The Iowa State Fair has announced its first grandstand acts for the 2016 State Fair. Deirks Bentley and Newsboys will both be performing this August, with Newsboys hitting the stage on Aug. 11 and Bentley on Aug. 16. Ticket prices have not been announced yet.

Speaking of summer, Des Moines-based EDM festival 515 Alive put its first round of tickets up for sale last week and sold them out in four hours. All of the event’s $30 Early Bird passes to the July 22-23 event are now gone, with a limited number of $40 two-day passes still on sale as of press time. The takeaway: Des Moines loves a good party.

This week’s Pick o’ the Week is at Vaudeville Mews on Saturday, Feb. 6. Go ahead and spend the evening down on Fourth Street, as Mews has a two-show schedule that will feature Patresa Hartman, Heather Styka and The High Crest performing in the early show at 5:30 p.m. Meanwhile, in the late show, Ruthless Ruth and Jacey both perform. Early show is $7, and/or $5 for the late. Mahalo. CV

Chad Taylor is an award-winning news journalist and music writer from Des Moines who would love to take his talents abroad if the rent were not so much more affordable in Des Moines.