Gabe's Oasis to close, Watson to headline last show

By Michael Swanger michael@dmcityview.com

The sad news out of Iowa City for music fans is that Gabe's Oasis, 330 East Washington St., the longtime live music venue best known for its eclectic mix of shows, is closing after nearly 15 years. The good news is there's still time to catch a show before they turn out the lights.

Gabe's will host its final show on Tuesday - a performance by Austin-based alt-country icon Dale Watson. Tickets are $10. It's a fitting ending to a club whose DIY approach and street credibility created a haven for discerning music fans with tastes that run deeper than mainstream, commercial drivel.

Prior to Watson's concert, Gabe's will host an all-ages show on Sunday by Race to the Bottom, Breakdance, Requiem and Murder of Crows at 6 p.m. Later that night, at 10 p.m., The Plastic Constellations, FT (Shadow Government) and Static Static will play. Admission to each show is $5.

On Monday, the club will host a showcase of Iowa City bands including Deathships, The Diplomats of Solid Sound, The Bent Sceptors, Rusty Buckets, Baron
Von Ottomatic, Andy Caffrey, Great Lakes and Boo Hiss at 7 p.m. Admission is $5.

Gabe's, which is now under new management, will become The Picador following the last show. Call (319) 354-4788.

Gallagher announces 2006-2007 season

Tickets are on sale for the University of Northern Iowa's Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center 2006-2007 season, which kicks off Sept. 21 with a performance by legendary comedian George Carlin and includes a number of well-known theatrical productions and an eclectic mix of music. To order season or single-show tickets, call (877) 549-7469 or visit www.gbpac.com.

The lineup includes "Hairspray" (Sept. 25-26), The Wailin' Jennys (Oct. 21), Miami City Ballet (Oct. 28), "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" (Nov. 5), Moscow State Symphony Orchestra (Nov. 9), Joan Baez (Nov. 10), Classical Savion (Nov. 14), "A Christmas Carol" (Dec. 3), Big Bad Voodoo Daddy's Wild Swingin' Holiday Party (Dec. 15-16), The Little Angels (Jan. 12), "Jesus Christ Superstar" (Jan. 14), Moscow Festival Ballet's "Swan Lake" (Jan. 21), Joshua Bell (Jan. 27), "Seussical" (Feb. 11), Queen Ida and the Bon Temps Zydeco Band (Feb. 24), Eileen Ivers and Immigrant Soul (March 2), Man of La Mancha (March 4), David Sanborn (March 6), "The Marriage of Figaro" by the Bulgarian Opera (March 16), Merce Cunningham Dance Company (March 20), "The Actors' Gang 1984" (March 31), and Alexander Kobrin (April 10).

Red-hot jazz, blues

The Fourth of July holiday weekend traditionally is filled with community celebrations and family get-togethers. But for many local blues and jazz fans, it's also a time to hit the road and venture to Eastern Iowa to attend the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival in Davenport and the Iowa City Jazz Festival, both of which run Friday through Sunday.
This year's blues fest includes performances by Mavis Staples, Ronnie Baker Brooks, The Mannish Boys, James "Super Chikan" Johnson, Sonny Landreth, Chris Thomas King, C.J. Chenier, Guitar Shorty, Delbert McClinton and James Cotton. Tickets are $15 each day or $35 for a weekend pass. Visit www.mvbs.org or call (563) 322-5837. (A bit of nepotism here: The poster for this year's fest designed by Paul Chase, is based on a photograph of Sonny Rhodes by Cityview's own entertainment editor.)

One of the top 10 jazz festivals in the country, local, regional and national jazz artists like Robin Eubanks, Mingus Dynasty, Rachel Price, The Bad Plus and the Mel Rhyne Trio will play four stages in downtown Iowa City during the 2006 Iowa City Jazz Festival. Admission is free. Visit www.iowacityjazzfestival.com.

While you're in Iowa City, don't miss the Iowa City Record Fair to be held Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Englert Civic Center, 211 E. Washington St., just a few blocks from the jazz fest. Admission is $2 to choose from thousands of albums, CDs, posters, photos and books.

Dixie Chicks play Wells Fargo

The Dixie Chicks, the biggest-selling female group in history, will bring their 2006 "The Accidents & Accusations Tour" to Wells Fargo Arena for a performance on Aug. 24. Tickets are on sale now through the Wells Fargo Arena Box Office, at Des Moines area Dahl's Foods stores, by calling 1-866-55-DAHLS or online at www.dahlstickets.com.

Scene notes

The 2006-2007 Des Moines Symphony season starts Friday at 8:30 p.m. with the popular and patriotic Yankee Doodle Pops concert on the State Capitol grounds. Baritone singer William Michals will be featured in a program that includes Broadway tunes as well as a fireworks show. Admission is free... Local R&B band One Nite Stand is set to release a new album and has launched a new Web site, www.onenitestandband.com... Iowa Public Radio kicks off a nine-week summer series, "Symphonies of Iowa," featuring the Des Moines, Waterloo-Cedar Falls and Cedar Rapids symphony orchestras starting July 3 at 7 p.m. Public radio stations WOI (90.1 FM) in Ames, KHKE (89.5 FM) in Cedar Falls and KSUI (91.7) in Iowa City will collaborate for the first time to bring the performances to a wider audience. "Symphonies of Iowa" airs Mondays at 7 p.m. from July 3 to Aug. 28. Visit www.iowapublicradio.org for the lineup... Anthony Stevens will conduct a free children's class on African drumming July 7 at 1:30 p.m. at the Franklin Avenue Library. Call 283-4152 to register... The Lao Natasinh Dance Troupe, based in Des Moines, will perform at the Library of Congress and at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., July 25-27... A workshop designed to help arts organizations explore ways to develop and maintain support from small- and mid-sized businesses will be held July 11 from 8:15 to 11 a.m. at Principal Financial Group, 711 High St. To register, call 280-3222 or e-mail tracy@metroarts.org. CV

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