June, July, & August concerts
- Thomas Doggett
- May 8
- 2 min read
This show was originally promoted featuring Seth Hedquist. Joining me for an evening of music will be bassist, Ben Mars. Ben is one of the first musicians I met when I moved to Des Moines 21 years ago. Ben is responsible for introducing me to the majority of musicians I know.
Ben Mars is an Iowa-born songwriter and multi-instrumentalist known for his genre-fluid sound and introspective lyricism. Drawing from folk roots and electronic textures, his music creates space for both solitude and connection. Mars’s work explores memory, movement, and the wide-open quiet of the Midwest. He was a founding member and bassist for The Lone Bellow, has toured with Gavin DeGraw, and has worked as a studio bassist in New York City. He also works with Bow & Arrow Communications.
Doors: 7pm | Show: 8pm
All Ages
FREE - DONATIONS ENCOURAGED
Limited seating available on a first come, first served basis
I love teaching in the moment and that's why I love being part of the CJC Jazz Jam for middle school and high school students. I'll be playing a song at the beginning to get the jam started and the rest of the afternoon will be an opportunity for students.
Participating jam session students will:
Meet young musicians with similar interests from around central Iowa. Many have organized combos on their own and made lifelong friendships.
Perform and learn on-the-spot from some of the best rhythm section players on the scene today - plus special guests who show up from time to time.
Experience the fun and thrill of jazz improvisation in a non-competitive, non-school setting.
Develop valuable skills (e.g., teamwork, communications, leadership, flexibility, self-confidence) that will impact their future regardless of whether they pursue a career in music or not.
Pursue playing opportunities with the CJC Youth Combo and/or the CJC Big Band.
Since its inception in 1988, CJC has been hosting jam sessions exclusively for middle school to high school students. Sessions are led by a quartet of working jazz musicians from the community.
This past October, the Monday Night Live Band performed an evening of music by Bruce Springsteen featuring Andrew Fleming, Randy Burk, Matt Terronez, Allison Hall, and myself along with the MNL Players Dave Ducharme-Jones, Russ Tomlinson, Ben Mars and Anne Ducharme-Jones. It was such a great night and we're excited to do it again at the Waukee Arts Festival.
The festival reopens Saturday at 10 am for a full day of fun and food for the whole family, concluding with our feature concert - Born To Run: The Music of Bruce Springsteen Performed By The Monday Night Live Band.
One of the best parts of 2026 has been rehearsing with ENGLISH again. This will be our first show after a long hiatus.
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