating her own record label in the 1990s. DiFranco is more than just a folk singer. She has blended genres to create her own sound.
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The Haunt
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22
Where: Wildwood Smokehouse & Saloon, 4919 Walleye Dr SE, Iowa City
Price: Tickets start at $25 on eventbrite.com
The alternative rock group, composed of siblings Anastasia and Maximillian Haunt, combines classic and contemporary rock influences with their youthful and energic verve to the genre.
The Never Ending Fall
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23
Where: Gabes, 330 E Washington St., Iowa City
ITickets start at $16 on ticketweb.com
The new-age rock band formed in the fourth grade when they first started playing together. The group’s electric, feel-good melodies and undeniable energy radiate on and off the stage, allowing them to captivate an audience whether it is while performing their original songs or from their jingle for the hit TikTok series, “Can it Kirkland.”
Phix
When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27
Where: Gabe's, 330 E Washington St., Iowa City
Price: Tickets start at $20 on tixr.com
Phix, a singer and rapper from Texas, has amassed almost one million monthly Spotify listeners with his melodic choruses and colorful bar delivery. His recent release, “SEE YOU AGAIN,” is just the tip of the iceberg of what Phix can do as an artist.
Devendra Banhart
When: 7:30 p.m., Oct. 3
Where: Englert Theatre, 221 E Washington St, Iowa City
Price: Tickets start at $23 on ci.ovationtix.com
Devendra Banhart is an American-Venezuelan singer-songwriter and visual artist with 13 full-length albums and his new release, “Flying Wig,” coming Sept 22. Banhart has become a mainstay folk genre, blending classic guitar techniques with unexpected elements common to psychedelic music.
Tennis
When: 7 p.m. Oct. 19
Where: Englert Theatre, 221 E Washington St., Iowa City
Price: Tickets start at $57 on ci.ovationtix.com
With more than one million monthly listeners on Spotify, the wife-and-husband pop duo Tennis, pair pop melancholy with easy-listening soft rock instrumentals to create an effervescent sound. Meeting at the University of Colorado in 2008 and working in the Denver DIY music scene, the two haven’t looked back.
Southall
When: 7 p.m. Oct. 27
Where: Wildwood Smokehouse & Saloon, 4919 Walleye Dr. SE, Iowa City
Price: Tickets start at $20 on axs.com
Formerly known as “The Read Southall Band,” the group from Oklahoma remains the same. Only the name changed. With their debut project under the new band, Southall, to be released on Sept. 22, the band maintains the same southern charm with a slew of recent singles dropping over the summer, with gritty country rock sounds.
Mispo
When: 7 p.m. Oct. 29
Where: First Avenue Club, 1550 S 1st Ave., Iowa City
Price: Tickets start at $25 on first-avenue-club.square.site
Mipso is a North Carolina quartet formed in Chapel Hill known for combining a traditional string band format with various modern influences. Mispo continues reinventing the folk genre with their latest project, “Book of Fools.”
Indigo Girls
When: 7:30 p.m., Nov. 7
Where: Englert Theatre, 221 E Washington St., Iowa City
Price: Tickets start at $86.25 on ci.ovationtix.com
With their chart-topping song “Closer to Fine,” the Indigo Girls have sold millions of records since their debut album in 1987. The Grammy-winning group continues to tour, sharing their folk-rock sound, and was even featured in the blockbuster hit “Barbie.”
Kiss the Tiger
In the Twin Cities, there isn’t a club, block party, park amphitheater, or backyard that Kiss the Tiger hasn’t played and transformed with the band’s sophisticated lyrics and new wave punk beats, and now they are bringing their hardcore energy to Gabe's.
When: 8:30 p.m. Nov. 11
Where: Gabe's, 330 E Washington St., Iowa City
Price: Tickets start at $14 on tixr.com
Chat Pile
When: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17
Where: Gabe's, 330 E Washington St., Iowa City
Price: Tickets $20 on axs.com
Chat Pile’s debut full-length record God’s Country, released in 2022, took the world by storm, receiving universal critical acclaim, and secured numerous accolades, including Pitchfork’s Best New Music, and made several year-end lists, including Rolling Stone’s Best Metal Albums of the Year. The Oklahoma hard rock quartet tries to embody the anguish of the world falling apart in their sludge metal sound.
Infinite Dream Festival
When: Oct. 11 - Oct. 21
Where: Hancher Auditorium and Gabe's in Iowa City
A new, 10-day festival created by Iowa’s Hancher Auditorium and the Office of Performing Arts and Engagement begins Oct. 11 and runs through Oct. 21, highlighting a broad range of music, including orchestral, jazz, and alternative music, and features a performance installation at Hancher. Performers include The Sphinx Virtuosi, Kurt Vile & The Violators, Love in Exile, Makaya McCraven, Model/Actriz, and Lonnie Holley with Mourning [A] BLKstar. The full schedule can be found on Hancher's website.
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and business reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@presscitizen.com.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: When and where to catch must-see Iowa City concerts this fall
