Musicians

Nebraska brothers to rock out at free concert (09/26/08)
A piano-driven rock band with powerful vocals, intense stage presence with almost acrobatic moves, and harmonies that could make you weep. And they're from Nebraska. Meet Remedy Drive, the band of four brothers from Lincoln who will be rocking the stage at Le Mars Assembly of God Church at 6:30 p.m. Sunday for a free concert...

Telling stories on a 12-string: New Zealand man followed music a long way (08/26/08)
Some people are born with an ear for music. Dusty Spittle was born without one. On his right side, the New Zealand man doesn't have an eardrum, and his right "ear" is actually a skin graft from his shoulder. But that didn't stop him from writing and performing music, rising to be a New Zealand star in the old time country music scene...

Flood benefit showcases old-time country musicians (08/25/08)
Saturday night's Country Music fundraiser for flood victims in the Cedar Rapids area raised nearly $1,200. It also gave area residents and guests a taste of the music to be presented at the 33rd Annual National Old-Time Country & Bluegrass Festival and Contest at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds starting today (Monday) and running through Sunday, Aug. 31...

Old time music fest begins Monday (08/22/08)
Campers from across the nation are already filling up the Plymouth County Fairgrounds. Musicians are warming up their acoustic guitars and banjos. The National Old Time Country and Bluegrass Festival -- a gathering of more than 600 artists -- begins Monday, Aug. 25, and runs through Sunday, Aug. 31...

Saturday country music show will benefit flood victims (08/19/08)
A benefit for flood victims at Cedar Rapids with old-time country music will fill the Plymouth County Historical Museum this Saturday, Aug. 23, and give a preview of music to be enjoyed at the 33rd Annual National Old-Time Country & Bluegrass Festival set for Aug. 25-31 in Le Mars...

Old-Time Country Music fest brings hundreds of performers to Le Mars (08/11/08)
Le Mars and the Plymouth County Fairgrounds will be the place to be as the 33rd Annual National Old-Time Country & Bluegrass Festival and Contest comes to town Aug. 25-31. Organized by Bob and Sheila Everhart of Anita, the festival features old-time traditional country, bluegass, folk, ragtime, cowboy, mountain and all types of acoustical music...

Le Mars composer makes musical notes come alive (07/30/08)
David Moore began writing melodies as a teenager. "I started dabbling when I was in high school just kind of messing around," the Le Mars man said. "I actually did a couple of arrangements for my jazz band experimenting a little bit." Since then, a band instructor by day, Moore has composed full concert band and smaller solo, piano and ensemble pieces...

Le Mars Municipal Band presents final concert of summer season (07/14/08)
The final concert of the 2008 summer season will be presented by the Le Mars Municipal Band at 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 16, in Foster Park. Jerry Bertrand is in his 21st year of conduction the Le Mars Municipal Band. The Rev. Gary Landsness will announce the concert...

Trumpet soloist featured at Municipal Band concert (06/17/08)
A trumpet soloist, a Dixieland set, and a Karl L. King march will highlight the second concert of the season for the Le Mars Municipal Band at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Foster Park. There is no admission charge and concertgoers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets...

Strings teacher of the year award honors Hallberg's passion (05/19/08)
Not just anyone can put a violin into a fourth grader's hands and start teaching them to play. Or help an orchestra of middle school students see their own potential. But this is where Ted Hallberg thrives. The Le Mars Community Schools orchestra instructor was named the Classroom Teacher of the Year by the Iowa chapter of the American String Teachers Association (ASTA)...

Gehlen elementary present vocal concert (05/06/08)
Gehlen Catholic elementary vocal students will present their spring concert, "Kids on Broadway," at 7 p.m. tonight (Tuesday) in the Gehlen Catholic Gymnasium. Students in grades kindergarten through six will present selections from popular Broadway musicals including "The Sound of Music," "The Wizard of Oz," "Oliver," "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown," "Snoopy," and "Mamma Mia" with narration by the sixth grade class...

LCS hosts State Large Group Music Festival Friday (05/01/08)
Le Mars Community Schools will host the State Large Group Music Festival this Friday, May 2. The contest features both instrumental and vocal groups from Le Mars, Storm Lake, Bishop Heelan Catholic, Spencer and Sergeant Bluff-Luton. The instrumental center will be located in the Middle School Auditorium and vocal center will be in Carey Gymnasium...

Gehlen Catholic spring band concert is Thursday (04/29/08)
With an eclectic mix of traditional concert band music and Disney tunes, Gehlen Catholic Schools' band students will present their annual spring instrumental music concert this week. All the band students in grades 4-12 will present their concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 1, in the Gehlen Gymnasium. The concert will also be a time to say "farewell" to 13 graduating seniors...

Le Mars native captures musicians on canvas (04/25/08)
When Le Mars native Jonas Lynch delivered a giant portrait of hip-hop star Snoop Dogg to the musician himself, there was a message imbedded in the painting. Thousands of telephone numbers. Lynch, now living in Long Beach, Calif., plastered a canvas with the pages of a Long Beach phonebook, then painted a reverse image of Snoop Dogg's face in black paint. He left the highlights of the portrait unpainted, so the phonebook pages show through...