MarKaus & Brittan Ashworth: Artist of the Year – Backstage Ball 2018
To be a successful artist can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. For Marquas (aka MarKaus) and Brittan Ashworth, it doesn’t mean that you have to run off to the big city and leave your roots behind. To them, success comes from performing with a sense of purpose, and… Read more »
Des Moines Metro Arts Alliance: David Hurd Community Support Award – Backstage Ball 2018
For more than 42 years, Metro Arts Alliance served its mission to strengthen the Des Moines creative community through collaborative events and education. Metro Arts relied on a combination of cultural organizations, artists, businesses, educators, governments, and a variety of other groups to create synergy and connect people to the arts. “[Our mission was] to… Read more »
Hoyt Sherman Place: Industry Supporter of the Year – Backstage Ball 2018
Hoyt Sherman Place has been a landmark building in Des Moines for more than a century and an entertainment venue for decades. It wasn’t until recently, though, that locals started to take note. Enter: Robert Warren. The Executive Director has pushed boundaries, taking risks on booking national touring acts and bringing in top performing artists…. Read more »
Sara Routh: Mentor of the Year – Backstage Ball 2018
Since moving back to Des Moines in 2014, musician Sara Routh immediately found her heart’s place in teaching and inspiring Des Moines’ young musicians. Through working and volunteering at countless music organizations (City Voices, Central Iowa Music Lab, Girls Rock! Des Moines, and Des Moines Music Coalition just to name a few…), Sara passionately believes… Read more »
Backstage Ball 2018: DJ Need-A-Stack
Bob Nastanovich has always been surrounded by music. Whether it was growing up on the eastern seaboard, performing as a member of seminal alt-rock groups Pavement and Silver Jews, or now spinning records under the moniker DJ Need-A-Stack, new tunes have always seemed to find his ear. Bob talks to us about his influences, releasing… Read more »
Backstage Ball 2018: Ancient Posse
Anyone who’s caught an Ancient Posse show can pay testament to their gripping performance. Kamillah Camp-Bey slides across the stage, her distinctively colored hair trailing every twist as she contorts her body to partner Steve Bergeron’s soaring keys. They’re performers through and through. Every show as gripping as the last. The duo’s played just a… Read more »Now accepting nominations for Backstage Ball!
Know someone making a positive impact on the Greater Des Moines music community? Each year at the annual Backstage Ball, DMMC recognizes individuals and organizations who have made a meaningful contribution to the improvement of the Des Moines music scene. Fill out the form below to tell us who you’d like to see recognized and why:
An Interview with Thao (of the Get Down Stay Down)
Thao (of the Get Down Stay Down) has been incredibly generous for this year’s Little BIG Fest (Nov. 4) including taking the time to thoughtfully answer our questions (below) and hosting a special songwriting workshop for the campers of Girls Rock! Des Moines! In our interview, Thao reveals her impression of Des Moines after her 80/35 2016 performance, what we can expect for her solo set… Read more »
