Seattle based drone metal band sunn O))) performed at Iowa City’s Englert Theater last week, April 18th.
During the new Stop/Time Festival on April 4th, I had the pleasure of attending a reading by acclaimed poet Danez Smith at the Englert Theatre.
Continuing to find inspiration in Iowa City’s arts community. KRUI’s Tarik took a little day trip to Hancher’s new Stop/Time Festival, losing himself in two incredible performances from Evicshen and Sharp Pins.
Logan Melia sits down with Eve 6 at Innings Festival in Tempe, Arizona. Eve 6 took some time after their slot to discuss their early days playing gigs at small cafes all the way to a racetrack.
Luke Combs came to Ames, Iowa with his My Kinda Saturday Night Tour on April 11th, 2026
After listening to a lot of jazz over the past week, culminating in an amazing performance by renowned trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and the PUBLIQuartet last Friday at the Stop/Time Festival presented by Hancher Auditorium, I’ve come to the conclusion that most jazz isn’t meant for an audience at all.
billy woods – Aethiopes On Aethiopes, billy woods reestablishes his strengths as a storyteller, with help from producer Preservation’s experimentally jazzy beats. By now, woods has cemented himself as one of hip hop’s greatest writers, and his brooding yet clever introspection sounds especially powerful over Preservation’s musical backdropping. Samples of pianos will twinkle across some tracks, and pound discordantly on others, while electric guitars ring and horns blow. By the time the harmonica enters the equation, the beats here are unparalleled. It is an enveloping atmosphere completed by excellent percussion, which moves between hand drums, full kits, and shuffling jangles … Continued
While some Iowa City locals may recognize Charlie Cacciatore from behind the counter of The Record Collector, they are also the face of indie rock act Good Morning Midnight who played at the Englert on April 8th as part of Mission Creek Festival.
Tempers puts on a great show, inspiring chill dance moves and moments of high transcendence.
Tré Burt gives listeners the authentic folk blues the way it was meant to be played. He brings a poetic flair and passion to his storytelling that makes him unique in contemporary alt-country and indie folk.
In a sea of indie folk songwriters, Heynderickx’ intricate guitar and emotionally raw vocal performances make her stand out.
KRUI music staff’s March picks!
Good Morning Midnight’s sound is a confluence of styles set off by Cacciatore’s own songwriting strengths.
Like much of the band’s music its vocals are sung in French, but the guitar melodies and laidback vocals are so infectious that an English-speaking listenership won’t find the language barrier much of an issue. (image via Bonsound)
This New York-based synthpop band, made up of Jasmine Golestaneh and Eddie Cooper, is touring on the back of their fourth full-length album, New Meaning.
KRUI Music Staff’s picks for February.
Earl Sweatshirt – SICK! On the newest album from Earl Sweatshirt, the rapper continues his streak of thoughtful and melancholic bars–this time with a slightly more approachable selection of beats, supplied by the likes of The Alchemist and Black Noi$e. Avant jazz is still a key piece of the production, though some of the pianos here have a midi sheen to them, and some of the trap-influenced drum tracks will be familiar to fans of contemporary hip hop. One such track featuring this style of production is “2010”, with a bright, yet off-kilter synth loop. Here, as with many spots … Continued
