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Prepare yourself for a night of Iowa rock! The Steam Boars will take you on a journey through jam band, prog rock, and jazzy excursions, while Surf Zombies will ground you firmly in classic surf rock!Bios:
The Steam Boars (from their website):
The original Steam Boars are back. Founded in the dungeon-like basement of an Italianate Victorian home in Iowa City where novelist Kurt Vonnegut once resided, The Steam Boars pioneered the 1990s jam-band movement in the area and developed a devoted following. After a successful, albeit brief, two-year run, the band members went their own ways after graduation. In the fall of 2025, original members Terry Luther, Erich Gaukel, and Skip Lowe decided it was time to get the band back together.
With backgrounds in jazz, blues, funk, and prog rock, these Iowa natives create expansive grooves, elastic rhythms, and exploratory harmony. Their sound shifts between atmospheric textures and tightly locked pockets, allowing songs to evolve organically in real time, with each performance unfolding as a unique, futuristic journey driven by curiosity, connection, and momentum.
Check out some of their music here: https://steamboars.bandcamp.com/album/steam-boars
Surf Zombies:
Surf Zombies raise surf rock from the dead with fast, crazy, original instrumentals that straddle retro surf, bubblegum punk and garage rock, conjuring images of beach parties, Saturday morning cartoons, and hot rod car shows. The driving rhythms, swirling tremolo, crashing spring reverb from dueling guitars and authentic growl of vintage tube amps make for a truly weird Midwestern wonder. Surf Zombies have played in all corners of Iowa and frequently visit Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, and Nebraska. They twice shared the stage with the late surf guitar godfather Dick Dale, have a beer named after them from Iowa Brewing Company, and received the Spirit Award from the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.
“The Surf Zombies set was the absolute perfect way to wrap up Iowa Public Radio's activities at the 2019 80/35 Festival. […] I couldn't help wondering why festivals aren't more careful to be sure to book bands like Surf Zombies more often. It was a long weekend, […]Surf Zombies were the perfect antidote.”
-Al Schares, Iowa Public Radio
And check out some of their music here: https://surfzombies.bandcamp.com/album/in-color
$10 cover.
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Event venue
119 Main St., Ames, IA, United States, Iowa 50010
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