Northside

Iowa City's Northside is as music-forward a residential neighborhood as you'll find in the region. Each summer, the free Northside Saturday Nights concert series, sponsored by the Iowa City Downtown District in collaboration with The Englert Theatre, spotlights local musical talent through live, outdoor performances on N. Linn Street every Saturday evening from May through late September. The neighborhood's two dedicated indoor venues cover very different ground. Old Brick, built in 1856 as North Presbyterian Church, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The historic space features Gothic elements and stained glass windows, and an updated sound system in its main ballroom makes it a distinctive room for concerts and candlelit music events alongside its broader event calendar. The James Theater is Iowa City's home for intimate, high-impact live performance, located at 213 N. Gilbert St., with crisp sound and clear sightlines. Its calendar blends touring artists with local talent, from acoustic concerts and jazz nights to contemporary dance and comedy. With seated and standing layouts, The James adapts to each production.