State Historical Society of Iowa Press Release

2011 Blues Before Sunset concert series concludes next week

Summer concert series now on State Historical Building’s Grand Terrace

DES MOINES – The State Historical Society of Iowa’s 2011 Blues Before Sunset concert series concludes next week with Matt Woods and the Thunderbolts.

The concert will be 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sept. 2, 2011, on the Grand Terrace of the State Historical Building, 600 E. Locust Street in Des Moines. The event is free and open to the public. Fat Tuesday Cajun Restaurant will be selling food and soft drinks, and beer, wine and water will be available for purchase.

Since their formation in 2005, singer-guitarist Matt Woods, bassist Scott Cochran and drummer Michael Swanger have carved a niche for themselves as uncompromising purveyors of traditional blues. Now in its fifth year, the group continues to be one of the hardest working, well-traveled bands in Des Moines, having packed venues from Beale Street to Main Street with their feel-good, party music.

This year, Blues Before Sunset has moved from the 600 block of E. Locust Street to the State Historical Building’s Grand Terrace, which has street level access from Grand Avenue. The terrace offers built-in bench seating, and patrons are encouraged to bring their own chairs. In case of rain, the event is moved to the portico of the Historical Building, located on East Locust Street.

Blues Before Sunset is presented by the State Historical Society of Iowa with support from Baratta’s and the Central Iowa Blues Society. Contact Sarah Oltrogge at sarah.oltrogge@iowa.gov or 515-281-4011 for more information.

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The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs is responsible for developing the state’s interest in the areas of the arts, history and other cultural matters with the advice and assistance from its two divisions: the State Historical Society of Iowa and the Iowa Arts Council. DCA preserves, researches, interprets and promotes an awareness and understanding of local, state and regional history and stimulates and encourages the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts and public interest and participation in them. It implements tourism-related art and history projects as directed by the General Assembly and designs a comprehensive, statewide, long-range plan with the assistance of the Iowa Arts Council to develop the arts in Iowa. More information about DCA is available at www.culturalaffairs.org.