X Marks the Arts presents a new admission-free winter festival celebrating Downtown Iowa City’s Cultural & Entertainment District

Spend a genre-blending Friday evening at The Englert featuring The Uniphonics, Alyx Rush, and Colo Chanel as part of the first annual Free Week!

The Uniphonics

Since forming in Iowa City in 2007, The Uniphonics performed in 15 states, played at notable festivals, and opened for platinum selling artists. They’ve released 3 albums: Truth Be Told (2009), Crawl (2010), and The Uniphonics (2020). “Crawl” and “The Uniphonics” featured collaborations with internationally known artists, including Grammy Award winning jazz legend Robin Eubanks, Twin Cities vocal phenom Heatbox, and Iowa guitar legend Dennis “Daddy-O” McMurrin. 

Their sound combines hip hop, funk, soul, jazz, reggae, and latin. They’ve been described as “taking the jam-band approach to hip hop,” with virtuosic live band instrumentation and improvisation.

The Uniphonics are a who’s who of the Eastern Iowa music scene. The band shares members with other regional and national acts, including Diplomats of Solid Sound, The Channel Cats, Plastic Relations, TheSwampland Jewels, Jumbies, and dozens more. 

Alyx Rush

Alyx Rush is making waves from the midwest with an alluring R&B/pop sound that beautifully smudges the edges of both genres. Casting his spell from the underground, Rush has risen quickly with head-turning independent releases and captivating live performances at festivals and venues across the region. He is both technically gifted and rawly emotive as a vocalist, swooping through irresistible top lines on wavy production that ranges from winter ballads to summer sways. His sound can soar, swagger and swoon, sometimes all at once.

Colo Chanel

Colo Chanel is a philanthropist and artist who uses her platform and creativity to be an advocate, for those who cannot be an advocate for themselves. Colo’s advocacy and artistic capacity stretches beyond her music. She has shown up for her community through a plethora of avenues through organizing demonstrations for marginalized communities. As she continues to blossom into a trailblazer, her music brings cultural awareness yet entertainment to the music industry. Colo Chanel’s highlight performances include: 80/35 Iowa’s largest music festival, Capital City’s Pride Headline performer, Colo on the Rocks I & II @ Vaudeville Mews, James Baldwin’s The Amen Corner at Des Moines Performing Arts Stoner Theatre, August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson at Des Moines Playhouse. Colo Chanel’s advocacy highlights include: interview with CNN, “Iowa governor says she will issue executive order restoring felons’ voting rights”, named “Voices of metro Des Moines’ Black leaders: Calling for changes in mindsets, policies to end systematic racism”, and community mobilization efforts for Mayor Cownie and Gov. Kim Reynolds to allow people with felony convictions to vote. Chanel lyrical abilities tell a story of things she sees in her community. Colo Chanel will truly be a maverick to the entertainment industry. 

About X Marks the Arts:
X Marks the Arts is a cultural initiative dedicated to celebrating and promoting the Downtown Iowa City Cultural & Entertainment District. Through partnerships, events, and marketing, X Marks the Arts serves as a vital connector between Iowa City’s venues, artists, and audiences, showcasing the city’s dynamic cultural life and artistic vibrancy.