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Doors at 6Swampland Jewels at 6:30
Then Stompers play until 9:15
Laissez les bons temps rouler, Iowa City! Fat Tuesday comes early this year, and Wildwood Saloon is turning into a full-on Mardi Gras dance hall for a night of joyful noise, nonstop dancing, and Gulf Coast–meets–New Orleans flavor. 🎉💃🕺
Kicking off the celebration are The Swampland Jewels, ready to take you on a musical road trip down Highway 61 and across the bayous of Southwest Louisiana into East Texas. Blending original tunes with Gulf Coast oldies, Cajun and Creole standards, and Tex-Mex favorites, their sound is guaranteed to get you on your feet. If you’re not already an accordion fan, you will be by the end of the night. Led by Iowa City mainstay Nate Basinger, The Swampland Jewels fuse Midwest roots with Gulf Coast soul, drawing on blues traditions and Louisiana folk music to create a dance-driven, feel-good set perfect for Fat Tuesday.
Keeping the party rolling are Dandelion Stompers, voted Best Local Band by Little Village Magazine in 2022. Known for their infectious energy and joyful vintage jazz, the Stompers channel the spirit of a street band busking on a sunny afternoon—hot swing, soulful horns, and rhythms that keep the dance floor hopping. Their signature sound shines on their acclaimed double album Whirlwind Sessions: Vol I & Vol II, featuring brass-worn vocalist Katie Roche on vocals. As The Syncopated Times writes, “Not everyone singing for a jazz band sings jazz — she does.”
✨ This is a night of dancing
🍽️ Featuring a special New Orleans–inspired menu
🎶 Two incredible bands, one unforgettable Mardi Gras party
Grab your beads, lace up your dancing shoes, and join us at Wildwood Saloon for a Fat Tuesday celebration where the music is hot, the floor is packed, and everyone’s invited.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Wildwood BBQ & Saloon, 4914 Walleye Dr SE, Iowa City, IA 52240-8082, United States
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