Friday, August 19

Jim the Mule - 5 p.m. Members of Jim the Mule have been making music in the Quad Cities since May 2000. Jason Gilliland, Tom Swanson, and Ryan Koning played together in a variety of bands while attending St. Ambrose University. After splitting up for different opportunities, the trio rejoined to start what they call "a serious band effort."

The Jim the Mule lineup is: Tom Swanson, guitar and vocals; Jason Gilliland, bass and vocals; Dan Videtich, guitar and vocals; Ryan Koning, percussion; and Steve Merritt, drums and vocals. The band won the River Cities' Reader Best Local Rock Band for 2004 and 2005. The band just released its first studio album.

Greg Brown - 6:15 p.m.

Greg Brown wears many hats. Both a performer and a songwriter, Greg has experienced much success at both. He first began his professional singing career at age 18 when he moved to New York City. After running hootenannies (folk-singer get-togethers) in New York, Greg moved to Los Angeles, where he was a ghostwriter for Buck Ram, founder of the Platters. After traveling with a band for a few years, he moved back to Iowa and took a break from performing. He gradually began writing again and started headlining in Midwest clubs and coffeehouses, becoming Iowa's most beloved musical son in the process.

Willie Nelson, Carlos Santana, and Mary Chapin Carpenter are among the many performers that have recorded Greg's songs. He has recorded more than a dozen albums and has experienced success with both critics and music-industry organizations. He has been nominated for two Grammy awards and picked up two Indie Awards from the National Association of Independent Record Distributors along the way.

Rick Derringer - 7:30 p.m.

Since beginning his career 30 years ago, Rick Derringer has been known for many things. In addition to mastering a variety of musical styles, he has produced and written songs for many other performers over his long career. In 1965, Rick's band the McCoys released "Hang on Sloopy," which knocked "Yesterday" by the Beatles out of the number-one spot on the charts. After four successful years of touring, the McCoys merged with Johnny Winter's backing band. In addition to performing with Johnny, Rick produced the gold and platinum albums for the Winter Brothers. Rick's work with the Winter brothers continued when he later wrote and produced many songs, including "Still Alive & Well" and "Frankenstein" for festival mate Edgar Winter.

In 1973, Derringer released his first solo album, All American Boy, which included the already popular "Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo" as its hit single. Throughout the '70s and '80s, Derringer also appeared on a variety of albums, including those by Alice Cooper, Cyndi Lauper, Barbra Streisand, and Kiss. In 1993 Rick released Back to the Blues, the first of four blues CDs. After forays into rock and roll and jazz, Rick has recorded two Christian CDs with his wife: Aiming 4 Heaven and Derringer X2.

Edgar Winter - 8:30 p.m.

Edgar Winter's storied history in the music business goes back to a time when he performed in his older brother's band, Johnny & the Jammers. Since then his bands have spanned musical genres from rock and jazz to blues and pop. Edgar has released more than 20 albums since his critically acclaimed 1970 debut release, Entrance.

Edgar has had many commercial and critical successes over the years. In 1972 he joined Dan Hartman, Ronnie Montrose, and Chuck Ruff to form The Edgar Winter Group. The legendary band created the hit "Free Ride" and the number-one song "Frankenstein." Edgar also created the keyboard strap early in his career that allows him to move about stage while performing. He was also the first artist to use a synthesizer as the primary instrument in the recording of "Frankenstein."

Edgar's music is still very much a part of pop culture. Many national and television advertising campaigns rely on Edgar's music to sell their products.

BoDeans - 10 p.m.

After years of performing, the BoDeans have perfected the art of heartfelt lyrics, passionate harmonies, and ringing guitars. Frontmen Sam Llanas and Kurt Neumann started their partnership nearly 20 years ago. Their debut album, Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams, was released in 1986, breaking into Billboard's Top 100. The group was promptly named "Best New Band" by Rolling Stone magazine.

In 1996, "Closer to Free," a song from the group's Go Slow Down, became the theme to the television show Party of Five and an instant hit. The BoDeans returned with the acclaimed Resolution in 2004. On August 16, the BoDeans will release their second live double-CD, Homebrewed.

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