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Scarlett Picks: 2014 Mission Creek Festival Artists

Scarlett Cerna

April 1st kicks off the 2014 Mission Creek Festival in Iowa City welcoming both national and regional artists to the area. Launched in the spring of 2006, music is just one aspect of Mission Creek. Film showcases, local food tasting, stand-up, and literary events have also been incorporated into the festival in recent years. New for 2014, is the Tech + Innovation Conference (April 4-5).  Over the course of six days you can check out a wide variety of artists from Phillip Glass to !!! (pronounced chk chk chk), and from Laurie Anderson to Hannibal Buress. Some of the acts I hope to catch are Warpaint, Phillip Glass, !!!, Of Montreal, and William Elliot Whitmore.

The LA quartet Warpaint has been on tour for their latest self-titled album. Their lead single “Love is to Die” has a dark psychedelic feel to it that is reminiscent of Bauhaus and the Eurhythmics.  Warpaint will be playing April 1 at Gabe’s.

http://youtu.be/JUlephwtx2o

Prominent minimalist composer Phillip Glass will be at the Englert Theater on Thursday April 3. His stop in Iowa City is one of three. Glass is also scheduled to perform in Decorah and Des Moines. This is one of those golden opportunities to see an iconic artist. 

Also performing on Thursday is Of Montreal at the Blue Moose Tap House. The Athens, GA band does not shy away from changing things up and they have quite a discography behind them thus far. It would be interesting to see what they choose to include in their setlist that night.

!!! (chk chk chk) brings their dance-punk groove to Gabe’s on Friday, April 4. Their last album Thr!!!er has the ultimate dance party vibe, so just imagine what it would be like live! Sounds like a fun time.

http://youtu.be/STz5dlEJ6ZI

I was fortunate to see William Elliot Whitmore perform at Studio One awhile back, and he is such a personable and charismatic performer. From Lee County, Whitmore has an avid fan base in Iowa. He will be at the Englert on Saturday April 5, and is one of many regional bands performing at Mission Creek. There is so much going on during the next six days, and I hope to catch as many performances and events as I can.

For more information, details, and schedules you can visit the Mission Creek Festival website at www.missionfreak.com.