The Iowa State Fair has announced its grandstand lineup for this summer, starting off on Thursday, Aug. 7 with Newsboys and special guest Matthew West. The rest of the Fair’s schedule breaks down as follows: Friday, Aug. 8 — The Happy Together Tour starring The Turtles and featuring Flo &

Thursdays Music in the Junction season lineup was announced, featuring the usuals, plus some newcomers: May will have Comfort Zone, Bella Soul, Gimikk, Get Off My Lawn and SP3; June includes Decoy, Abby Normal, Brother Trucker and All Things King; in July there is Fahrenheit, Final Mix, The Blue Band

Gas Lamp is now kid-friendly. The longtime alcoholic venue has announced it will be converting into a more family-friendly, “pub-style” diner, specializing in American comfort food. All shows currently booked will run as planned, but new kid-centric shows will be booked during the day and early evening hours, kicking off

In honor of April being Jazz Appreciation Month, the Community Jazz Center (CJC) will host an 11-hour jazz festival at Java Joes on Sunday, April 6. The event will kick off at 9 a.m. and is both open to the public and free to attend, though donations are being accepted

Local artists have been selected for the “CarpeDM Music Mix” CD, a collection of music produced by the Greater Des Moines Partnership that includes Brother Trucker, Poison Control Center, Mary McAdams, The Uniphonics, Holy White Hounds, Chad Elliott, Bonne Finken, Dustin Smith, Gloom Balloon, Foxholes, Bright Giant, The Nadas, North

Tickets to the Civic Music Association’s presentation of Philip Glass went on sale on Feb. 24. Glass kicks off the Civic Music Association’s 90th anniversary season with a performance at Sheslow Auditoriuma on Sunday, April 6. Tickets range from $25 to $50 and are available through www.midwestix.com or by calling

It’s time once again for the Des Moines Music Collectors’ Show. Hosted by the good folks at Zzz Records, the Collectors Show is a way for people to buy, sell and swap their records, CDs and cassettes. This month’s show is on Sunday, Feb. 23 at the Downtown Holiday Inn.

Maximum Ames Records has announced a new Valentine’s Day release called “Maximum Love Volume 1: A Golden Love Affair.” People who head over to www.maximumamesrecords.com and hand over $5 will get two download codes for the EP — one for you, and one that will be sent to your V-Day

It was a sad week in music, as folk hero and tireless civil rights champion Pete Seeger died at the age of 94 on Jan. 27, two days preceded by local Twelve Canons songwriter Jim Durocher. This space is unequal to the task of eulogizing either, but both will be

The Des Moines Symphony Academy is hosting its first ever open house on Saturday, Feb. 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Temple for Performing Arts. It’s a chance to meet Academy faculty, see musical performances and learn about how the Academy engages with Des Moines youth. For