Upcoming Events
Stained Glass Panels by Retta Hentschel
Dates: Wednesday, March 03 - Wednesday, March 31
Location: Glassando
Address: 201 S. Clinton St.
Glassando hosts work by stained glass artist Retta Hentschel. Retta uses Depression glass pieces as unique focal points for her modern stained glass panels. Retta teaches music and claims that the musical staff and phrases of musical notation influence her work. Other influences include her grandmother who was a painter. Retta displays her work in galleries across Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana.
Manifestations in 3 Dimensions: John Coyne, David Luck & Friends
Dates: Friday, March 05 - Friday, April 16
Location: Chait Galleries Downtown
Address: 218 E. Washington St.
“Manifestations” is a special exhibit by some of the area’s finest sculptors including the work of David Luck and John Coyne.
Luck combines elements from the past present and future to create his eye catching metal wall sculptures. Executing hammer-forming techniques, these pieces read like a large metal tablet of hieroglyphics, which are both tactile and contemporary.
Coyne’s cast metal sculptures possess imagery that conveys a story. Influenced with his travels to the Western Himalayas and Nicaragua, Eastern Religions, and Greek Mythology, Coyne’s symbolic pieces are layered with inner meaning.
Other artists in the exhibit include Chris Burd, Patricia Knox, Steve Maxon, Doris Park, DD Sunner, Aaron Sinift, Reagan Yoder, Justine Zimmer, Adam Wohlwend, Rodney Hanson, Michael Sinclair, Michael Ebeling, and Casey Westbrook.
You don’t want to miss this extraordinary exhibition of some of the area’s most prominent three-dimensional sculptors, including a special exhibit of the artists’ mentor and instructor, Julius Schmidt.
Free and open to the public. The Chait Galleries Downtown: Monday- Friday 11-6, Saturday 10-5, and Sunday by chance or appointment.
Gaelic Storm
Date: Friday, March 19
Time: 8:00 pm
Location: The Englert Theatre
Address: 221 E. Washington St.
It has now been more than a decade since Gaelic Storm's career lifted off with their appearance in the blockbuster film Titanic. Since their big-screen debut 10 years ago, the band's fan base continues to multiply with each new album, turning the one-time-pub-band into one of the premier touring acts in the Celtic/World music genre. Gaelic Storm's compelling originals and fresh arrangements steeped in Celtic traditional melody combined with their unique blend of world rhythms continue to broaden the musical horizons of the Celtic music genre creating new standards for generations to come. Highlights from their decade-spanning career include seven Billboard Chart topping albums, a DVD, a full-length concert film featured on HD.net in 2007-2008, song placement on two EA Sports Games, a 2008 Hallmark greeting card featuring their song "Kiss Me I'm Irish", countless television and radio appearances, and of course, an appearance in James Cameron's Titanic. Gaelic Storm has sold out hundreds of theatres and performing arts centers and has now played to audiences totaling in the millions.
Gaelic Storm released their 7th album What's the Rumpus? (Lost Again Records) in July 2008 with a stellar debut at #1 on the Billboard World Album Chart, #1 on the iTunes World Album Chart and #5 on the Billboard Internet Album Chart. Inspired by the music that drives their loyal fan base, What's the Rumpus? is a wild party of an album, full of colorful characters and outrageous stories, flavored with Gaelic Storm's signature acoustic sound that gets you dancing and never lets you go. "I think this is some of the best writing we have ever done, everything seemed to come together perfectly for this cd," says Steve Twigger, "...it is the culmination of a great deal of hard work and a barrel of good times." From the upbeat opening title track to the final cut, "The Night I Punched Russell Crowe" (a true story involving singer Patrick Murphy), the music captures the contagious energy of the band's carefree attitude and infectious live performances. With instruments ranging from African drums, Irish bagpipes and Celtic fiddle to trombones and Cajun-style accordions, WTR is a three-ring circus of acrobatic songs, swirling tunes and galloping rhythms. Steve Twigger produced the project with co-production by drummer Ryan Lacey and Pat Manske, and additional production by Patrick Murphy. Returning to The Zone studio in Austin TX where the band recorded their previous release Bring Yer Wellies, Gaelic Storm also enlisted the help of a few select Austin locals including Lloyd Maines and 1960's psychedelic performer, Arthur Brown, to round out their eclectic Celtic sound. To quote Patrick Murphy, "We have so much fun together as a band, we managed to capture some of the good times we have together on this recording."
Consistently touring over 125 dates per year, Gaelic Storm routinely breaks attendance and merchandise sales records, headlining the world's largest Celtic festivals as well as mainstream events such as The Rock Boat, Ships N Dips and the Cayamo Songwriter's Cruise alongside acts such as Gavin DeGraw, The Barenaked Ladies, Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett. Remarkably, the band has headlined the world's largest Irish Festival, Milwaukee Irish Fest, for 6 straight years, playing to crowds of 15,000 per performance and breaking the festival's policy of not inviting artists to perform in consecutive years. In June 2008, Gaelic Storm expanded their touring to include Australia, kicking off their tour at the National Celtic Festival outside Melbourne.
Since their eponymous first album reached #5 on Billboard's World Music Chart in 1998, Gaelic Storm continues to consistently climb to the top of the Billboard Charts. The band's 2006 release Bring Yer Wellies (Lost Again Records) debuted at #2 on the Billboard World Chart, #16 on the Internet Sales Chart and #31 on the Independent Album Chart. Their previous five albums have all charted high on the Billboard World Music Chart, including reaching the #2 position on additional occasions.
Gaelic Storm recorded a very special version of "Scalliwag", an original song off Bring Yer Wellies, for two EA Games Sims video games. All the words were translated into "Simlish" (the official language of
the Sims video game world) and then re-sung in "Simlish" by the band. The song appears in both "EA Sports - The Sims2 Castaway" and "EA Sports - The Sims2 Bon Voyage" video games.
In 2008, Hallmark released a special "soundcard" greeting card for St. Patrick's Day featuring the master recording of the original Gaelic Storm song "Kiss Me I'm Irish" from their album Bring Yer Wellies. The greeting card was released throughout the US and the UK.
On St. Patrick's Day, 1996, Patrick Murphy of Cork City, Ireland (vocals, piano, accordion, spoons, harmonica) officially joined forces with Steve Twigger of Coventry, England (vocals, guitar, mandolin, bouzouki), at O'Brien's pub in Santa Monica, California. In 1997, Gaelic Storm was catapulted out of their formative pub haunts by an appearance in the blockbuster film Titanic. Cast as the "party band" in the steerage scene, they landed the part while still drinking pints and playing weekly at O'Brien's. In 2003, Ryan Lacey (drums and world percussion) became a member of Gaelic Storm. From Pasadena CA, Lacey graduated twice from the Los Angeles Music Academy; once for hands and once for sticks. Pete Purvis of Merrickville, Ontario (uilleann pipes, tin whistle, deger pipes and highland pipes) joined the group in 2004. A Grade 1 piper, Purvis previously toured with award winning pipe bands including the Braemar Pipe Band and performed at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The newest member of the band, Jessie Burns (fiddle), originally hails from Suffolk England and now lives in Colorado. Prior to Gaelic Storm, Jessie played with Gregory Alan Isakov and The Freight, as well as David Ford in England.
Make Glass Beads II
Date: Saturday, March 20
Time: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Location: Dawn's Hide & Bead Away
Address: 220 E. Washington St.
Continue to explore the art of lampworking with a torch and glass rods. In this class, you will learn more techniques for manipulating color, making the perfect dot, and shaping with a goal of making a variety of more complicated shapes, including a hollow bead. Your beads will be annealed overnight at the store. Instructor: Wendy Ford.
Prerequisite: Flamework I or flamework studio experience must be demonstrated.
Register in advance for $80 which includes all instruction and materials by calling 338-1566.
Wire Wrapped Bracelet
Date: Sunday, March 21
Time: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Location: Dawn's Hide & Bead Away
Address: 220 E. Washington St.
Learn wire-wrapping techniques using copper wire. Participants will make a very smart looking undulating bracelet. No previous experience is necessary. New Guest Instructor: Lonna Keller.
Register in advance for $65 which includes all materials and instruction by calling 338-1566.
History of the World - Part 1
Date: Sunday, March 21
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: The Englert Theatre
Address: 221 E. Washington St.
Mel Brooks's comic genius is unleashed in spades in this episodic spoof of history's seminal moments (narrated by Orson Welles), which begins with a brilliant send-up of the cinematic classic 2001: A Space Odyssey. Brooks goes on to lampoon the Stone Age, the Roman Empire, the Spanish Inquisition and ends with a clever takeoff on the French Revolution. The all-star-cast includes Gregory Hines, Madeleine Kahn, Dom DeLuise and Harvey Korman.
No Advance Ticketing - $5 at the door
Are You My Mother?
Date: Wednesday, March 24
Time: 10:00 am
Location: The Englert Theatre
Address: 221 E. Washington St.
At long last, Baby Bird emerges from her shell and expects to be greeted by her mother's song. But her mother is not there. Where is she? Why isn't she home? With the help of Dog, Cat, and Hen, Baby Bird sets out in search of Mother Bird in this colorful musical adventure based on P.D. Eastman’s whimsical and well-loved picture book.
For school groups only.
Please contact the box office manager for more information: info@englert.org or (319) 688-2653 x108
Bob & Tom Comedy All-Stars
Date: Friday, March 26
Time: 7:30 pm
Location: The Englert Theatre
Address: 221 E. Washington St.
Many of the best comedians in North America appear daily on The Bob & Tom Radio Show. A number of these comedians are headliners and often have TV credentials ranging from Comedy Central to Late Night with David Letterman. The Canadian Mist Bob & Tom Comedy All-Stars Tour was created to bring a rotating ensemble of these great headline comedians to single stages across America.
*This performance contains mature content.
Tickets are $32.50
Highlander
Date: Sunday, March 28
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: The Englert Theatre
Address: 221 E. Washington St.
Director Russell Mulcahy's film became a paragon of modern action fantasy, giving rise to legions of warrior fans who follow the story of Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert), one of the few surviving members of a clan of immortals who've been battling for centuries. The evil Kurgan (Clancy Brown) wants to kill a forlorn but determined Connor for good in modern-day New York, but an immortal mentor (Sean Connery) provides help in flashbacks.
No Advance Ticketing - $5 at the door
Booker T
Date: Wednesday, March 31
Time: 8:00 pm
Location: The Englert Theatre
Address: 221 E. Washington St.
With Special Guest JJ Grey. Hammond B3 alchemist Booker T Jones is one America's most prolific, distinguished and instantly recognizable musical forces. With his Memphis Group (the MGs) cohorts, Jones laid out the blueprint for the fabled Stax sound and reaped his own rewards with a string of hits. Along the way, he's also scored numerous films and is a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Part of the 2010 Mission Creek Festival.
Advance tickets - $26
Day of Show - $29
Greg Brown
Date: Saturday, April 03
Time: 8:00 pm
Location: The Englert Theatre
Address: 221 E. Washington St.
Greg Brown's songwriting has been lauded by many, and his songs have been performed by Willie Nelson, Carlos Santana, Michael Johnson, Shawn Colvin, and Mary Chapin Carpenter. He has also recorded more than a dozen albums and has emerged as one of Iowa's most well-loved songwriters.
(Part of the Mission Creek Festival)
www.englert.org
Arabesque Music Ensemble
Date: Sunday, April 04
Time: 6:00 pm
Location: The Englert Theatre
Address: 221 E. Washington St.
The Arab Student Association presents the world renown Arabesque Music Ensemble comprised of six professionally trained musicians. This performance will bring a taste of classical Middle Eastern music to Iowa.They have been quoted as "keeping a tradition alive", "A bold historical retrieval", and with "Considerable musical versatility, alternating lush ensemble playing with bursts of individual improvisation" by the Chicago Times, The Seattle Times, and the Los Angeles Times respectively. These performers have been performing with legendary Middle Eastern singers such as Um-Kalthoum and Fairuz and some members have books written about them. The musicians are Syrian cellist Kinan Abou-Afach, Syrian vocalist Aboud Agha, Moroccan Hicham Chami playing the qanun, Violin virtuoso Hanna Khoury, Syrian vocalist Youssef Kassab playing ‘ud, percussionist Michel Merhej, Syrian guitarist and vocalist Kareem Roustom. A once in a lifetime opportunity to experience middle eastern art in the form of music.
A once in a lifetime opportunity to experience middle eastern art in the form of music. Please visit their website at www.arabesquemusicensemble.com and the University of Iowa Arab Student Association at www.uiowa.edu/~asa
We hope to see you all there!
Tickets are $20 General Admission
$15 Students (Student ID required)







