Just a friendly reminder that Iowa Public Television coverage of the 19th annual Saturday in the Park festival will be broadcast at 8 p.m. tonight.

Presented in high-def, “Saturday in the Park 2009″ features live performances from Counting Crows, Mike Doughty, Shemekia Copeland, Lenka and more, condensed down to a 60-minute program.

Tune in to your IPTV station to check it out. You never know, one of the crowd pans just might capture you sneaking a beer out of the beer garden.

If you like what you see, make sure to thank program underwriters The Waitt Family Foundation, the City of Sioux City and the Clarion Hotel. This is the third year IPTV has filmed the festival that annually attracts over 25,000 people to Grandview Park.

Sad news from down south.

Rosie Ledet, the zydeco singer who performed on the mainstage at Saturday in the Park on July 4, is under investigation for allegedly leaving the body of a near full-term baby in a storage shed while she was in Sioux City.

The Baton Rouge Advocate reports:

“Authorities in Allen Parish are awaiting autopsy results before proceeding with an investigation of Rosie Ledet, a local zydeco musician, who allegedly left the body of a near full-term baby in a storage shed while she toured out of state.

Peggy Kennedy, chief of detectives at the Allen Parish Sheriff’s Department, said Monday that it could take as long as six weeks before the autopsy results are returned.

Ledet gave birth to the child July 1… Afterward, Ledet allegedly wrapped the body in a blanket and left it in a storage shed at a band mate’s home, Kennedy said.”  

That “band mate,” guitar player Andre Nizzari, called the cops and reported the incident when he learned of it July 5.

Word is Ledet was acting a bit off backstage after playing July 2 at the Sioux City Live Music Club, July 3 at the Big Parade and July 4 at SITP.

I interviewed Ledet June 22 and we spent a bit of time talking about family, including how she only has one child and had spent the last few weeks watching her grandchild (the interview can be heard here) . Not once did she mention the pregnancy.Understandably, fans and promoters around these parts are awfully disturbed by the news. I’ll keep following this story and keep you posted.

I talked with Mike Doughty about playing Saturday in the Park. It was his first trip to Sioux City.

Click play to watch.

We will be live blogging from Grandview Park for this year’s Saturday in the Park music festival.

You can take part in the live blog by adding a comment, question or observation, or if you are at the festival, and use Twitter by using the #sitpfest hashtag.

Sign up for a reminder today and we will send you an e-mail reminder when we go live on Saturday around noon. After noon Saturday, just click play below to open.

In case you missed it, we have compiled audio interviews of bands performing at Saturday in the Park.

However, since this blog has limits on how many files can be attached to each post, we’re posting the interview with Nathaniel Braddock of the Occidental Brothers Dance Band International.

Here is his interview. Click play to listen.

 

 A talk with Nathaniel Braddock of OBDBI [17:17m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Weekender editor Jesse Claeys spends a lot of time each June talking with musicians who will play Saturday in the Park.

In fact, his interviews run much longer than the story you read in print. We know fans have a way of seeking out and finding everything about their favorite band, we offer these audio interviews with all the bands on this year’s bill, sans 1 – Midwest Dilemma, who Jesse talked with earlier this year (see video above).

Additionally, find the interview with Nathaniel Braddock of the Occidental Brothers Dance Band International in this blog post.

Click to play the interviews.

 

 A talk with Adam Duritz of Counting Crows [32:29m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 A talk with Shemekia Copeland [17:05m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 A talk with Mike Doughty [12:49m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 A talk with Lenka [18:55m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 A talk with Rosie Ledet [14:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

We love Bingo, and there may be no better event than Saturday in the Park to play the game – this time with “people watching” replacing numbers.

For instance, we don’t need B-14, but rather “Biker dude”. N-35 seems unworthy compared to “Exposed gut”, which should be an easy play. And when you see that greying hippie with a flirtatious young hottie at his waist, you can capitalize on “Dude, she’s too young.”

This isn’t your father’s Bingo – it’s much more fun (and a little humorous).

So print out a card (there are four below) then head to the park and relax knowing that your people watching can actually be more fun when there is competition for a Bingo.

Bingo card 1 || Bingo card 2 ||  Bingo card 3  ||  Bingo card 4

In the mood for some live tunes this weekend? Here are my picks on where to go and what to hear:

FRIDAY

If you were at Saturday in the Park back in 2007 you may have caught a Boston alt-rock/country band fronted by a brunette hottie wearing white cowboy boots. That would have been Sarah Borges, backed by the Broken Singles. Since that gig the band has swapped out guitarists and recorded a new disc. They come to the Sioux City Live Music Club (Eagles Club), 416 Jackson St., at 9 p.m. to update fans. Expect a little more rock, a little less country. Did I mention the new disc was reviewed by both Rolling Stone and the New York Times? $12 at the door.

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Ain’t no party like an old fashioned street dance party, or so my grandma told me. We’ll all get to find out at the annual Rockin’ In Summer. The show starts at 6 p.m. and features the sounds of two Iowa Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Famers, The Magnificent Board of Directors and The Rockers. The “other end of Fourth street,” the block of Fourth and Water, will be closed to traffic and filled with food and beer vendors. This free show goes down rain or shine.

SATURDAY

This band has been compared to Dave Matthews Band so many times it makes me want to start believing it. I can’t, but I can say Quartus, a local pop rock funk band packing plenty of jam and horn punch, is a solid bet to get the crowd moving during this 9 p.m. gig at The Chesterfield, 1225 Fourth St. The group has shared stages with everyone from The Nadas to Big Head Todd and the Monsters. Unknown cover at the door.

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This event isn’t about music, but I’m such a fan of it I’m going to suggest we all go see the Omaha-based professional Greek band, Ta Zorbas, performing throughout the afternoon and evening at Greek Fest, held at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Sixth and Jennings streets. This event is about food. Period. But I can say that the later this thing goes, the more it takes on the feeling of a college kegger. Go early for food. Stay late for fun dancing and sips of Ouzo liquor and Aris lager. FREE (unless you want to eat or drink).