Music

Patti Smith stoked the spirit of punk music, pulling out soul and guts and complexity and landscape and language. As part of “Infinite Dream,” Smith will read from her acclaimed poetry at The Englert Theatre (Friday, September 27) and perform with her band (Saturday, September 28) at Hancher Auditorium.

A new collaboration connecting two top-flight musicians. 

Ndegeocello and her funky, bluesy, soulful, hip-hop inflected band delve deeply into the author’s message and spirit in his centenary.

John Moreland's musical elixir of Americana and alt-country is spiced with flavors of country, the blues, and rock-n-roll. With lyrics at once introspective and universal, Moreland invites everyone to join him as he pursues elusive answers to timeless questions.

Schick reflects on the rich history of contemporary music at the University of Iowa. Alongside this rumination, he'll play virtuosic solo percussion pieces that received early and important performances here in Iowa City. 

Hancher welcomes back our entire community for a free music festival-style event on our front lawn. The event opens with Reyna Tropica and ends with Cory Wong. Dawes is the headliner for this event.

Cyrille Aimée has perfected the intermingling of a host of traditions and styles—including the irrepressible dance rhythms of her mother’s Caribbean heritage, the vibrant and varied sounds of New Orleans and New York, the immediacy of pop music, and the accessible sophistication of jazz.

Leyla McCalla’s music is a potent amalgam of history and mastery. Her music balances the heavy and the light and draws from sources across the African diaspora—including Afrobeat, Ethiopian modalities, Brazilian Tropicalismo, American blues, and Haitian folk music.

A Mexican-American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist sings of love, heartbreak, and rising rents. As La Doña, San Francisco-born Cecilia Cassandra Peña-Govea composes songs that explore radical brown femininity and blend the sounds of the Caribbean, reggaeton, and hip-hop.