Tony Dehner

Waterloo

Host at Iowa Public Radio

Serious Music Person at @iowapublicradio. Please find me on Instagram, or email [email protected].

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Articles

In the wake of a tragedy, Ben Kweller lives for the music

1 week ago | iowapublicradio.org | Tony Dehner

It’s pretty normal to get a little nervous before interviews, but I was legitimately worried before my conversation with Ben Kweller. His new album, Cover The Mirrors, is inspired by the death of his teenage son Dorian in 2023. It’s an impossible thing to imagine for those of us who haven’t been through it.
Greenbelt 2025: Great music and people, and not the worst weather ever

2 weeks ago | iowapublicradio.org | Tony Dehner

I have to start with a confession: this was my first time attending the Greenbelt Music Festival. Based on the lineup, I basically knew what to expect. I knew the music would be amazing, and I was pretty sure I knew what the vibes would be like. Even still, Greenbelt exceeded my expectations on both counts, while falling short in the weather department. Obviously, that’s nobody’s fault, and the only way around it is to not have an outdoor music festival in Iowa in May.
Celebrating songwriting at the Iowa City Songwriters Festival

1 month ago | iowapublicradio.org | Tony Dehner

Songwriting can seem like magic, and it’s true that some seem to have a gift for it. But it’s also a skill that can be learned and improved upon. The best way to learn and improve songwriting is to listen to great songwriters and, when possible, spend time with them.
Future Islands returns to Des Moines

1 month ago | iowapublicradio.org | Tony Dehner

It’s not too often that a band makes a television appearance that people are still talking about years later. And when it does happen, it’s usually because something went wrong or someone raised eyebrows with something the band said or did.
Your Smith returns to music, and Iowa, on her own terms

1 month ago | iowapublicradio.org | Tony Dehner

This year’s Mission Creek Festival marked the return of Your Smith, who performed Friday night at Gabe’s Oasis. Near the bar at Gabe’s there’s a poster from a previous Mission Creek with her name on it, back when she was going by Caroline Smith. Her connections to Iowa run deep. She’s performed at the 80/35 Festival and even played a session in IPR’s studios, not long after the release of her 2013 album Half About Being A Woman.
Chroma 63 is Iowa's newest music festival, with a focus on locals and growing the scene

1 month ago | iowapublicradio.org | Tony Dehner

Live music, as we all know, is good not only for the soul but also the community. It brings folks together in a way not many things do. It’s not like a sporting event, where there’s a chance you’ll leave disappointed with the outcome. If you’re at a live show, you’ve already won!Of course, live music is also a business. Tickets are getting more expensive, and musicians are making less money on tour. And it’s harder than ever for local musicians to find places to play.
Mission Creek turns 20 and faces the future

1 month ago | iowapublicradio.org | Tony Dehner

The 20th Mission Creek Festival made news a couple of times before it even began. One week before they were set to headline the festival, Julien Baker & TORRES were forced to cancel several tour dates due to an injury in their touring company. After a few days of scrambling, festival organizers announced they'd booked Kim Gordon and her band for the Thursday night headlining spot at Hancher.
Check out Anthony Worden's new music video for "$20"

2 months ago | iowapublicradio.org | Tony Dehner

Iowa City musician Anthony Worden has a busy couple of months ahead. His band Anthony Worden & The Illiterati will be releasing a live album recorded at one of our favorite places, Iowa City's Englert Theatre. He’s also playing with a new punk band called God’s Hand, and they’re releasing a record in April. Lots to look forward to from Worden, and it starts today with a new music video. The song “$20” is from Anthony Worden & The Illiterati’s album Plain Angels, released last year.
Matt Woods works to keep the blues alive in Iowa

2 months ago | iowapublicradio.org | Tony Dehner

The Made In The Midwest concert series, presented by Des Moines Performing Arts, is about halfway through its first season. Friday night, they’ll be presenting Ames-based Matt Woods, who’ll be bringing his solo acoustic blues sound to the Temple Theatre stage. I recently asked Woods how he felt about being the only blues performer on the series lineup. “It's nice to be a part of it,” said Woods.
Munk Rivers embrace the "chaos twinkle" and staying present

Feb 12, 2025 | iowapublicradio.org | Tony Dehner

One of the bands we’ve had our ears on for a while here at Studio One is the Des Moines quartet Munk Rivers. Their music is expansive and intimate at the same time, and as my colleague Anthony Scanga pointed out, they “pack a ton of feeling into their songs.” Not only do they make great music, Munk Rivers is an easy band to root for.