2011 Summer Music Series

July 15     Frydaddies -  Jimmy Buffett’esqe, classic pop rock with much humor

July 22     No concert, enjoy the fun at the Muscatine County Fair.  July 20th to 24th

July 29     Gusto Norteno – Latino rhythms

Aug 5       Mutiny in the Parlor – Contemporary nostalgic, music from the 10’s, 20’s, 30’s

Aug 12     Dave Moore – Iowa Folk musician, Blues, Tex-Mex

Aug 19     Harmony Holler – Blue Grass, grass roots country revival

Aug  26    Slough Buoys – Classic Rock, acoustic vocal

The public is encouraged to bring their own chairs, concerts are free and open to all ages.  Please come out from 6pm to 9pm at Ron De Voo Park, downtown West Liberty Iowa.

 

Community Workshop

Professional actor, director and filmmaker Duffy Hudson will be conducting a theatre workshop in West Liberty on Saturday April 9th from 3-5pm at 319 N. Calhoun St (Owl Glass Center).   This is a free event open to the general public geared toward adults and older children. Children under 12 need to be accompanied by a parent.

March 5, 2011

The Newman Singers with pianist Joe Mattingly, will perform at 7pm Saturday March 5th live from the West Liberty Community Center.  This enjoyable concert and liturgical group has been an inspiration for the past fifteen years under the direction of the very talented Joe Mattingly.   Tickets are $15 per person, $25 per couple and $10 for students.   Proceeds will go to benefit the West Liberty Veterans Memorial Park.

For tickets or more information, please contact Betty Zimmerman at (319) 627-2215, Cara McFerren (319) 627-6766 or Legion Commander Donald Cain.

WLAAC Community Classes

2011 brings yet again another great round of classes offered by the arts council.  This winter season we will have three classes:  a stone-fired clay and Raku class taught by the wonderful Mr. Marty Kiser, a basic One-Stroke painting class taught by the very talented Vada Baker and a drawing class taught by the fabulous Janet Rees.

Classes begin the end of January and usually run through March, with class times and meeting TBD.  The one-time class registration fee this year is $20 per student with all proceeds going to support the WLAAC in local art endeavors. There is a materials fee that will be designated by the instructor according to the class.  For more information, contact Cara McFerren at cara@wlaac.org or (319)627-6766

MYSTERY DINNER THEATRE

  • Murder In The Double Wide”

  • The West Liberty Area Arts Council welcomes all to an entertaining night of mystery, music and fine dining.
  • Please join us on

  • FRIDAY OCTOBER 8th, 2010

  • at Century Grille, 100 E. 3rd Street, West Liberty
  • Cash bar and live music, “Mutiny in the Parlor”
  • Beginning at 6pm

  • Followed by the talented interactive comedy theater “It’s A Mystery” troupe from Eastern Iowa
  • Dinner at 7pm

  • $35 Per Person

  • Cost includes a three-course meal with your choice of Beef, Chicken or Vegetarian Entree.
  • For more information, please contact Cara at (319) 627-6766 or email:  cara@wlaac.org
  • The music is sponsored by West Liberty Foods

Arts Council Meeting

Next meeting is Wednesday, September 22, 2010, noon at Owl Glass Puppetry Center 319 N. Calhoun Street West Liberty.

Friday August 27th, Richie Lee – Last performance of the 2010 Concert Series 6 to 9pm Ron De Voo park downtown West Liberty

Everyone, don’t miss this Friday night’s concert – Richie Lee.  Richie Lee, a 19 year old from Des Moines Iowa is the youngest of four boys and singing before he could talk and feeling the beat before he could walk.  At the age of 7 he won a Buddy Holly look-a-like/lip sync contest.  It was then that Richie knew that he wanted to be a performer.   His interest in Buddy Holly began at the age of 6 after finding a cassette tape of his dad’s.  Once he heard it, he was like WOW!  Buddy Holly was a big influence partly because Richie wore glasses since he was 3 and Buddy was a Rock & Roll star with glasses.  This was the start of young Richie’s musical career.

He began taking guitar lessons at age 11 after his grandmother Edith convinced his mom and dad to fulfill his need for music.  He started playing drums at age 12.  It was just after four months of lessons that Richie started playing guitar in public and when at the age of 12, he started playing professionally.  At age 13 he cut his first CD, “Richie Lee and the Fabulous 50′s”.

The music of the 1950′s is a huge part of Richie’s life.  Besides Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens, he also pays tribute to Elvis Presley, Eddie Cochran, Ricky Nelson, Roy Orbison, Chuck Berry, Dion Dimucci and many others.

Richie has been selected to receive the Spirit Award from the Iowa Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this coming fall for his contributions in keeping the great Rock & Roll memories alive.

Please come out to hear this fabulous performer and enjoy the last concert in the 2010 WLAAC summer music series!

Friday August 20th Concert Series Update

The WLAAC must cancel tonight’s concert due to illness.  We apologize for this abrupt last minute notice as I know you all enjoy the music each Friday.  Keep checking back with us for further details and upcoming events.

West Liberty Area Arts Council Summer in the Park Series

The West Liberty Area Arts Council

Proudly Presents…

The 2010 West Liberty Summer in the Park Music Series!

Ron De Voo Park   3rd Street
Downtown West Liberty, IA

6:00pm to 9pm   FREE and open to the public!

Friday July 30 - Fry Daddies

“It’s all about having fun!”  The duo of Dave Ellis and Dave Stanbro have been pleasing audiences’ with their eclectic mix of great classic rock songs with a playful Buffett infusion.

Friday August 6 – Kevin Burt & The Instigators

Kevin Burt & The Instigators will electrify you with their remarkable soul-inspired brand of blues. Their mixture of serious music and infectious humor is fun for the entire family!

Friday August 13 – West Liberty Youth Group Band / Gusto Norteño

An evening of West Liberty dual performers by two outstanding local talents: the Youth Group Band, a blend of homegrown grass roots music and Gusto Norteno, West Liberty’s own seven-man, Latino ensemble, will have you dancin’ in the streets to the sounds of today’s most popular music!

Friday August 20 – Mutiny in the Parlor

Mutiny In The Parlor will have your toes tappin’ to the hot jazz, swing and parlor tunes of 1910 through 1940!

Friday August 27 – Richie Lee & the Fabulous 50’s Band

Richie Lee, a contemporary sensation bringing back the sounds of the 50’s and 60’s especially so that the music is not forgotten.  “I want them to hear what real rock music sounds like”.  Besides legendary artists like Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens, he also pays tribute to Elvis Presley, Eddie Cochran, Ricky Nelson, Roy Orbison, Chuck Berry and many others.

The West Liberty Area Arts Council wishes to thank the West Liberty Chamber of Commerce, City of West Liberty, the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine, Dr. Michael Tharp, Liberty Communications, MidwestOne Bank, West Liberty Foods, West Liberty State Bank, MidAmerican Energy, and all those whose generous support makes the 2010 Music Series possible!

WLAAC Meeting Minutes, June, 2010

WLAAC Meeting Minutes

6/23/10   6pm

Meeting called to order at 6:25pm June 23, 2010

Menu consisted of a corn meal based chowder and spinach infused chicken brats.

Members present:  Pres Cara Calvin-McFerren, Secretary Clifford McFerren

Motion made by Pres Cara to take a cell phone call from her mother, Seconded by Clifford.  Mother Calvin discussed chaffing dishes and taking a day off July 16th, very interesting.  She also mentioned the jug that has a spout with the top on it.  “Good for lemonade” she says.  Mother Calvin also discussed the need for a haircut, she does not want to put it off too much longer.  Grandma is leaving on Monday.  Tonight she was having scrambled eggs and toast since Doug was working.  She will bring a cake Sunday for Marta’s farewell dinner on Sunday at Grams.  Enchiladas and tostadas were the food of choice for this grand event not sponsored by WLAAC.

6:35pm Gretchen Little joined the meeting.  Minutes were read to catch her up.  OOO  ooo, ooo the sun just came out!

Line up for the summer concert series discussed.  Gretch liked the line up and approved with a hearty thumbs up.  Pres Cara discussed funding for the event.  All events have sponsors and cost are covered!  Awesome job again Cara.  Clifford Motioned Awesome Job and Gretch Seconded it.  Motion carried 3-0.  Treasurerer confirms that Cara broke last years fund raising record and seconded by Gretch.  She still said that we will need to take out $350 or so to cover advertising and such compared to last years $500 we had to take out.  Advertising is already done and to be submitted to Index.

Gretch brought us up to date on the WLAAC facebook page, also very exciting.  Clifford was the first one to post on the site.

Clifford and Gretch briefly got into a heated debate about whether she should type in the line up for the summer series on Facebook, Clifford suggested that he can email it too her to import and he did eventually win, Gretch is admitting that would be easier than typing it but said that she was completely capable of typing…and after much discussion they could not remember why they were talking about it and laughed for what seemed like hours but was really only a few seconds.

Cara then described that the Cultural Corridor Alliance would like us to join for $250, they will advertise and junk for us and if you remember the little guy Joe in all them TV ads, that’s the guy!  It is well worth it said Member Little, McFerren took that as a motion and seconded it.  Motion carried 3-0.  Treasurer will get a check out.

Ducky DuFrance called us wanting to solicit $ from WLAAC to help a graduate student start a program with MHS.  Cara waited for a motion, and hearing none, the issue failed to get off the table.

Cara then brought up the WLAAC cabinet members and appointing new officers.  If we had By-Laws we are sure they would say to appoint your new cabinet in June for a July start.  A motion was made for Cara to continue as President, seconded by William whom was being held by Gretch.  Motioned carried 6-0.  Another motion was made that Gretch be treasurer and was seconded by Mr. Chips who briefly made an appearance before quickly exiting.  Emotion carried 5-0 (William fell back asleep).  Gretch then proceed to state that she is in a class for learning all about non profits and would be learning how to actually structure and conduct this meeting with some semblance of authority and order.  First order of business is to get a new Secretary because this one is a dork.

Gretch motioned to talk to Susie Gilbert.  Cliff seconded it.  She is the story teller at the Desert Theater thang.  Gretch is on the road with Monica to Seattle this summer starting end of July.  We will miss her dearly.

A call was placed to member Dauna Kiser who said she was at home, blamed it on Marty.  She is coming over.

Discussion on that damn singing cow came up again, hate that cow.  Had to hear the song again, cant get it out of my head.  Gretch complained that the baby was getting too heavy and needed to be adjusted…Cara provided the necessary adjusting and all things were good.

OOooo now Cara brought out fresh sliced apples with yummy Trapistein Munk Caramel dipping sauce.

Whu oh, baby just woke up and it peers that the little chunk is hungry again.   Gretch to bottle feed baby.  She is a real problem solver and is greatly valued by the out going Secretary.

A brief recess was motioned for so the Secretary could use the litter box.

7:50pm member Kiser arrived.  Next Raku set for Aug 1st at Kiser Art Studio, all are welcome.

Next meeting date set for Sunday August 15th at 1pm.  This will be a huge planning meeting, all are needed to attend otherwise if you are absent you will end up on the board!  Moved and seconded, passed 4-0.


Meeeting AAAjourned!!!   8:40pm.

Meeting Minutes provided by the soon-to-be-former WLAAC secretary, who, in advocating for the performing arts (specifically comedy), could not be prevented from writing them up this time.  The decision to force these minutes into the public sphere was decided during a closed session, for which no other members were present.

No artists were harmed during the conducting of this meeting.  Sanity, on the other hand, was scarce.