Stephens Auditorium's Goldfinch on the Lawn outdoor concerts feature Blues, jazz performers

Stephens Auditorium’s Goldfinch on the Lawn concert series is back.

The singer-songwriter showcase usually takes place at the listening venue on the ground floor of Stephens. But during warm weather, the music is sometimes played on the greenspace outside the iconic concert venue.

Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the door the day of with shows at 7 p.m. July 16 and 6:30 p.m. Aug. 20. Tickets are available online at www.center.iastate.edu.

The Iowa Songwriter Showcase will feature Andrew Hoyt and Andersen Coates on July 16 and the Buckmiller/Schwager Band on Aug. 20.

Andrew Hoyt and Andersen Coates perform July 16

Hoyt is a singer-songwriter from Des Moines whose Midwest musical roots run deep. A vocal music teacher for students in Kindergarten through fifth-grade, his musical journey also centers on his partnership with Hawaiian KoAloha ukulele, which has become his signature instrument. Hoyt recently signed a recording deal with indie label, Golden Bear Records.

Coates also hails Des Moines. As a singer-songwriter, he creates “thoughtful, contemporary folk rock in the vein of Tom Petty and John Mayer. Blending intelligent lyrics, gritty baritone vocals, and blues-soaked guitar, Andersen crafts a sound that is both unique and familiar, contemporary and classic,” according to a news release from Stephens Auditorium.

Coates enjoyed a stint as lead guitarist for EllieMae, who was a 2019 contestant on NBC’s “The Voice.” He also held spots in Iowa State University’s jazz bands and combos. Coates earned first-place awards at Iowa State's "Cyclone Voice" and "CyFactor" competitions while headlining stages across the state.

Brick and Ember Pizza Company will be onsite at 6:15 p.m. and Stephens Auditorium will have beverages for sale.

The Buckmiller/Schwager Band brings the blues Aug. 20

The Buckmiller/Schwager Band is “a high-energy Des Moines-based blues band that engages audiences with the upbeat stage performance in order to keep the blues alive,” according to the release.

The band won the 2021 Iowa Blue Challenge and represented Iowa at the 2022 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee, securing a spot in the semifinals.

That trip was documented in the award-winning short documentary film “To Memphis and Back.” The band’s first album was nominated for a Blues Blast award in the “Emerging Artist Debut Release” category, and in 2023 released their second album, “Live at xBk.”

The Goldfinch Room series is made possible with the support of performance underwriters Bonnie and David Orth and Gwenna and Doug Jacobson.

Ronna Faaborg covers business and the arts for the Ames Tribune. Reach her at rfaaborg@gannett.com.