Iowa punks BOOTCAMP record release show exemplified the huge impact that even small music communities can bring.
Amidst 2025’s exciting alternative rock scene, Irish trio NewDad released their second studio album on September 19, Altar. Expanding on punk and soft rock elements from their first studio album Madra, the band also pulls from shoegaze with the explosive, distorted guitars and airy vocals that build the new record’s atmosphere.
Bluff Street, a new band from Cedar Falls is bringing their heartfelt indie rock and to Iowa City, only at the James this Saturday.
Iona Zajac made her way across the pond from Glasgow with The Pogues to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their record “Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash”. We discussed touring with this historic band, the best music coming out of Ireland, and her debut album “Bang” releasing this November.
It is crucial to preface this article with a warning. Without fail, every single set that I saw during ICSF left me in tears. Both Sunny War and Courtney Andrews’ ability to be completely and wholly open in their art showed in every single second of their performances.
Cartels have increasingly looked to social media to move counterfeit medications made to resemble authentic prescriptions, often laced with deadly doses of fentanyl.
Origami Angel’s most recent album “Feeling Not Found” affirms their chops as emo, pop-punk stars and offers some jams for the internet age.
Chicago band Any Two Words’ debut album “Double Vision” tugs at the main themes of the genre of Midwest Emo. Its’ 13 song run is a mass of casual poetry.
Based on Rachel Yoder’s book of the same name, “Nightbitch” has been making its rounds at film festivals ahead of its December 2024 theatrical release.
The student group Young Americans for Freedom once again were allowed by the university to host another transphobic speaker at the Iowa Memorial Union. The lecture was met with protests outside by students and those in the Iowa City community who showed up to support trans people.
Five standout films from Filmscene’s annual Refocus Film Festival, with this year’s theme focusing on adaptation.
Seattle based dance punk band Zookraught talks about their new album “VIDA VIOLET”, touring, and the importance of the DIY community in punk.
On their sophomore album, indie pop duo Magdalena Bay manages to deliver an instant classic that showcases a progressive and genre-blending interpolation of pop music. This release cycle also featured a special performance at the University of Iowa.
Feed Me Weird Things, along with the help of the greater Iowa City community, bring forth this year’s FEaST festival from October 30th to November 2nd at The James Theater. The four nights and eight artists serve a variety of strange and esoteric palette of sounds.
Philadelphia band Her New Knife’s new EP “chrome is lullaby” continues their blasted out odyssey as standard bearers of modern shoegaze.
“swanlike” from They Are Gutting a Body of Water rediscovers old demo tracks put up on their SoundCloud over the last few years. All of them perfect for reflecting on the state of things in the endless drift.
