Iowa Summer Jam coming back to Cedar Rapids on Friday

CEDAR RAPIDS — For the sixth year in a row, Iowa Summer Jam is coming back to Cedar Rapids with nine hours of live music from a mix of 26 Rock, Pop, R&B, and hip-hop artists from around Iowa and the Midwest at the Classic Event Center this Friday.

Antonio “Tone da Boss” Chalmers, the CEO of T1 Entertainment and host of the Iowa Summer Jam, began the Summer Jam six years ago after attending music festivals in Atlanta, Chicago, and New York.

In 2011, T1 Entertainment piloted a similar event in Vinton, which was a success. In 2018 they brought the event to Cedar Rapids.

Chalmers had recognized how influential music festivals were on his career in his band Big Band DBT.

“I think the biggest thing we learned from Atlanta, is instead of trying to be a big fish in the ocean, it's more important to be a big fish in the small pond first,” Chalmers told The Gazette.

He wanted to bring that to other Iowa artists and grow the music scene in Iowa so that artists could gain a following without having to leave the state, Chalmers said.

Performers will include: Tevin Jones; Alisabeth Von Presley; Sten Joddi; Klazik; Nasty aka Nate; Chisongwriter; Madi Bloc Musiq, Funkatude; Izzy Dunfore; Trap Garage Mafia; DStreet MC; Buu Kilo; Tone Da Boss & Daren Barker.

“Events like Iowa Summer Jam and the Iowa Music Awards, not only gives back to the artists and gives them the recognition they deserve, but it lets them know that they don't have to leave Iowa in order to feel like they are special or that they made it,” he said.

Comments: 319-368-8877; liam.halawith@thegazette.com