What to know about Iowa City's Summer of the Arts 2018

It doesn't feel like summer in Iowa City until two things happen: the University of Iowa students leave for break and the Summer of Arts starts its weekly free concerts, festivals and movie screenings.

Well, most of the UI students are now gone, and the Summer of the Arts starts its Friday Night Concert Series at 6:30 p.m. Friday on the block of Iowa Avenue in between Clinton and Dubuque streets.

Though the concert series has been moved out of Iowa City's downtown pedestrian mall during construction — parts of the Summer of the Arts three festivals Arts Fest, Jazz Fest and Soul Fest are also being moved out of the pedestrian mall — audiences can expect the same level of music, art and fun from this year's events.

Friday Night Concert Series

When: 6:30 p.m. Fridays through Aug. 31, starting this week.

6:30 p.m. Fridays through Aug. 31, starting this week. Where: Iowa Avenue, between Clinton and Dubuque streets in downtown Iowa City.

Iowa Avenue, between Clinton and Dubuque streets in downtown Iowa City. Cost: Free

Free Schedule: summerofthearts.org/2018-friday-night-concert-series

No part of Summer of the Arts has been affected by summer construction projects more than the Friday Night Concert Series.

Long held at the Weatherdance Fountain Stage in the heart of the pedestrian mall, the weekly free concert will be held on Iowa Avenue this year.

Lisa Barnes, Summer of the Arts executive director, said the stage will stand across the street from Joe's Place and face diagonally toward the row of restaurants on the block: Basta and the newly opened Saint Burch Tavern.

Barnes said the series will host two food trucks: The Box Lunch and RJ Ice Shaved Ice, the latter of which will donate 20 percent of its proceeds to Summer of the Arts.

As in past years, the concert series mixes local acts with regional musicians. Starting off with the City High and West High Jazz Ensembles on Friday, other local acts include Winterland on June 8, Dandelion Stompers on June 15, Brian Johannesen and Dave Zollo on June 22, The Fez on July 28 and more.

In case of rain, the concert will go on in the Chauncey Swan parking ramp.

Iowa Arts Festival

When: June 1-3

June 1-3 Where: Throughout downtown Iowa City

Throughout downtown Iowa City Cost: Free

Free Details: summerofthearts.org/iowa-arts-festival

One of the state's premiere arts festivals, the Iowa Arts Festival will yet again bring well over 100 local and national artists to town to sell their work over the three-day festival; June 1-3.

Located throughout the streets and sidewalks of downtown Iowa City, only a small portion of the festival will have to be moved due to the pedestrian mall construction project. The family stage and the children's activities will be on Clinton Street, in front of Yotopia, this year. Some artist booths will be moved to South Linn Street.

Other than that, artists will be setting up shop in all the usual roadways: Dubuque, Washington and Clinton streets and Iowa Avenue.

Of course, it's the live music that draws many to Arts Fest, and Barnes said she was particularly proud of this year's lineup. At 9 p.m. June 1, folk, blues and rock singer-songwriter Joan Osborne will perform on the main stage near the corner of Clinton and Iowa. Osborne is best known for her 1995 smash hit "One of Us." Since then, she's fronted and performed with numerous bands, including The Dead.

June 2, the internationally touring bluegrass group Trampled by Turtles will perform as that day's headliner beginning at 9 p.m. Barnes said Trampled by Turtles fans should show up early because opener Parker Millsap has proven to be a popular Americana artist while touring with artists like Jason Isbell. Millsap will perform at 7 p.m.

June 3 will see the music handed over to a series of local acts: High Water Mark, NonProphet, James Tutson and the Rollback and Soul Sherpa will perform from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Free Movies Series

When: Saturdays, June 9-Aug. 25, starting at sunset.

Saturdays, June 9-Aug. 25, starting at sunset. Where: In front of Macbride Hall, near the University of Iowa Pentacrest

In front of Macbride Hall, near the University of Iowa Pentacrest In case of rain: Shows start at 8:30 p.m. in Van Allen Hall, 225 E. Jefferson St.

Shows start at 8:30 p.m. in Van Allen Hall, 225 E. Jefferson St. Cost: Free. Bring lawn chairs or blankets.

Free. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. Details: summerofthearts.org/free-movie-series.

Every Saturday night, the Free Movie Series will screen a free movie on a giant, inflatable screen in front of Macbride Hall from June 9 until Aug. 25.

This year, the series will feature some recent blockbusters. "Black Panther," released just this February, will be shown Aug. 18. The next week, "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" will grace the big screen with its epic lightsaber fights.

Other movies include "Wonder Woman" June 9, "Pretty in Pink" on July 14 and "Mulan" on Aug. 11.

Times vary for movie showings due to sunset, but movies early in the summer start at 9 p.m. and by July 7 showings start at 8:50 p.m. and steadily move earlier.

The only change this year will be that rain location for the screenings will be inside Van Allen Hall.

Iowa City Jazz Festival

When: June 29-July 1

June 29-July 1 Where: Downtown Iowa City, with main stage in front of the Old Capitol

Downtown Iowa City, with main stage in front of the Old Capitol Cost: Free

Free Details: summerofthearts.org/iowa-city-jazz-festival

Pedestrian mall construction won't change the footprint of Jazz Fest much, since it will stick to the streets it has been on in years past: Dubuque, Iowa, Clinton.

The main stage once again sits in front of the Old Capitol and features some of the country's most gifted jazz musicians.

Friday features vibraphonist Behn Gillece and his quartet at 7 p.m. Hot Tamale Louie, a multi-discipline work featuring UI Music professor and jazz musician John Rapson along with Iowa City folk legend Dave Moore, will perform at 9 p.m.

Saturday features saxophonist and Dizzy Gillespie collaborator Vincent Herring at 5 p.m., jazz singer Rene Marie and her band play at 7 p.m. with longtime soprano saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom and her quartet playing at 9 p.m.

Percussionist Matt Wilson and his band Honey and Salt will perform at 6 p.m. Sunday with Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition winner Josuha Redman performing with his quartet at 8 p.m. After his performance, the annual fireworks show will take place behind the Old Cap.

Iowa Soul Festival

When: Aug.17-18

Aug.17-18 Where: Downtown Iowa City

Downtown Iowa City Cost: Free

Free Details: summerofthearts.org/iowa-soul-festival

The Iowa Soul Festival is slated for Aug.17-18, but Barnes said information on performers and and events have yet to be finalized.

For more information on any Summer of the Arts event, visit summerofthearts.org.

Reach Zach Berg at 319-887-5412, zberg@press-citizen.com or follow him on Twitter at @ZacharyBerg.