The Englert Theatre will host the inaugural Iowa City Songwriters Festival, headlined by Jeff Tweedy and Joy Oladokun, this weekend from September 4-6. Sprawling across many of Iowa City’s favorite venues, this town wide event is bound to be memorable.
Arthur Russell: Iowa Native and Musical Pioneer
Today marks six years since the posthumous release of musician and composer Arthur Russell’s album, “Iowa Dream.” Although cellist, avant-garde composer, and disco producer Arthur Russell received little to no commercial success during his lifetime, he left a lasting impression on New York City’s downtown music scene throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Before succumbing to an AIDS-related illness in 1992, he released several underground club tracks that went on to achieve cult status, while leaving behind a vast collection of unreleased recordings and compositions. To commemorate the release of “Iowa Dream,” I chose to reflect on the late artist’s musical … Continued
