Musicians will perform on porches and lawns and in alleys and garages in Keokuk on Friday, May 22.
The 19th annual Back Alley Bandfest will feature around 20 musical acts playing at various locations around Keokuk’s Cultural and Entertainment District from 6 to 9 p.m.
“What’s exciting about it is we do high school age kids that start up bands, we do headbangers to Christian rock to GRAMMY Award-winning people, playing down the street from each other,” said Joyce Glasscock, vice president of the district.
“It’s a real mix of music. It’s one of the best things that I like about it because it brings a venue to those bands that haven’t played in a public place before or for a general audience, but it also exposes that audience to some bands they may not have heard before.”
Around another dozen acts will perform in various venues after 9:30 p.m. for what’s called Back Alley After Dark.
Glasscock said the event has grown quite a bit since its first year, when around ten bands performed.
“It’s amazing,” she said about its growth.
Glasscock said the Back Alley Bandfest is free and open to the public, and it’s a family-friendly event.
She also said local restaurants will be open and there will be four food trucks.
In the event of rain, it’s up to the bands to decide whether to go on with the show. So far, that’s not been a problem.
“We’ve never had to cancel, so hopefully it will go on just like it has every year,” said Glasscock.
She said Back Alley Bandfest gives bands a chance to market themselves, and she encourages them to bring merchandise.
She said most are local bands, but organizers have also been contacted by bands from as far away as Chicago and Iowa City.
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