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Music & entertainment at the festival

Music Lineup | Musical Guest Bios

Main Stage

Music Lineup on the Main Stage Presented by Prairie Meadows

Friday

8p.m. Evening Headliner: Parranderos Latin Combo

11 a.m.: Naturalization Ceremony
12:30 p.m.: Lani
2:30 p.m.: Weary Ramblers
4:30 p.m.: Guitarras ATM
6 p.m.: Sharane Calister & The Feel Right Band

Saturday

8:30 p.m.: Evening Headliner: Brass Against

11 a.m.: Joshua Sinclair
12:30 p.m.: Shake your Sass in Zumba Class
3:30 p.m.: Eshangali Dance Academy – Dances of India
5 p.m.: Leradee & The Positives
6:30 p.m.: Beats y Bateria

Sunday

12 p.m.: The Crowfoot Rakes
1:30 p.m.: Sons of Bossa
3:30 p.m.: Shock Collar

Cultural Stage

Music lineup and entertainment presented by Bravo Greater Des Moines.

Friday

12 p.m.: Songs that tell the American Story | Frank Strong
1:45 p.m.: Spoken Word | Miyani
3:45 p.m.: Spoken Word | SoProfound
5:15 p.m.: Songs of Siam | Sue Hudson & Sansonthi Boonyothayan
5:55 p.m.: RAM SI PAK | Marie & Amelie Habier

Saturday

Noon: Rwanda Traditional Dance | Eline Niyibizi
1 p.m.: Manabiya - Japanese Pop | Chikako Brown
3 p.m.: Heart of Iowa Cloggers
4:45 p.m.: Ishara Dance | Syd Furgerson
6 p.m.: DSM Breakerz

Sunday

11 a.m.: Morningstar Native Dance
11:45 a.m.: Mackenzie Highlanders
1 p.m.: Soten Taiko Drumming
3 p.m.: FOY Irish Dancers

Parranderos Latin Combo (PLC) is a group of international musicians creating original music inspired by Salsa, Cumbia, Son Montuno, Afrobeat, Plena, Joropo, Salsa Dura y mucho mas. Live performances are high-energy dance parties infusing Salsa classics with original grooves and compositions mixed to impress hips of discernment into rage. PLC was founded in 2010 by Fernando Aveiga and Ryan Mullin. Juan Sebastian Ramirez Espinosa joined as partner and musical director in 2019 and many inspired/talented musicians from the past and present have added to the ever-evolving collective that is PLC.

Brass Against

Brass Against, formed in 2017 by Brad Hammonds and Andrew Gutauskas, combines brass band, heavy rock and powerful vocals to inspire change. They went viral with a cover of “Killing in the Name” by Rage Against the Machine, leading to a dynamic collective of professional jazz musicians. Performing covers of bands like Tool and Soundgarden, as well as original music, Brass Against features vocalists like Sophia Urista. They've toured globally, playing festivals like Glastonbury and Boomtown, and have shared the stage with Tool and Lenny Kravitz. Brass Against’s music resonates emotionally, encouraging action and offering escapism from everyday chaos. Their shows promote love, understanding and peace.

Lani

Lani is a Colombian-American singer/songwriter and self-taught keyboardist and accordion player based in Des Moines, Iowa. Always at her disposal have been her catchy melodies and lyrical hooks, with a delicate yet powerful voice that has the power to touch every heart it comes across. Through her compositions and performances with her full band, Lani captures the vulnerability of the human soul, while simultaneously incorporating the upbeat, energetic rhythms rooted in Colombian culture.

Weary Ramblers

The newly formed Iowa folk duo, Weary Ramblers bring years of experience to the stage with award-winning songwriting and chemistry. Chad Elliott and Kathryn Fox showcase multi-instrumental performances with tight harmonies and great storytelling.

Guitarras ATM

Guitarras ATM has been performing together for the last six years. Guitarras has performed for musical festivals, private parties, weddings, family reunions and has also performed at several colleges and universities. Guitarras ATM plays many different Latin genres including boleros, cumbias, rancheras, corridos, Latin jazz and mariachi music. The members of the band are RJ Hernandez (rhythm guitar vocals, percussion), Victor Lara (requinto (3/4guitar) bass, guitar and is the lead vocalist), Rich Salas (lead guitar, bass guitar and vocals), Jesse Hernandez-Congas (light percussion), and Benny Lozano (accordion, saxophone).

Sharane Calister & The Feel Right Band

Sharane Calister is an R&B/soul/pop American singer/songwriter and a 30-year-old native of Des Moines. Calister is best known for her appearance and performance on The Voice Season 14 working with Alicia Keys and Adam Levine in 2018. She continues to sing with her band The Feel Right Band making additional solo appearances throughout the country.

Beats y Bateria

Traditional Afro-Latino, Romanian and neo-electronic sounds, along with jazz, house, disco and bossa nova. The trio is formed by producer Harold 'AfroQbano' Gonzalez on synths and percussion, with Daniel Crane on drums, and singer-songwriter Ana Everling's enchanting dance floor poetry echoing in multiple languages.

Eshangali Dance Academy – Dances of India

Experience a variety of beautiful traditional and new dances performed in India, including classical dances like Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi, Bollywood dances, hop hop, Kuthu, and folk dances like Garba and Dhandiya Raas.

The Crowfoot Rakes

"Irish Music For the Iowish People!" This is the motto of the Des Moines-based musical conglomerate known as The Crowfoot Rakes. Formed as five fine musicians who met through the Iowa Irish Session scene, they decided to do something a little more… structured. The band takes a different approach to Irish music by combining the time-honored tradition of the great Irish folk groups of the 1960s-70s with a new energy found in today’s acoustic folk punk movement. The Crowfoot Rakes are an incredibly versatile acoustic band, with each member being a talented multi-instrumentalist. They play everything from guitar, banjo, and fiddle to lesser heard instruments such as accordion, bodhran, cittern and Irish bouzouki, but the crown jewel of their instrumental heap would be the uilleann pipes, or the Irish bellow bagpipes.

Sons of Bossa

Group of Brazilians and a Slovak spreading the beauty and rhythms of Brazilian Bossa Nova and Popular Brazilian Music in Iowa.

Songs that tell the American Story | Frank Strong

Music has always played a key role in telling the American story. Professional musician "Freight Train" Frank Strong celebrates U.S. history and geography through its popular folk songs. You will hear songs that reflect political, racial, social and work aspects of American life and learn about their origins and meanings.

Spoken Word | Miyani

Spoken word poetry is a dynamic and powerful art form where words come alive through performance. It's all about expressing thoughts, feelings, and stories with energy and emotion. Combining elements of theater, music, and poetry, spoken word captivates audiences as a way for voices to be heard and celebrated. Through her spoken word, Miyani will share a memorable performance that transcends written word.

Spoken Word | SoProfound

SoProfound, an esteemed poet and media personality originating from Harare, Zimbabwe, has garnered significant recognition over his impressive career spanning more than a decade. His talents have graced major festival platforms across both the African continent and Europe, solidifying his reputation as a captivating performer. One of his notable accomplishments is his role as the visionary and director behind the "Say Sumthin' Poetry and Spoken Word Convention." This event stands as a distinctive tribute to storytellers who harness the power of poetry and spoken word to convey their narratives. The convention serves as a unique platform for these artists to showcase their skills and connect with audiences.

Songs of Siam | Sue Hudson & Sansonthi Boonyothayan

The father-daughter duo of Songs of Siam, Sue Hudson, and her father, Sansonthi Boonyothayan, will perform traditional Thai music. Sansonthi has played the guitar since grade school and used classic American country to teach Sue English. Sue has always adored singing with her father. She is currently a local business owner, president of the Thai Association of Iowa, and a CultureALL Ambassador, and she loves to perform with him when he visits her in Iowa from Thailand.

RAM SI PAK | Marie & Amelie Habier

This song celebrates the unity of all Thai people across the four regions of Thailand: the North, Northeast, South, and Central regions.

Rwanda Traditional Dance | Eline Niyibizi

The Rwandan Community in Iowa will be performing a vital and vibrant traditional dance. These dances are performed at weddings and other important ceremonies and they serve as a celebration of their heritage and communal bonds. In the Rwandan community, traditional dance is more than just a form of entertainment, it is a profound expression of their history, values and unity. Each movement and rhythm in the dance carries deep cultural significance, telling stories of their ancestors and preserving their rich cultural legacy. Through these performances, they not only honor their traditions but it also brings people together, which helps foster a sense of identity and pride.

J-Pop Dance, "DON!" and Radio Exercise | Manabiya

Manabiya Iowa will be sharing two different types of routines, one historical and the other modern.Radio Exercise is an historical set of exercises that most Japanese people can do with the music and easy movements.

J-Pop Dance, "DON!" J-Pop is known as Japanese pop music including anime songs. This time, we will be dancing to music by one of the very popular groups with an uplifting cheering song.

Heart of Iowa Cloggers

Clogging is an American dance that began in the Appalachian Mountain regions. The Heart of Iowa Cloggers are energetic and enthusiastic cloggers that will make you want to clap along as you watch them clog. Many people have the misconception that clogging is done in big wooden shoes called clogs. It isn’t! Cloggers have double taps on the heel and toe of their leather shoes that they use to make different sounds and rhythms. Years ago, clogging was only done to fiddle and banjo tunes, but it is now done to many different types of music.

Ishara Dance

Ishara, which means “Gesture” in both Hindi and Swahili, captures how this incredible group blends their Indian and African dance roots to tell stories and convey emotions beyond words. From the captivating narratives of Bharatnatyam, Kathak and Kuchipudi and the rhythmic beats of Bollywood and Bhangra – their performances are a tribute to the profound way they communicate through music.

DSM Breakerz

Breakdance is an American artform that started in the Bronx, New York. Pioneer DJ Kool Herc is considered the founding father to isolate the breakbeat. DSM Breakerz will perform the dynamic elements of breakdance, including movements called toprock, footwork, freezes, and power moves. Breaking will become an official sport in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Future Olympians may discover their competitive dance spirit in this workshop!

Mackenzie Highlanders Pipes & Drums

Mackenzie Highlanders Pipes & Drums of lowa is a nonprofit organization with a mission to support first responders, fire departments, law enforcement, and active and reserve military units. The group plays the Great Highland bagpipes and drums and the music and instruments are from Scotland.

Soten Taiko Drumming

Soten Taiko is Central Iowa's only Taiko drumming group. The name of the group translates as "Blue Sky” Taiko. Their goal is to share the ancient sounds of Taiko drumming under the blue skies of Iowa. The group, which is part of the Japan America Society of Iowa, began in March of 2011 with the idea to introduce and share the traditional Japanese art form with the community. Starting with only two Taiko drums, the group has gradually added more Taiko Drums, along with other Japanese instruments. The group has performed at a number of events in addition to The Festival, such as IAA Asian Heritage Festival, community cultural events and corporate gatherings.

FOY Irish Dancers

Join in the celebration of Irish culture featuring spirited dance and lively music that will have your toes tapping. Enjoy traditional Irish dance from our youngest wee ones to the lightning-fast footwork of our advanced dancers. We love rowdy crowds!