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Perhaps it could be attributed to the unspoken, yet understood bond first cousins share, or possibly just good old-fashioned magic, but long before Christina and Katie formed The Iowans band, their innate desire to create music together and experience the joy of sharing it with others was and continues to be beyond question. First gigging in the
early 2000’s as the Llama Mamas, Christina Dollhausen (songwriter, lead vocals, guitar) and Katie Getz (harmony vocals, banjo, keys, percussion) began weaving their genetic harmonies and performing original tunes in the Iowa City, IA, and Madison, WI, music scenes.
After a ten-year hiatus to raise families, the cousins reunited in a new community at the heart of the Wisconsin Driftless Region’s musical vortex (Viroqua) as The Iowans.
Christina’s wanderlust of finding answers to the big, existential ponderings through lyrics and melody inspires the crafting of her songs. Her always rich and powerful vocals are much like unfiltered honey—sweet and melodic, with a willingness to be daring and wild. Christina’s guitar work is an extension of how she goes through the world: with truth, beauty, and unflinching power.
Christina’s inspired song ideas are met in musical conversation with Katie’s own philosophical musings, ethereal harmonies, and very often the heartbeat of her clawhammer banjo. A multi-instrumentalist and part of the rhythmic glue of the band,
“Katie’s World” on stage involves some combination of a vocal mic, a 5-string open-back banjo, cajon, djembe, set of keys, kazoo, and once-in-a-great-while, her silver trumpet.
A perfect synergy emerged when the duo discovered a virtuoso concertmaster violinist, John Madura (Summer 2022), that is equal parts Brahms, Pink Floyd, Beatles, and Eminem. Madura’s violin work harmonically supports the songbird cousin pair, and
when given the space to solo, his 150 year-old violin emits a swelling of light—like the moment when earth meets sky and pure brilliance ensues.
Adding depth and musical gravity to the soundscape, The Iowans unknowingly auditioned their eventual bassman extraordinaire, Mat Grewe, in late 2022 when he handily stood in last-minute with the band at a festival. Now, the pulsing groove of his
earth-shifting, home-crafted electric bass licks (inspired by the likes of Claypool, Rachmaninov, Zappa, and Bill Frisell) has made Grewe an easy favorite to behold in the band.
Now, with an impressive library of original music, The Iowans have earned their band a place as a staple in the Driftless Americana/Folk Fusion music scene. Their new album,
Time Won’t Wait, will be dropped on vinyl, CD, and digital platforms in Summer of 2024.
Music is 6pm-830pm
Bring blanket/chair
Food and Beverage available
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Sidie Hollow County Park, E6051 County Road XX, Viroqua, WI 54665-7868, United States,Viroqua, Wisconsin
