with Margo Cilker

Headlining Friday of Iowa City Songwriters Festival

Margo Cilker will perform at 7:30 PM with Jeff Tweedy following at 8:45 PM.

About Jeff Tweedy

As the founding member and leader of the ground-breaking American rock band Wilco and co-founder of the alt-country band Uncle Tupelo, Jeff Tweedy is one of contemporary American music’s most accomplished songwriters, musicians and performers. Since starting Wilco in 1994 Tweedy has written original songs for seven Wilco albums, sold millions of records worldwide, won two Grammy Awards, and earned rave reviews from critics and fans alike. Wilco’s latest studio album, 2009’s Grammy-nominated Wilco (The Album) landed on many critics’ lists as one of the year’s best albums and Rolling Stone magazine recently cited Wilco’s 2002 album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot as the 3rd best album of the decade. Regarded as one of the world’s best live bands, Wilco recently became festival curators successfully launching the inaugural Solid Sound Festival in North Adams, MA.

While maintaining a full schedule of recording and releasing albums and touring extensively with Wilco, Tweedy has also toured frequently as a solo artist, playing intimate unscripted acoustic sets that draw from his 400-plus song repertoire. A departure from Wilco’s carefully orchestrated, sonically complex performances, the solo shows showcase Tweedy’s prolific output as a songwriter, his proficiency as a guitarist and his wry sense of humor.

Tweedy has also recently added producer to his list of accomplishments, working with soul and gospel legend Mavis Staples on her forthcoming album You Are Not Alone (Anti-). The album, which was produced by Tweedy and features several new original songs written by Tweedy specially for Ms. Staples, was recorded at Wilco’s studio The Loft on Chicago’s north side.

About Margo Cilker

Margo Cilker’s sophomore album, Valley of Heart’s Delight, refers to a place she can’t return: California’s Santa Clara Valley, as it was known before the orchards were paved over and became more famous for Silicon than apricots. In this 11-song follow-up to 2021’s critically acclaimed Pohorylle, family and nature intertwine as guiding motifs, at once precious and endangered, beautiful and exhausting. Cilker and Pohorylle producer Sera Cahoone brought most of that record’s highly-acclaimed crew (studio players for The Decemberists, Band Of Horses, and Beirut) back to the studio with additional contributions from acclaimed Northwest traditionalist Caleb Klauder. Valley of Heart’s Delight, Cilker’s second record on Portland, Oregon label Fluff & Gravy Records, has already racked up an impressive list of accolades and year-end picks and has paved the way for 2024’s extensive touring and festival appearances.

Margo Cilker lives near the Columbia River in Goldendale, Washington with her husband, songwriter and working cowboy Forrest VanTuyl, as well their dog and some horses.