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Excitement Builds for the 2024 Downtown Block Party: An Evening of Free Live Music & Entertainment

Two Block Party Stages Featuring Bad Bad Hats, Studio 13 Drag Show, Taylor Swift Music Bingo, & More
SAVE $5 AND PRE-PURCHASE EVENT CUP & WRISTBAND

(Iowa City, IA) – June 12, 2024 – The Iowa City Downtown District announced Tuesday the lineup of live music and entertainment for the 7th Annual Downtown Block Party. With two stages sponsored by iBev, and even more amazing performances, attendees will be dancing, singing, and having a blast all night long. The biggest event of the summer returns next Saturday, June 22nd from 4:00 – 11:00 p.m. with blocks of free programming for the community to enjoy.

Curated by The Englert Theatre, the Downtown Block Party’s Main Stage is located on the Pedestrian Mall’s Weatherdance Fountain Stage with a stellar lineup. The Englert Theatre’s Senior Programming Manager Brian Johannesen said, “The Englert is very excited to team up with the Downtown Block Party for another year, bringing some of the best music from the Midwest to the Pedmall stage! Bad Bad Hats are Midwestern indie rock royalty, hailing from the Twin Cities, bringing an infectious brand of danceable rock that will go very well with a go-cup in your hand. Wave Cage and Alyx Rush represent two of the brightest Iowa City stars, each bringing their own unique sound to our scene. Come get amazed by the talent we have in this town and celebrate what it means to live in the Greatest Small City for the Arts!”

Englert Main Stage – Sponsored by iBev

  • 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. | Alyx Rush: Experience the alluring R&B/pop sound of Alyx Rush, a rising star from the Midwest. His captivating live performances and unique blend of genres will have you swooning and swaying all at once.
  • 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. | Wave Cage: Dive into the genre-blending magic of Wave Cage, combining jazz, electronic, and funk sensibilities for a live experience that challenges the ear and invites you to reimagine jazz and improvised music.
  • 8:00 – 9:30 p.m. | Bad Bad Hats: Get ready to rock with Bad Bad Hats, the indie rock band from Minneapolis known for their energetic performances and catchy tunes. They’ve toured with big names and are sure to leave you wanting more.

The Iowa Avenue Stage, located in front of Scout’s Honor, Camp, and Elrays Live & Dive, has a full schedule of crowd-favorite performances. The stage will be close to a pop-up of Dubuque Street restaurants serving quick grab-and-go items perfect for attendees to take around to any of the shows.

Iowa Avenue Stage – Sponsored by iBev

Attendees can catch more free live music in front of Gabe’s with a performance from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m with local favorites, The Beeker Brothers, and the first Battle of the Bands at the Alley Cat from 8:00 – 11:00 p.m. There will also be a Tap Company Street Performance with Nolte Academy near the Iowa City Public Library. The full schedule and programming can be seen on the Downtown Block Party website.

“Every year, the Downtown Block Party brings together our community in a celebration of music, dance, and all-around fun. This year’s lineup is one of our best yet, with something for everyone to enjoy,” said Katie Carpenter, Director of Special Events for the Iowa City Downtown District. “We are excited to welcome everyone downtown for summer’s biggest event and can’t wait to see the streets filled with joy and excitement.”

All programming at the Downtown Block Party is free and open to the public. A ticket to the event is only required if you plan on consuming alcohol. In keeping with tradition, the ticket for the event will be a 2024 Downtown Block Party cup, sponsored by RDG Planning & Design, and an event wristband sponsored by Thompson & Co. Salon Parlor.

Event cups and wristbands are available now to pre-purchase online for only $10. Tickets will increase to $15 at the event and will be available to purchase at any of the cup stations throughout the festival. This is a rain-or-shine event and there will be no ticket refunds.

Only those with the official event cup and wristband will be allowed to consume wine and beer with the Block Party cup on the streets. Downtown restaurants and bars will be open with special offers. Dubuque Steet will be open for attendees to visit the establishments along the block and walk through to access more activities. Signage and maps will help direct attendees through the construction.

The 2024 Downtown Block Party is made possible by the support of this year’s sponsors: iBev, GreenState Credit Union, Hills Bank, Thompson & Co. Salon Parlor, Chase Bank, ImOn Communications, RDG Planning & Design, Raising Cane’s, and McGrath Toyota of Iowa City. Their commitment helps to ensure that this event remains a highlight of Iowa City’s summer programming.

Join us on June 22nd as we come together to celebrate community, soak up summer, and experience Downtown Iowa City from the streets. For more information, visit the event page on www.downtowniowacity.com.