By Michael Swanger scenescribe@mchsi.com
A sold-out crowd packed Blues on Grand on Oct. 25 for a concert, dinner and auction to benefit the Central Iowa Blues Society. Officials with the non-profit group said the success of the fundraiser would allow CIBS to continue to operate and to host its Winter Blues Fest next year. Money from the event will be used to help pay the bills for CIBS’ Living History Blues Fest.
Objet D’art performs the gypsy jazz music of Django Reinhardt on Friday, Nov. 6 at 8 p.m. at the Salisbury House. Tickets are $25. Call 274-1777.
Two rock shows of note at the House of Bricks on Friday, Nov. 6: Cartel, This Providence, The Summer Set and Runner Runner play an all-ages show at 5 p.m. ($17); followed by The Jet Age, Wolves in the Attic and The New Bodies at 9:30 p.m. ($5).
Toronto-based Celtic rock band Enter The Haggis plays a show on Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Maintenance Shop in Ames at 9 p.m. Tickets are $8 for students and $12 for adults.
The Synergy Jazz Foundation, a new non-profit group, will host a workshop-concert for piano, bass, drums, vibes and guitar on Saturday, Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Drake University. The cost to participate in the workshop led by local jazz musicians is $60. A free concert will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Visit www.synergyjazz.org for details.
1980s underground rock band the Meat Puppets, embarking on their longest tour since 1994, plays a show on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Vaudeville Mews. Squidboy and Why Make Clocks open the show. Admission is $15. Fans can submit suggestions for the set list by emailing MeatPupSetList2009@gmail.com.
The Greater Des Moines Community Jazz Center will host a screening of the movie “CHOPS” on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. at the Des Moines Art Center’s Levitt Auditorium. The movie has been a hit at film and jazz festivals across the country and is about a group of talented high school jazz musicians who compete in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington Competition & Festival. Admission is $5 and all proceeds benefit the CJC and its educational programming.
Winners of Relix magazine’s “Jam-Off Competition,” East Coast, Afro-beat rock band Rubblebucket, led by trumpeter Alex Toth, performs Monday, Nov. 9 at 9 p.m. at Vaudeville Mews. Tickets $10.
Austin, Texas singer-songwriter Bob Schneider plays the Vaudeville Mews on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15.
San Francisco-based R&B singer-guitarist Tommy Castro, winner of the 2008 Blues Music Award for “Entertainer of the Year,” returns to Blues on Grand, Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. Admission is $15. Castro is on tour promoting his new album, “Hard Believer,” which includes performances by longtime Des Moines jazz-blues bassist Scot Sutherland, who has been a part of Castro’s touring band for the past couple of years.
The Fourth Annual Little Big Fest will take place on Saturday, Nov. 21 at People’s Court. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. $10.
Main Stage:
7 p.m. — Omega Dog
8:15 p.m. — Workshy
9:30 p.m. — Jefferson County Green Band
10:45 p.m. — Brother Trucker
Midnight — Floodplane
Backstage Bar:
7:15 p.m. — Pennyhawk
8:45 p.m. — Thankful Dirt
10 p.m. — Mr. Baber’s Neighbors
11:30 p.m. — Maximilian Eubank
12:45 a.m. — Johnny on Point. CV
