Author: Fred Love

xBk staff advocate for independent live music at NIVA 2026 by Fred Love MINNEAPOLIS – A contingent of xBk staff spent three days in Minneapolis last week participating in the 2026 National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) Conference, joining more than 1,400 venue operators, promoters, artists, agents, and industry leaders from across the country. Gathering at […]

xBk hosts benefit to celebrate Hawaiian culture, support flood relief Teri Underhill’s love for Hawaii runs deep. Though born and raised in Iowa, her childhood was threaded with vivid memories of family gatherings at her grandmother’s estate in Hawaii. At those cookouts, relatives would pass around instruments, voices rising together in song. Somewhere in that […]

Psychobilly chemistry will be on full display when Koffin Kats hit xBk on April 9 By Fred Love Chemistry comes first for the Koffin Kats. The long-running psychobilly trio from Detroit has carved out a living as a hard-touring independent act by leaning on brotherhood. That bond fuels their high-energy performances, even as they grind […]

By Fred Love Before you head out the door this St. Patrick’s Day, make sure you’ve got something green in your wardrobe, and make sure you’ve got your ticket to celebrate the holiday at xBk. St. Paddy’s brings with it two different ways to celebrate on Tuesday, March 17. Whether you want to stomp your […]

By Fred Love This time, they’re taking off the jumpsuits. For years, Jinnouchi Power has built its identity around a clever conceit. The long-running Des Moines–area indie rock band performs as if they’re employees of a fictional power company, sporting coordinated jumpsuits that give them a “hard-at-work” presence onstage. It’s part performance art, part inside […]

By Fred Love Wayne Hancock, known throughout the independent music world as the king of juke-joint swing, thinks of his music as a soundtrack to a great time. Not a spectacle, not a lecture, and certainly not a nostalgia act, but a living, breathing soundtrack for people who want to let go of the week […]

Ring in 2026 at xBk Live with two distinct NYE celebrations  By Fred Love New Year’s Eve doesn’t have to be a one-size-fits-all occasion. This year, xBk Live is presenting two community-centered events designed to bring people of all ages together to ring in 2026, whether that means dancing before lunch or counting down to […]

Salon 25 will cross boundaries and draw artists to xBk Annex By Fred Love It’s a new spin on an old European tradition. Activists and artists of various persuasions will gather at the xBk Annex on Thursday, Nov. 20, for Salon 25, where poets and artists will showcase their work and connect with other creatives […]

Celebrate 20 years of Toubab Krewe with West African-influenced music at xBk By Fred Love Twenty years as a percussionist with Toubab Krewe has taught Luke Quaranta just how vital music is to the human experience. After two decades on the road, he’s seen firsthand how sound can bridge divides and bring people together. “We […]

xBk Annex provides central Iowa’s arts scene with a new living room By Fred Love The Annex gives strong living-room vibes with its warm lamp light and overstuffed couches. On a recent Friday night, the modest performance space hosted the New City Poets Open Mic, welcoming patrons and performers alike to get close and make […]