Fairfield First Fridays Art Walk to host Winter Local Music Showcase

FAIRFIELD – Fairfield First Fridays Art Walk returns in February with the 2025 Winter Local Music Showcase.

Art walk has often held an open mic night for its February event, but it’s changed the name and updated the format. Art walk Director Marla Brader said that calling it an “open mic” was confusing because Café Paradiso holds an open mic night every Wednesday, and the art walk board wanted the public to know this was a different event.

Plus, the event is no longer an open mic but rather a set schedule of performers, 15 in all. They will perform at the Fairfield CoLab (former Iowa State Bank building) from 6-10 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7. Most artists will have 10 minutes to perform, but four of them are featured performers who will have 30 minutes. Those four are Meara Rose Oberdieck at 6:30 p.m., Brian Olson at 7:30 p.m., Teddy Sanler at 8:30 p.m., and Paulina E. at 9:20 p.m.

Brader said that, for the second year in a row, the Fairfield CoLab will serve as the major hub of art walk activities in the months of February through May, before it moves outdoors from June through October.

“Last year was the test run for how this space would work,” Brader said. “Thankfully, CoLab is gracious enough to allow us to use the space for our events. Everything is on the main floor, and it’s close to other galleries and venues.”

In addition to live music, residents can enjoy numerous art galleries around town. Behner Funeral Home will host artwork by Jo Bartruff from 6-7:30 p.m. Cindy's Art Supply Store and Henderson's Gallery will display art from artists in the Square One Arts collective. The store will also have Valentine’s Day kits and materials. The Fairfield Art Association will host its Membership Exhibit from 6-8 p.m. at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center. ICON Gallery will host artwork by Joannie McGinnis.

Looking ahead to future art walks, the March art walk will be dedicated to showcasing youth art. April’s event will focus on film and photography, and May will feature a gallery hop.

The complete list of performers scheduled for Friday night at the CoLab is as follows:

A full list of performers/times below:

6:00PM Micah Lauren Jones Schlosser

6:10PM Lore Oliver

6:20PM David Blair

6:30PM Meara Rose Oberdieck

7:00PM Nik Hucke

7:10PM Fred Hucke

7:20PM Alison Andrea Pelizzari

7:30PM Brian Olson

8:00PM Rewel Raines

8:10PM Gavin Grijalva

8:20PM Wes Brown

8:30PM Teddy Sanler

9:00PM James Perryman

9:10PM The Vedic City Gun Club

9:20PM Paulina E

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com