It’s beginning to look like summer in Iowa City.
Marking the start of the season is the return of Northside Outside, an annual tradition that transforms North Linn Street into a pedestrian-friendly community destination. North Linn Street will be closed from Market Street to the Hamburg Inn alleyway, starting Friday, May 1, until fall.
Since 2020, the pedestrian-only North Linn Street provides a car-free corridor encouraging residents to slow down and connect in the din of the northside neighborhood, offering dining, retail and entertainment.
“Transforming the street into a community destination supports our local northside businesses and celebrates the energy, creativity, and culture that define the Northside,” said Riene Gelman, owner of the Webster, in a news release. “It’s a place where neighbors, artists, and visitors come together to experience the unique spirit and charm of our neighborhood.”
Live from the Northside, it’s Saturday night
The return of Northside Outside marks the start of the Northside Saturday Nights Concert series. The free annual performances, curated by the Englert Theatre, showcase a diverse lineup of local musicians.
The first Northside Saturday Night is from 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday, May 9, featuring Strum Drum, the brainchild of local artists Blake Shaw and Chris Jensen. The festival finishes the year on Saturday, Oct. 10, with legendary singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Dave Moore.
Northside Saturday Night guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs or use public seating on North Linn Street.
“Curating Northside Saturday Nights is one of the highlights of our year, because it gives us the opportunity to elevate the incredible musicians who call this place home, and to bring people together to take advantage of our local talent, local businesses, and, of course, the legendary summertime Iowa City vibe,” said Brian Johannesen, Programming Director of The Englert Theatre, in a news release. “We’re thrilled to be back for another season and can’t wait for the community to experience the homegrown talent on the lineup this year.”
May Northside Saturday Nights lineup
May 9: Strum Drum
May 16: Flash in a Pan
May 23: Blake Shaw Trio and IC Speaks
May 30: Dodge Street Duo
June lineup
June 6: Joel Worford
June 13: Jack Lion
June 20: The Feralings
July lineup
July 11: Freegrass Trio
July 18: The Swampland Jewels
July 25: Burlington Street Bluegrass Band
August lineup
Aug. 1: Fork in the Road
Aug. 15: The Regular Joes
Aug. 22: Kevin Burt
Aug. 29: The Steve Grismore Trio
September lineup
Sept. 5: Blake Shaw and Alyx Rush
Sept.12: The Night Lights
Sept. 19: The Lonesome Thrillbillies
October lineup
Oct. 3: Lou Sherry
Oct. 10: Dave Moore
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and education reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @rishjessica_
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Find out when Northside Outside returns for the summer in Iowa City
Reporting by Jessica Rish, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
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