New After-work Concerts Planned for Downtown Workforce

Posted: Wednesday, July 27, 2011

The Downtown Community Alliance is pleased to announce Traffic Jam – two new after-work concerts designed to help commuters avoid the rush and enjoy live music outdoors in Downtown. This new pilot project will feature indie singer/songwriters Jason Reeves and Rosi Golan on Thursday, Sept. 1 and rocker Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights on Thursday, Oct. 6. Both concerts will be held from 5:15 – 7 p.m. on The Grand Terrace of the State Historical Building in the Historic East Village. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Midwestix.com for $15 and $20 at the door. Tickets are on sale now.

Concert attendees can enjoy live music outdoors with panoramic views of the city while relaxing with friends and co-workers. Food, soda, beer and wine will be available for purchase through Café Baratta’s. In case of rain, concerts will be held in the atrium at the State Historical Building.

“Much like Lunch Unplugged, we are focusing on enhancing the work-life culture for our downtown workforce,” says Glenn Lyons, CEO of Downtown Community Alliance. “We want to provide a unique concert experience with the ability for attendees to take in the East Village neighborhood with dining and shopping afterwards. We are also helping reduce traffic on I-235 by keeping commuters downtown through the rush hour.”

“As the state agency responsible for growing and nurturing the cultural arts in Iowa, we are looking forward to hosting the Traffic Jam concerts at the State Historical Building,” Department of Cultural Affairs Director Mary Tiffany Cownie said. “We are especially thankful to be partnering with the Downtown Community Alliance, and I encourage downtown workers and others to attend and enjoy the concert.”

Traffic Jam is produced by the Downtown Community Alliance and sponsored by Drive Time Des Moines, Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, Café Baratta’s and Capital 106.3. Traffic Jam is a pilot project; if it is successful it will return next spring and fall with more concerts.  More information about the concerts and the artists can be found at www.downtowndesmoines.com/trafficjam.