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Writer's pictureIowa Live Music

Uptown Friday Nights 2018

The Cedar Rapids JAYCEE's announce the line-up for the 2018 season!

Uptown Friday Nights happens every Friday at McGrath Amphitheatre May-Aug

Attendee's must be 21+ w/ ID Admission is only $5 each week!


Uptown Friday nights 2018 Schedule

"Special" Post Season Celebration!

September 14 w/ Copperhead Creek + 8 Seconds

The Cedar Rapids Jaycees are excited to announce an added special event at Uptown Friday Nights. On Friday, September 14th, Uptown Friday Nights will present not one, but TWO local bands at the McGrath Amphitheatre in celebration of Uptown Friday Nights 30th anniversary in Cedar Rapids.

8:00PM - 8 Seconds Band

Gates open at 5:30pm. Live music until 10pm. Rain or shine. Admission is just $5 at the gate for everyone ages 21 and over. Photo ID is REQUIRED and strictly enforced for all ages. Failure to produce an ID may results in no entrance to the event.

ABOUT UPTOWN FRIDAY NIGHTS ​Presented by the Cedar Rapids Jaycees Since 1988, Uptown Friday Nights is the place to gather with your friends after a long week at work, relax and enjoy some great music by local and national bands


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This years Regular Season line-up features a return of some old favorites and some new talent to take the stage at McGrath Amphitheatre.

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5/18 Black The Sun

Band Members

Shane Lunsford - Bass/Vox

Les Ohlhauser - Lead Guitar/Vox

Jesse Caruthers - Drums/Vox


Biography

Welcome to another home of Black The Sun. We're a hard-rockin' and harder-partyin' cover band based in Cedar Rapids, IA. Since starting in early 2007, BTS has completely conquered the locals with their way-too-fun brand of rocking out.

There really isn't much else to say; if you've been to a Black The Sun show, you know what you're in for. And if you haven't... well, what are you waiting for?!?! Come out and get totally friggin' rocked!!!!


Follow Black The Sun on Facebook ------> HERE!

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5/25 Lonesome Road

Band Members

Charlie Chapman - bass guitar, vocals Doug Stock - steel guitar, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, vocals Don Boyle - lead guitar, vocals Rob Carnahan- drums


Biography

LONESOME ROAD is Eastern Iowa's Premier Top 40 Country/80's Rock group! Comprised of some of the state's TOP musicians, a sure "MUST SEE!" Our influences are too numerous to list. We all have our favorites, our idols, and our heroes. Each one of us brings these influences to the stage every time we play. The end result is a powerful performance that everyone can get into.


Follow Lonesome Road on Facebook -----> HERE!

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6/1 Crazy Delicious

Band Members

Larry Kovarik Guitar & Vocals Steve DeForest Bass & Vocals

James Boeding Drums

Greg Mein Keyboard , Guitar & Vocals

Nicole Miller Vocals


Biography

With an arsenal full of the finest

high-energy music of every genre and decade,

Crazy Delicious will take you on a musical journey through time! From today's hits to yesterday's classics, their fun performances and excellent musicianship

pack any dance floor.

Choosing an awesome variety of songs that definitely do not make for the typical "bar band" set list, Crazy D will not only entertain most any demographic, but will draw a crowd and keep them there!


The dynamic group has entertained the masses in many different environments ranging from corporate events, wedding receptions, and private parties to your favorite town's festivals such as Ragbrai, Uptown Friday Nights, Marion by Moonlight, BBQ Roundup, Solon Beef Days, Lisbon Sauerkraut Days, Clarksville Pioneer Days, Traer Winding Stairs Festival, Atkins Watermelon Days, and the Iowa State Fire Convention.

Established in 2007,

Crazy Delicious is a premiere 5 piece band out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.


Follow Crazy Delicious on Facebook -----> HERE!

Visit the Crazy Delicious Website ---->HERE!

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6/8 The Pork Tornadoes

Band Members

Cory Talbot - Singing, Funk Mason Greve - Singing a lot, Guitar Jerry Lorenson - vocals/keys/guitar Mike Schulte - Drums, Vegetables Brent Estlund - 80's Shred Trevor Polk - Synth/keys


Wide variety of covers played by good-looking, well-mannered men, who like Guinness, Cedar Ridge whiskey and may or may not have beards. #yourgirlfriendsfavoriteband


Booking Agent

Mallory Bangcroft- Banned Booking info@porktornadoes.com


Follow the Pork Tornadoes on Facebook -----> HERE!

Visit The Pork Tornadoes website ----->HERE!

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6/29 Large Midgets

It's official...The Large Midgets are getting back together! You may remember the band from the early years of Uptown Friday Nights. Established in 2000, The Large Midgets took a break in 2014 and revived the band in late 2016 and have played several gigs around the area. The Large Midgets return to the big stage at Uptown this year, and the fans couldn't be more excited! Grab your Cheetos and get ready to go back in time with one of the areas greatest entertainment acts to play at Uptown.

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7/6 8 Seconds

Band Members

Michael Flack (lead vocals, accoustic guitar) John Fokken (vocals, guitar) Jen Zoller (vocals) Jim Lee (vocals, bass guitar) Eric Douglas (vocals, drums) Micheal Clair (Vocals, guitar and many other instruments)


Biography

8 Seconds is one of the area’s most energetic and powerful country bands. The band consistently draws large crowds as they are known for their strong vocals, tight harmonies and their unique musical style and sound.


Performing since 2001, 8 Seconds has earned numerous opening spots for national recording artists like Dierks Bentley, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Big and Rich, Rodney Atkins, Randy Houser and Justin Moore to name a few. 8 Seconds always delivers with a show that people want and expect to see and cover a good mix of both classic country songs and current top 40 country hits. People often say "You may not like country music but you will love 8 Seconds!” Attend an 8 Seconds show, and it is immediately apparent that each of the band members loves music and enjoys playing in front of a crowd. It’s equally as obvious that the crowd loves being there to take it all in and dance the night away! 8 Seconds members include, Mike Flack on lead vocals, John Fokken on lead guitar and vocals, Eric Douglas on drums, Jimmy Lee on bass and vocals, Jen Zoller on vocals and Micheal Clair on vocals, guitar and many other instruments!


Follow 8 Seconds on Facebook ----->HERE!

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7/13 Copperhead Creek

Band Members

Jen Lisenbee

Ben Soltau

Chris Wood

Ron Conkin

Seth May

plus special guests!


Biography

The Copperhead Creek Band is quickly becoming one of Southeastern Iowa's premeire acts. Formed in 2015, the band has grown beyond its Country music roots to include a diverse variety of Classic Rock and Top 40 Pop songs. The band offers something for everyone with its high-energy, fun, and rowdy stage show.

Fronting the band is Jen Lisenbee. Jen's powerful voice is equally capable of delivering sweet melodies or rauccous screams. Jen also brings a pop sensibility to the band which has allowed Copperhead Creek to broaden its musical diversity.

The illustrious Ron Conkin handles lead guitar for the group. A true entertainer, Ron never misses an opportunity to tell a joke. Ron's big personality and hot country guitar licks have entertained audiences all over Iowa and beyond.

Seth May is a consummate sideman, covering rhythm guitar, keyboards and vocals. Seth's ability to seamlessly transition between different musical styles and instruments is a testament to his deep musicality, and makes him invaluable to the band.

Rounding out the rhythm section are Ben Soltau on bass guitar and Dustin Duwa on drums. Both are accomplished musicians with years of experience under their belts. Together they form the dynamic backbone of Copperhead Creek and propel the band with a mighty groove.

Playing gigs all around the Iowa City / Cedar Rapids area, The Copperhead Creek Band has been building its reputation as a must-see live act, one audience at a time.


Follow Copperhead Creek on Facebook --------> HERE!


Visit the Copperhead Creek website ----> HERE!


7/27 Alisabeth Von Presley

Band Members

AVP - Guitar + Keys Amanda Massey - Guitarist Erika Bailey - Bad Ass Bass + Vocal Candy Jon Wilson - Drums


A rocker raised on a well balanced diet of Michael Jackson, Pat Benatar, and a plateful of glitter. This Iowa girl has left a memorable impact on stages from Los Angeles to New York -- with stops at "American Idol" and "Cabaret In The Courtyard" in between. Performing on the heels of her new album "Diamonds In The Blackout" - this Iowa native performs with a flair for the dynamic and theatrical; she's most easily described -- can she be easily described? -- as a "passionate performance roller-coaster tied up in pleather pants and sequin stilettos." Or as one musical critic wrote, “when Alisabeth sings, the neon rainbow melts into a swirling puddle." And now for the "unofficial" bio I’ve grown up a lot over the past year. Went through heartbreak and fell madly in love, lost my father to cancer and found myself. The set has all of the “showy” elements of last years — costumes, props, dancers, a rockin’ band — but it has more of me in every song, more real. I’m not quite sure how to put it — more honest — more exposed — but still flouncing about in pleather and sequins. I used to put on a shows in my living room and charge one penny for admission. I’d do several costume changes using old dance recital costumes and would make my younger cousins be my back-up dancers. I’d take tablecloths and make stage curtains and I’d remix myself singing songs with nine other harmonies of myself via cassette. Who I am today most definitely stems from moments like this in my childhood. Also the fact that my family never missed a living room show and fully supported me then just as much as they support me now. The drive to entertain has always been inside of me. The living room shows are essentially what you see on stage today — just in a bigger way. And minus the tablecloth.


Follow AVP on facebook ----> HERE! Visit the AVP website ----> www.AlisabethVonPresley.com

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8/10 Boot Jack

Band Members

Jen Zoller Lead Vocals

John Fokken Guitar and Vocals

Jimmy Lee Bass and Vocals

Chris Fonck Drums


Looking for a good time? Come see Boot Jack Band perform. We’re a country rock band based in Cedar Rapids, IA.


Members of our band have opened for a variety of country music stars, including Dierks Bentley, Randy Houser and Jon Pardi. Stay updated with our schedule on our website ----> HERE so you can catch Boot Jack Band at our next event. Want our band to perform at your venue or private event? Contact us today at 319-981-5003 to talk to us about booking.


Follow the Boot Jack Band on Facebook ---------> HERE!

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8/17 Fresh Fighters - Foo Fighters Tribute

Band Members

Jeremy Jacobs - Lead Vocals/Lead Guitar

Jake Coady - Rhythm Guitar

Shane Lunsford - Bass Guitar

Rich Brecht - Drums


FRESH FIGHTERS! Est 2017 A tribute to the music of the Foo Fighter have been Making the rounds and paying their dues in the local bar scene, this is one band you definitely want to keep an eye on! For booking, email us at: freshfightersband@gmail.com


Follow Fresh Fighters on Facebook -----> HERE!

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Follow all of these bands and many more on the Iowa Live Music Calendar ------> HERE

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