posted
on Thursday, July 20, 2017
The end of summer brings something different for everyone. For some, the end of summer means relief from the heat and the AC bills. For others, it signals the end of the gloriously empty days away from school. For us in Cedar Falls, the end of summer brings Summer Jam!
Summer Jam returns to Sturgis Park this year with a diverse lineup of regional and nationally touring bands. On August 26 – the Saturday after UNI classes start for the fall semester – this last celebration of summer starts at 4pm and runs until midnight. Admission is $5 all day, and a free shuttle courtesy of Dolly’s Taxi will be running between the corner of W 22nd & College St. and Sturgis Park. Tasty fair foods such as corn dogs, funnel cakes, bacon cheese bombs, blooming onions, walking tacos, tenderloins, and mini donuts will be available for purchase and $3-4 beer (Bud, Bud Light, SingleSpeed Tricycle, Kona Big Wave, Michelob Ultra, Angry Orchard, Goose Island IPA, and Copa wines) will be available in the park, as well as fantastic tunes from three bands!
(Brazilian 2wins)
The first band of the lineup, playing from 4-6pm, is Milk and Honey, a rock and roll group that recently celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. Originally based in western Iowa, now in Cedar Falls, this group was inducted into the Iowa Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. Milk and Honey has recorded covers of classics such as: “Signed, Sealed, Delivered;” “Old Man;” and “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door;” as well as their own well-loved originals.
Next on the stage from 6:30-9pm will be Cody Hicks Band, a group of rural Iowa boys whose single “Left Turn” has become an anthem for dirt-track racing. This country band slings both covers and originals, and recorded their EP “Gettin’ Our Feet Wet” in Nashville in 2015. The latest music video from the band, called “Take A Shot” was released on Facebook June 29. Come and listen to some Iowa homegrown, new country music!
Finishing out the evening from 9:30 to midnight will be Brazilian 2wins, a group that began right here in Cedar Falls and has since performed in 38 states and 5 countries. The band includes the twins from Brazil that inspired the band’s name—Walter and Wagner—as well as Rylie on bass, Raqwon on drums, and Evan on guitar. Together, the twins play violin, ukulele, and keys, as well as providing vocals for the electric and eclectic sound of Brazilian 2wins. A light show will accompany their set, and every Brazilian 2wins performance promises lots of wild, improvised fun!
Whether you’re feeling blue from the end of summer or looking forward to the coming of autumn, Summer Jam is the best way to get together with old or new friends and celebrate a summer done right. Join us in Sturgis Park on August 26!
We invite you to stay awhile. You'll find convenient Places to Stay and Places to Eat & Drink close by the activity. Need more information about Cedar Falls? You're welcome to contact the Cedar Falls Tourism & Visitors Bureau at 800-845-1955 or stop by the Cedar Falls Visitor Center at 6510 Hudson Road.
We'd be happy to help!
Thank you to Hannah Carr-Murphy for her guest blog post about Summer Jam 2017.
(Milk & Honey)
- beer garden
- brazilian 2wins
- live bands
- live music
- milk & honey
- sturgis park
- summer jam
- the cody hicks band