Stephanie Catlett Record Release with Freegrass Trio
Jun
13
8:00 PM20:00

Stephanie Catlett Record Release with Freegrass Trio

https://stephaniecatlett.bandcamp.com/music

https://freegrasstrio.bandcamp.com/track/jingle-hell

Celebrate the release of Stephanie's new full-length album, Bright Day (out June 5!). Full band show with the lovely Freegrass Trio opening.

All ages, $7 cover
Doors at 8pm, show at 9pm

Come enjoy the best vegan food in the state (world?), have one of Trumpet Blossom's inventive cocktails, and hear some songs from the heart.

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FEaST presents: Masma Dream World
Jun
18
8:00 PM20:00

FEaST presents: Masma Dream World

https://littlevillagetickets.com/events/184648196/masma-dream-world

Masma Dream World invokes magic and healing as a form of worship to the universal Dark Mother.

Blending drone, bass, noise, percussion, and voice with the use of experimental electronics, field recordings, synthesizers and effects to  create devotional soundscapes for deep listening. Trained in butoh, Devi invites you to participate in cathartic ceremonies and sound-healing rituals.

The sophomore album was released in February 2025 to critical acclaim, including a coveted spot on the cover of The Wire Magazine. The album was born from an extensive period of time spent deepening her spirituality through meditation, Hindu mysticism, and Advaita Vedantic texts.

MDW ceremonies have been performed at international festivals such as Le Guess Who?, REWIRE, Transmission Waves Festival, DUNK, Raw Power Festival, and Afrofuturism Festival presented by Carnegie Hall, just to name a few.

Latest releases:

September 2025 -  "A grave in a lucky Site" EP

February 2025 - "Please Come To Me" Album
 

"music rooted in drones and ritual rhythms..like a visitor probing a dark cavern, occasionally knocking something loose that clatters noisily into the void" - New York Times

 

"a strange, discomfiting document of the singer-composer’s energy..tangles together traditional African sounds and rhythms with Western electronic styles ranging from ambient to harsh noise" - The FADER

 

"a divine, spectral source of unease..“mother” is the only lyric in the song, but it hits you like a paragraph, rummaging through your skin until it crawls" - Paste Magazine


“A matrix of lucid electronics.. On PLEASE COME TO ME, Masma Dream World plumbs the abyssal depths of the divine feminine, charting a path of devotion to the Mother Kali” - The Wire ‘Cover Story’

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Dan Bern // Sam Knutson
Jun
20
8:00 PM20:00

Dan Bern // Sam Knutson

8pm doors, 9pm show

$20, all ages

tickets: https://littlevillagetickets.com/events/185145841/dan-bern-sam-knutson

https://danbern.com/

https://samknutson.bandcamp.com/album/where-the-covers-deep

Dan Bern is a captivating live performer who has enthralled a loyal and ever-growing fan base in the US and Europe since the mid ‘90s. His songs range from deeply moving to wildly imaginative and hilarious, often within the same song.

He has been compared favorably to the great masters of songwriting, such as Guthrie, Dylan, Costello. Though he draws from the great American tradition of songwriting, there is something deeply unique and compelling that makes you want to get to know the man behind the songs.

He conjures incredibly specific imagery like in a painting. Though he may turn to cynicism and political satire at times, the beauty of his work is that he is able to imagine better worlds, revealing a deep capacity for empathy and optimism. Bern connects with his audiences skillfully and directly, weaving the topical and local in with the more universal themes. He has written for many films and TV shows, and has made more than thirty albums.

“If you ever read the name “Dan Bern” give yourself a treat and go see him. He’s been one of my favourite songwriters and musicians for the past 25 years. His songs are a mix of thought provoking lyrics and a wonderful dry wit. You’ll have a great night out!  —Roger Daltrey

"Sam Knutson is one of Iowa City’s most enigmatic songwriters. His music flows from rebellious to reverent, from deep honesty to the tallest tales; it includes songs about both internal and external weather, and songs about mistakes and youthful foolishness with dry, self-deprecating humor. His songs are wildly unique and yet comfortingly familiar. What they are is authentically Sam Knutson songs.

He fronted a really good band that did four CDs and got considerable critical acclaim, but the touring wore him down, as it does. He toured smaller folkie venues as a solo artist for a decade or so, and brought the Iowa Opera House concert series to life.

Sam started out as many indie singer/songwriters did in the 80s, with records on cassette, switching to CDs in the 90s. There are still CDs, but nowadays much of his music is offered digitally from his Bandcamp page. His catalog is rich and deep, and well worth exploring." 


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LITHIUM BATH // BURLESQUE & LIVE MUSIC // 21+
May
9
9:00 PM21:00

LITHIUM BATH // BURLESQUE & LIVE MUSIC // 21+

The Aquarius presents an alternative variety show featuring two musical artists and three burlesque acts. We are also raffling off prize baskets to raise money for a special event put on by Ox Cart in September.

The musical artists are Will Yager and scargazer. The burlesque acts are Peonie Persephone, Alys Belyn, and the Bawdy Babes.

This event is for guests 21 & over. Admission is $10, doors are at 8:30pm, show begins at 9pm

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Investigate Midwest: Not From Here, a Live Storytelling Event
Apr
15
5:30 PM17:30

Investigate Midwest: Not From Here, a Live Storytelling Event

(Tickets are required for this event. We will be closed to the public for this event.)

An evening of storytelling, interactive engagement, trivia, and a silent auction benefiting Investigate Midwest's organization.

You’re invited to join us on the evening of Wednesday, April 15th. Doors open at 5:30 PM, with the program beginning at 6:30 PM. Investigate Midwest will bring together a diverse group of storytellers for an evening centered on the theme "Not From Here." Through live storytelling, community engagement, and a silent auction benefiting Investigate Midwest’s investigative journalism and educational initiatives, the event aims to create a space where attendees can listen, reflect, and connect through stories of place, identity, and belonging.

The heart of the evening will be a live storytelling program featuring speakers sharing personal, off-script narratives. Storytellers will offer intimate, 10-minute stories exploring experiences of movement, transition, and what it means to navigate spaces and communities where one may feel like an outsider. The event welcomes a wide range of perspectives, encouraging meaningful conversation and shared understanding through the power of storytelling.

This event is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors and community partners. Their contributions help support Investigate Midwest’s mission of providing independent investigative journalism while creating opportunities for community storytelling and engagement. We are grateful for the organizations and individuals whose support helps bring this event to life.

Thank you to our sponsors:

Alan Swanson -Blank and McCune Realty

University of Iowa School of Journalism

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The Last Time I Saw Caleigh presented by Noctis Theatre
Apr
13
4:00 PM16:00

The Last Time I Saw Caleigh presented by Noctis Theatre

New addition to the April calendar! We're proud to host a performance of this play, touring the US, on Monday April 13 at 4:30pm.
From @noctis.theatre.company The Last Time I Saw Caileigh is "a dark, funny and heartfelt one-act play that explores non-binary erasure through the lens of an unsolved mystery."
Admission to this special event is free and donations to the theater company are encouraged. Trumpet Blossom will match the final amount raised and donate it to United Action for Youth and their LGBTQ+ programs.
Doors will open at 4pm and the show lasts about 75 minutes. Our bar will be open for beverage purchases before and after the show but our kitchen will not be open. More info about the show can be found at the link in our bio and by visiting noctisheatre.com
Seating is limited so if you plan to attend, please RSVP via email trumpetblossom@gmail.com or DM me here :)
A special thanks to @mirandasimonne for bringing this to town 💗

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14th Anniversary Party!!
Apr
11
11:00 AM11:00

14th Anniversary Party!!

Performances by Brian Johannesen, Jordan Sellergren, RAW SPACE, Pete Balestrieri, Elly Hoffmaier, and HVOG

Less than one week until our 14th Anniversary Party! Saturday April 11 we celebrate and we hope you can join us!
We'll feature a special menu highlighting some favorites from over the years and a few new dishes too.
We're looking forward to so many friends playing music on our stage starting at 5:30pm: @brianjohannesen @jsellergren @raw_space @petebalestrieri @penny.peach.jr @unsatisfyingsentiment
The show is free and open to all; we'll be serving food 11am-8:30pm and the bar will remain open until 11:30pm. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the support. I truly couldn't do this without the love from the community and the dozens of amazing and generous folks I've worked with since before day one. Come party with us!
And check out that pic of the nearly-finished (and much smaller back then) stage from almost exactly 14 years ago, custom-built by @flatblackstudios & friends.
I never could have imagined the magic that thousands of talented musicians and artists would so graciously share on that stage. I'm forever indebted to everyone who booked, organized, worked, and played shows here, especially our deeply missed and dearest friend Chris of @feed_me_weird_things_iowa_city. I'm trying to keep it nice & weird for him.
So thanks for all the laughs & sometimes all the tears and all the food & beers & hugs & love. You're the best. Come hang soon!

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Caroline Davis Solo with Gabi Vanek
Apr
1
8:00 PM20:00

Caroline Davis Solo with Gabi Vanek

tickets: https://littlevillagetickets.com/events/182744279/caroline-davis-with-gabi-vanek

$15 GA / $10 student (with ID)

$20 GA/student for this show AND Derek Monypeny show March 30

8pm doors / 8:30pm music

Caroline Davis bio:

Caroline Davis’s dreams for playing music come from a desire to connect and a wish for listeners to expand their ears, minds, and hearts. Her Swedish-British family moved from Singapore to the US around age 6, where she enjoyed R&B, full of horns that lured her to choose the saxophone. Caroline’s musical expression covers a wide range of styles. She has released eight of her own albums and is a collaborater on countless others. She has worked with Lee Konitz, John Zorn, Angelica Sanchez, The Femme Jam, Miles Okazaki, Nicole Mitchell, Rajna Swaminathan, and Matt Mitchell. Caroline has been a resident fellow of MacDowell, The Jazz Gallery, The Rockefeller Estate, Mutual Mentorship for Musicians, UCross, and Civitella Ranieri. She is a recipient of Guggenheim Foundation, Jerome Hill, Chamber Music America, Foundation for Contemporary Arts, The Jazz Gallery, and NYFA fellowships, and the winner of Downbeat Critic’s Poll Alto-Saxophone Rising Star Award. Her teaching practice centers around gender studies in jazz at The New School and a private saxophone studio at Manhattan School of Music. Caroline is an active advocate for gender equity (This Is A Movement) and current/formerly incarcerated people (Justice for Keith LaMar, Keys Beats Bars, Creatives Beyond Incarceration).

https://carolinedavismusic.bandcamp.com/album/fallows

Gabi Vanek bio:

Described as making “shadowy music that prickles on your skin” and “unafraid to be anything at all”, Gabi Vanek is a bassoonist who exists in a world of harsh noise and drone/doom. She’s performed as both an ensemble member and soloist at small and large festivals such as the Darmstädter Internationale Ferienkurse, International Double Reed Society, Oh My Ears, and exhibited at the Osaka University of the Arts Electro-Acoustic Music Festival. More likely, you’ll find her making noises in more “unconventional” spaces, like your local dive bar.

https://netochkanezvanova.bandcamp.com/


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Derek Monypeny & Kelby Clark with Dan Padley
Mar
30
7:00 PM19:00

Derek Monypeny & Kelby Clark with Dan Padley

tickets: https://littlevillagetickets.com/events/182745503/derek-monypeny-kelby-clark-with-dan-padley

$15 GA / $10 student (with ID)

7pm doors, 7:30pm show

$20 GA/student for this show AND Caroline Davis show April 1

Derek Monypeny Bio:

Born in the Arizona desert, a veteran of multiple explorations into the Sahara desert via Morocco and Western Sahara, and now a resident of the Mojave, Derek Monypeny sees his musical mission as adding to and expanding on what he calls the "desert continuum;" the psychedelic sirocco swirl of desert-based stringed instruments played with utter abandon by musicians the world over.
Derek uses a variety of instruments to achieve these ends. In addition to guitar, he has recorded an album of solo oud recordings (Don't Bring Me Down, Bruce) and is currently performing and recording using the 15-string bulbul tarang (Indian electric banjo).
Derek is a former member of the bands Oaxacan (Oakland, CA), ALTO (Portland, OR), and Sir Richard Bishop's Freak Of Araby Ensemble.  He has collaborated and toured with artists such as Bill Orcutt, Jozef van Wissem, Mike Watt, Eva Aguila,  Ak'chamel, and many others. 

https://derekmonypeny.bandcamp.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sg9gOmln3s&t=304s

Kelby Clark Bio:

Kelby Clark is a Los Angeles-based banjo player originally hailing from South Georgia. He is inspired by the old-time music of his home state as well as drone, free improvisation, raga, and many other forms of both experimental and traditional music from around the world. Clark has released records and tapes on labels such as Tentative Power, Working Man Lay Down, Garden Portal, Aural Canyon, and Vaagner. He has also collaborated with other artists including Donald Miller (Borbetomagus), Joseph Allred, Jeremiah M. Carter, Sarah Viviana Valdez, Hal Lambert, and Mitchell Mobley. His most recent solo LP titled Language of the Torch was released in January of 2025.

"The way Clark attacks his instrument, allowing songs to unspool in tumbling, organized chaos is magnetic and feels distinctly his own" - The Quietus

https://kelbyclark.bandcamp.com/

Dan Padley Bio:

Dan Padley is a guitarist/composer based out of Iowa City, IA. Since studying music at the University of Iowa, Dan has performed with many artists including Deb Talan, Wayne Newton, Elizabeth Moen, River Glen, Dana T, Blake Shaw, comedian Jimmy Pardo, and many more. Dan has released several albums and EPs, including his most recent full length 'Crumbs, part II'.

https://danpadley.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-the-trumpet-blossom-again



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ICVZ presents: France Rreally // Mr. Mysterease with Noah Smith // Stnic // Clare Kinkaid // Eli Garcia & Kufre Ituk
Feb
11
8:00 PM20:00
KORY REEDER / HVOG / EUDAE DUO
Jan
29
7:30 PM19:30

KORY REEDER / HVOG / EUDAE DUO

8:30pm music

$10, all ages

kitchen closes at 8pm, bar remains open for the show

https://koryreeder.bandcamp.com/

Kory Reeder, described as “one of the most captivating composers in modern classical music” (Dallas Observer), is an American composer and performer whose music is often introspective and atmospheric, investigating ideas of objectivity, place, immediacy, situation, and interaction with pieces ranging from symphonic works to text scores and computer-assisted improvisations. Kory runs/operates Sawyer Editions, a small-batch label specializing in contemporary, experimental, and improvised music, especially of new and unreleased artists and the Sawyer Spaces imprint focusing on field recordings and soundscape composition. https://www.koryreeder.com/

HVOG, aka Sarahann Kolder, is a solo semi-improvised vocal and pre-recorded audio project. Lyrics are diaristic and poetic with delivery alternating meditative and raw, a live experiment in articulation and soundscape that provokes states of presence and exaltation.

A long-time collaboration between saxophonist Charlotte Leung and composer-percussionist Levi Raleigh Brown, EudaeDuo specializes in both free improvisation and the performance of new compositions for their instruments. Their improvisations are eclectic and highly performative, often drawing inspiration from forms and images found in daily life.

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WEEDGHOST WITH ION ALEXAKIS
Dec
12
8:30 PM20:30

WEEDGHOST WITH ION ALEXAKIS

8:30pm doors // 9pm music

$10 all ages

For two decades now, the duo of Weedghost has combined acoustic instrumentation with layers of electronic noise to channel the droning gospel from the depths of the hills themselves. Lush beds of drone loops intermingle with glacial shards to create a blissed out ambient wash as old as time itself.

Ion Alexakis focuses on the resilience of the working class through the Guthrie lens and performs with gutteral rawness reflective of the overwhelming burdens we have to endure through the unpredictables in life.

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Mission Creek Presents: Brìghde Chaimbeul w. Special Guests (TBD)
Nov
21
8:00 PM20:00

Mission Creek Presents: Brìghde Chaimbeul w. Special Guests (TBD)

8pm doors $20 GA / $10 student

tickets: https://littlevillagetickets.com/events/169823356/mission-creek-presents-brghde-chaimbeul-w-special-guests-tbd

Haunting, entrancing, breathtaking, beautiful – this open-eared, understatedly virtuosic performer is transforming and creating new definitions for Scottish folk in the 21st century.

Brìghde Chaimbeul is a leading purveyor of celtic experimentalism and a master of the Scottish smallpipes – the bellows-blown, mellower and more emotive cousin to the famous Highland bagpipes – and she’s taken them to the global stage.

A native Gaelic speaker from the Isle of Skye, Brìghde roots her music in her language and culture. She rose to prominence as a prodigy of traditional music, but has since begun a journey to take the smallpipes into uncharted territory. She has devised a completely unique way of arranging for pipe music that emphasises the rich textural drones of the instrument; the constancy of
sound that creates a trance-like atmosphere, played with enticing virtuosic liquidity.

She draws inspiration from the world of interconnected piping traditions, and her most recent album brings in influence from ambient, avant garde and electronic music. One can talk about Brìghde’s awards (BBC Young Folk Award; BBC Horizons Award; SAY Award nominee) and her wide array of collaborators (Caroline Polachek; Colin Stetson; Gruff Rhys; Aidan O'Rourke...) but after it all, her music speaks for itself.

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