Mission Creek, the annual Iowa City fest among several downtown venues + Hancher Auditorium is upon us! On Thursday, the fest is entirely housed at Hancher, and then for the next two days it moves to the Ped Mall for shows at Gabe's, Riverside Theatre and The Englert Theatre.
If you're headed into Iowa City for the fest from out of town and feeling lost about where these venues are in relationship to each other, where you can easily park and walk, and where you can grab a bite, "expand map details" and save the Mission Creek Map to your phone!
L’Rain
Thursday, April 4, 7:30 p.m.
Hancher
This will be an interesting guitar-driven experimental pop set, we think. L’Rain released her debut album a decade ago and has since rejected categorization of their music. She layers and loops her vocals with field recordings, instruments and other sounds. In true Mission Creek form, this will be a show that will make you think about what you’re hearing. Check out her new single “Pet Rock.”
Neko Case
Thursday, April 4, 8:45 p.m.
Hancher
Neko Case is one of our favorites at Studio One. She wears her heart on her sleeve, and she sings her truth. She's a Canadian singer/songwriter and part of the indie band The New Pornographers. She's the opening headliner for Mission Creek 2024.
Indigo De Souza
Friday, April 5, 9:45 p.m.
The Englert
We featured Indigo De Souza’s All of This Will End in 2023, and we were elated to see her name on the Mission Creek lineup. Here’s the single off that aforementioned record, which is her third studio album, “Smog.”
Hatis Noit
Friday, April 5, 8:30 p.m.
Riverside Theatre
Okay, so we’re not spinning Hatis Noit on the radio, but we’re very intrigued by this booking. Noit, now based in London, is Japanese and is a self-taught vocalist who explores everything from Japanese operatic singing to Geogrian and Bulgarian chanting. The name Hatis Noit itself is taken from Japanese folklore, meaning the stem of the lotus flower. The lotus represents the living world, while its root represents the spirit world, therefore Hatis Noit is what connects the two. For Hatis Noit, music represents the same netherworld with its ability to move and transport us to the other side; the past, a memory, our subconscious. Here’s the song linked on the fest’s website.
Sunny War
Friday, April 5, 10:00 p.m.
Riverside Theatre
Nashville based singer/songwriter and guitar virtuoso — hell yes we’ll see Sunny War in a space like the Riverside Theatre. As everyone gets ready to drop a country inspired album this year, we’ve written about how it’s best to familiarize yourself with some of the outstanding acts also hanging out in the space, and Sunny War is one of them. She played the Campfire Stage at Hinterland in 2023. Here’s her single, “No Reason.”
Subatlantic
Saturday, April 6, 4:15 p.m.
Big Grove Brewery
This is an Iowa act who was also our Artist of the Month in February! What a perfect set to take in while you grab a pint and something to eat before a big night at The Englert.
SG Goodman
Saturday, April 6, 8:00 p.m.
The Englert
When the Kentucky native released her debut album, Old Time Feeling, she was rightfully coined an “untamed rock n roll truth-teller” by Rolling Stone. She cites Pavementand Karen Dalton as influences and we love that mix.
Osees
Saturday, April 6, 9:45 p.m.
The Englert
Be still our psych rock loving hearts, Osees is coming to Iowa. If a guitar solo that lasts a substantial amount of time moves your soul, and you’ve been following our obsession with King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, this show might tickle your fancy.
Tickets are still availablefor $65 for students and $120 for non-students.
