Opus Concert Café

12/02/2025

Coming up at Opus!

Tonight: Key Change continues starting at 6pm!
https://www.artsiowa.com/tickets/concerts/key-change-dec/

Wednesday, Dec 3 catch the Unusual Suspects at Now Hear This
https://www.artsiowa.com/tickets/concerts/now-hear-this-december/

Friday, Dec 5 don't miss Vivian Shanley and her Quartet at First Friday Jazz. The 5pm show is sold out but you can still get tickets for the 8pm encore performance!
https://ticket.artsiowa.com/2526ffj/december2

Next Weekend, Lynne Rothrock and her Merry Band return for their annual holiday show! And this year they've added in a Saturday Matinee.
https://www.artsiowa.com/tickets/concerts/lynne-rothrock-christmas-2/

11/21/2025

Looking to snag some tickets to December's First Friday Jazz with the Vivian Shanley Quartet?

Now's your chance! We've added a second show at 8pm.

The Vivian Shanley Quartet
December 5th, 2025
8pm
https://ticket.artsiowa.com/2526ffj/december2

11/18/2025

December at Opus kicks off with The Unusual Suspects at Now Hear This!

The Unusual Suspects are a new Americana band made up of familiar faces from Eastern Iowa’s music scene and one fresh voice emerging from the wings. The group blends the talents of Jennifer Horn-Frasier (bass guitar, vocals), Bridget Brown (tenor guitar, vocals), Tara McGovern (fiddle, vocals), and Ben Schmidt (guitar, vocals). Together, they draw from deep roots in projects such as Zebra Maneuver, The Fritters, The Regular Joes, Freegrass, The Soft and Low, Doras Nua, Silt Creek, and more, creating a sound that feels both familiar and surprising.

The heart of the band’s sound is wrapped in the organic mother-daughter harmonies of Horn-Frasier and Brown and layered with McGovern’s spirited fiddle and Schmidt’s chameleon guitar playing. Their music travels easily down the backroads of Americana, mixing inventive covers with memorable originals. For their Now Hear This show at Opus on December 3, 2025, The Unusual Suspects promise an evening of songs that remind audiences of the enduring joy of live music and the stories that connect us.

Now Hear This: The Unusual Suspects.
December 3, 2025
Doors: 6:30pm
Concert: 7pm
Get Tickets:
https://ticket.artsiowa.com/now-hear-this-2526/december

11/13/2025

TONIGHT!

Orchestra Iowa present's Candles & Classics: "Rach"etman

Don't miss Philip Bergman on cello and Miko Kominami on piano as they bring you the music of Elton John and Rachmaninov. They'll be playing "Your Song" in the glow of hundreds of candles with no wind in sight.

November 13, 2025
6 - 7 pm SOLD OUT
8 - 9 pm Limited Seats Available
Tickets: https://ticket.artsiowa.com/candles-2526/rach

11/13/2025

Exciting news!

Our January First Friday Jazz concert is already sold out, so we've added an 8pm show!

See Soul Sacrifice on January 9th.

Get ticket: https://ticket.artsiowa.com/2526ffj/january2

11/12/2025

TONIGHT!

All Aboard the Hard Bop Express!

Tickets: https://ticket.artsiowa.com/mojo/mojo-november

About The Band:
Mike Conrad, Associate Professor of Jazz Studies & Music Education at the University of Northern Iowa, is excited to be bringing a new project to The MOJO (Midweek Opus Jazz Oasis). This sextet of Midwest jazz all-stars loves to dig into that classic hard bop sound associated with the Blue Note record label in the 50s and 60s, borrowing repertoire from artists like Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Hank Mobely, and Horace Silver.

Pianist Mike Conrad is joined in the rhythm section by his longtime collaborator, the ultra-creative Drew Morton on bass, as well as Michael D’Angelo, a dynamic Iowa City drummer. The frontline is a “who’s who” of jazz improvisers in Iowa – Dave Rezek, top-call trumpeter and leader of the Des Moines Big Band; Simon Harding on saxophone, an amazingly versatile and imaginative voice on the instrument; and Jackson Churchill, an incredible young educator (Valley High School), and outstanding trombonist (Finalist in the 2022 J.J. Johnson Jazz Trombone Competition).

11/11/2025

Oops! We forgot an upcoming show from our post yesterday. Don't forget to check out the Corridor Combo Night this Sunday!

KCCK and Orchestra Iowa present Corridor Combo Night, Sunday, November 16, 2025 at 5pm in the Opus Concert Cafe. NINE student combos from Cedar Rapids, Marion, Waterloo, and Iowa City will perform in an event created and organized by the students. The show will conclude with an open jam session.

Tickets: https://www.artsiowa.com/tickets/concerts/corridor-combo-night/

11/10/2025

Up Next in Opus!

Wednesday Nov 12
The MOJO presents Mike Conrad's Hard Bop Express
7pm - https://www.artsiowa.com/tickets/concerts/mojo-november/

Thursday Nov 13
Candles & Classics "Rach"etman
6pm - Sold out
8pm - https://ticket.artsiowa.com/candles-2526/rach

Saturday Nov 15
Scene & Be Seen Improv Showcase
FREE SHOW!
7:30pm - https://www.artsiowa.com/tickets/concerts/scene-and-be-seen/

Coming Next Month
Wednesday Dec 3
Now Hear This presents The Unusual Suspects
7pm - https://www.artsiowa.com/tickets/concerts/now-hear-this-december/

11/04/2025

This Friday you can get tickets to Candles & Classics: "Rach"etman at Opus for just $20! Don't miss out.

Join us during an exhilarating season of symphonic masterpieces, showcasing an extensive roster of international guest artists and fostering creative collaborative partnerships.

10/30/2025

🎶 We’re Hiring! Bartender @ Opus Concert Café 🍷✨

Love great music, good vibes, and connecting with people? Come join our team at Opus Concert Café — a cozy spot where live performances (from smooth jazz to elegant chamber concerts) meet cold drinks and great company.

We’re looking for a Bartender who’s friendly, reliable, and enjoys working in a fun, music-filled atmosphere.

What You’ll Do:
🍸 Pour alcohol or non-alcohol beverages for bar patrons
🎶 Help create a welcoming experience for concert guests
🧺 Keep the bar stocked, clean, and ready for showtime
🤝 Be part of a small, passionate team that loves what we do

What We’re Looking For:
⭐ 1+ year of bartending or hospitality experience
⭐ Solid wine & beer knowledge (cocktail knowledge a plus)
⭐ Great with people and cool under pressure
⭐ Available for evenings, weekends, and events

Perks:
💵 Competitive pay + tips
🎟️ Surrounded by amazing live music
💫 Friendly, creative, and supportive work environment

Sound like you? We’d love to hear from you!
👉 Send your résumé (or a quick intro about yourself) to [email protected].

10/21/2025

Don't miss CR Sings this weekend at Opus!

CR Sings: The Music of Bob Dylan
October 24 & 25
https://www.artsiowa.com/tickets/concerts/cr-sings/

Hear local musicians perform the music of Bob Dylan Oct. 24 & 25 at Opus Concert Café in Cedar Rapids! Find out how to get tickets to CR SINGS: Bob Dylan