Schedule of Events:

12:00 - 3:00 p.m: Johnny Kilowatt Band

Johnny Kilowatt is Jon Klinkowitz (guitar and vocals), a 35-year veteran of the Iowa blues scene. Kilowatt was a founding member of the Blues Instigators with Kevin Burt, and was inducted into the Iowa Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Mother Blues with Patrick Hazell.

The Kilowatt band shared billing with the legendary Luther Allison shortly before his death as well as fellow Alligator Records recording artist Long John Hunter. The band also has played the 2000 Taste of Iowa in Cedar Rapids, the 2001 Court Ave. Blues Fest in Des Moines, the 2003, 2009 and 2012 Iowa City Jazz Festivals, the 2008 New Bohemia Festival in Cedar Rapids, the 2009

Swamp Fox Festival in Marion, and KCCK’s Jazz Under the Stars (2012), the Iowa Soul Festival (2013) and Mississippi Blues Festival main stage (2014) with guest vocalist Gloria Hardiman. Johnny Kilowatt also played KCCK’s daBluesapalooza event in 2022, 2023 and 2025 at the Olympic Southside Theater in Cedar Rapids.

4:00 - 6:00 p.m: Ben Schmidt Band

Singer/ Songwriter Ben Schmidt steps out of the “coffee house” and into the “barrel house.” With the help of the Power Plant Rhythm Section–Matt Bernemann (drums), and Rich Wagor (bass); and featuring Sean Seaton on keys, this quartet celebrates everything from blues, funky soul, to outlaw country, folk and rock and roll. Digging in with a mix of original tunes and old favorites, the band likes to “keep it greasy”, to stretch out and reimagine arrangements on the fly. The veteran core of the BSB is linked to many of the regions’ finest players, and guest appearances and cross-combinations are frequent — adding to the easy going, playful dynamic of the live experience. 

7:00 - 9:00 p.m: Ghost Town Blues Band

Beale Street’s latest success story, Tennessee Music Award Winner, 5-time Blues Blast Music Award Nominee and International Blues Challenge Runner-up is Ghost Town Blues Band. 

GTBB’s new album Shine debuted at #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart. Recently headlining the blues stage at The Montreal Jazz Festival and appearing at The Lucerne Blues Festival in Switzerland.

Not your grandpa’s blues band, their live show has been captivating audiences in the U.S., Canada and Europe with their “second-line horn entrance,” cigar box guitars and electric push brooms to Allman Brothers style jams. The band’s stage show and energy is unparalleled and has been called the best new, live blues shows in the world.