African American Blues in Iowa


Get down with two of Iowa’s hottest home-grown blues bands. Join the Ernie Peniston Band and BF Burt & The Instigators for two full hours of traditional blues. A mixture of performance, talk and jamming with audience members, this two-hour program has something for everyone. Make sure to come out and bring your instruments!

Availability: evenings, Sunday through Thursdays; days, Sundays only

Fees to Artists (plus travel): $1,500

Participants: 5

 

Bios of Key Participants:
Iowa native Ernie Peniston has been involved in the music world for over three decades. Born in Muscatine, Peniston has traveled across the U.S.A. and Europe performing at nightclubs and festivals. Now residing in Cedar Rapids, Peniston was the front man for Blind Pig recording artists, the Chicago Rhythm & Blues Kings, a major Chicago R&B/Blues act. His success has spurred Peniston on to step it up another notch to form his own band, the Ernie Peniston Band, which tours nationally.

Highlights of Peniston's early career include the Mississippi Valley Blues and opening for major RB/Blues acts such as Prince; The Time; Temptations; James Brown; KoKo Taylor; Lonnie Brooks; and the late, great Albert Collins. Peniston's debut cassette album, The Heart of St. Paul, showcases everything from the smoky RB of "Let Me Be the One," to the smooth sound of "My Main Love," to the funky rock of "Full-time Job." "Music-wise we throw it down real hard," said Peniston. "It's straight ahead, in-your-face music."

Born and reared in Waterloo, Kevin “B.F.” Burt, like Peniston, grew up singing in church choirs and became a social worker. When a co-worker praised his powerful voice several years ago, Kevin began attending local blues jams where he met a group of talented musicians who decided to form their own band, Kevin Burt & the Instigators. Led by Burt on lead vocals, the group includes John Lane on bass, Eric Madson on drums, and Matt Panek on guitar.

This four-member band has toured the Midwest for eleven years playing songs on the funky side of the blues. They perform a blues repertoire of old and new songs by such artists as Bill Withers, Muddy Waters and CCR to create an indigenous Iowa sound. Kevin Burt & the Instigators perform at various blues venues and festivals from small towns to major cities such as Kansas City, Chicago and St. Louis.