Des Moines library’s yearlong blues program ends with concert – Des Moines Register


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We’ve been celebrating the blues all year long at the Des Moines Public Library. The Crossroads series has featured Iowa blues and jazz legends since March at our buildings. Artists like Rob Lumbard, Tina Haase Findley, Aaron Earl Short and Bob Pace have performed for library audiences of all ages while discussing the history of blues music and its influence on other genres.

The series comes to an end Saturday with events at two locations. First, at 10:15 a.m. at the Franklin Avenue Library, Malcolm Wells will be teaching patrons how to play harmonica. After playing for years with the Soul Searchers, Wells now fronts a local group called Malcolm Wells & the Two Timers. Free harmonicas will be given to attendees on a first-come, first-served basis, courtesy of the Central Iowa Blues Society. For ages 6 and up.

At 1:30 p.m. at the Forest Avenue Library, musicians Chad Elliott and Heath Alan will perform live to cap off the 2019 series. Elliott was the winner of the Iowa Blues Challenge. Alan has performed with B.B. King and The Doobie Brothers. This event is presented in cooperation with the Central Iowa Blues Society and sponsored by the Forest Avenue Brick Fund and American Enterprise Group Inc.

Upcoming events for adults:

Free Friday Flicks at Franklin: “A Star is Born”: Friday, 1:30 p.m., Franklin Avenue Library. See the award-winning movie starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. Rated-R. Viewers younger than 17 require accompanying parent or guardian.

Sit n’ Stitch: Saturday, 1:30-3:30 p.m., North Side Library. Spend a couple of hours with other crafters and work on your knit, crochet, or needle craft projects. Snacks and refreshments provided. Ages 12 and older.

Upcoming events for children and families:

Rainbow Meet-up: Thursday, 5 p.m., East Side Library. Celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month by checking out LGBTQ+ books by queer authors and about queer characters while enjoying refreshments. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Pete the Cat Visits the Library: Through Saturday, multiple branches. Listen to stories, sing songs, and see the popular children’s book character in person. You can even get your photo taken with Pete. See the full schedule at dmpl.org/pete-cat-visits-library.

Spiders! Polk County Conservation:  Oct. 7, 6:30 p.m., South Side Library. Learn about different types of spiders, how they hunt for food, and view live spiders at this all-ages program.

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