Those of you that have visited Flying Mango Restaurant and have met us, know that we have a passion for the arts! Just by hanging out at the Mango, you're surrounded by vibrant artwork by our friend, hc porter (www.hcporter.com) and get a chance to listen to some awesome blues while dining.

In mid-2006, we decided that it was time to introduce our Mango friends to some great live music by some very talented musicians that they may not have been introduced to yet! This is not something we do all the time. We do our best to contact some of our favorites, and if they're coming through Iowa, we do what we can to organize an evening for you to meet. These are truly great parties! Great food, great music and in a non-smoking setting! Remember we're small, so if you hear of an event coming, order your tickets quickly as we sell out fast. We are currently working with IowaTix, another great local business. By letting them handle what they do well, we can concentrate on getting the party going and that's what we do well! We hope you'll join us at our next Pretentious Redneck Dinner or Mango Music Night. We'd love to have you!--Mike and Suzanne

Upcoming music events:

 

Monday, April 7, 2008
Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers
Another Pretentious Redneck Dinner 6:00 Dinner
7:00 Show General Admission Seating, Doors Open at 5:30
$39.02 includes a massive carnivore-friendly BBQ Buffet.
First glass of wine or beer is on us! Order tickets online at www.iowatix.com

Sally entertained Stephen & The Sixers their last time through Des Moines. Now they're back to entertain you!

This is one of our favorite bands. Suzanne ran across them online looking at venue websites from far away places. Stephen's clips caught her attention and she ordered the CD right then. Since that time, Corey's performed a favorite written by Stephen and we've caught Sixer shows at The M-Shop, Peoples and at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis (a great venue if you've never been).

There is awesome song-writing talent here, and a band that obviously enjoys what they are doing. The Sixers are probably better known with the college crowds, so our regulars may not have heard of them yet. That will be changing. Take this opportunity to enjoy another up-close-and-personal music event with us. You won't see them in a setting like this often.

Listen and learn more about The Sixers at www.stephenkellogg.com

“Few things are more gratifying then hearing everything fall into place for a promising band. That’s just what happens with Glassjaw Boxer.”
– USA Today

“The best [singer-songwriters] (Springsteen, Petty, Dylan) scale intimate songs up to epic proportions and similarly narrow the focus of bigger songs to make them feel intensely personal. Newcomer Stephen Kellogg now seems poised to earn himself a place in their Company.”
– HARP

“Glassjaw Boxer is a superb set of rugged, road-weary anthems that Kellogg excels at, showcasing the grit and defiance of Springsteen, Seger, and Mellencamp, filtered through an Americana perspective…consider Glassjaw Boxer another winning round for Kellogg.”
- PERFORMING SONGWRITER

For the complete Bio, click here.

SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC WHENEVER YOU CAN!

Past music events:

We encourage you to visit these artists websites, listen and learn more about each of them.

02.24.08
Jason Walsmith & Mike Butterworth of The Nadas
Rib & Rye Night
www.thenadas.com

12.31.07
Jon Justice Band
Redneck New Year's Eve Bash
www.jonjustice.com

Jon has a whole new band since his last event, and they've won the Cincinnati Blues Challenge. That earned them a slot at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis!

12.22.07
Romi Mayes
After Hours
www.romimayes.com

Romi calls Mike the Mayor of Des Moines. There's a great story about how this crazy Canadian wound up dining at Flying Mango. To hear her sing what she's written will move you. She's also got the best T-shirts: "Our apologies...Romi Mayes Cancelled Too Drunk To Play" and her latest "Mama Raised Me, but Romi Mayes'd Me!"

03.23.07
Romi Mayes
Mango Music Night
www.romimayes.com
Romi Mayes' sound is also the sort that folks just can't seem to get enough of. Quoted as being one of the hardest working independent musicians in Canada, in the past two years alone, she has toured well over 400 dates to acclaimed festivals, packed theatres, dance halls, bars, pubs, cafes, and living rooms across North America. Her last two Americana/roots enriched albums "Living Room Sessions" (2005) and latest "Sweet Somethin' Steady" (Gurf Morlix, 2006) have been nominated for various prestigious music awards. Both of Mayes' albums have charted on radio stations worldwide landing on a plethora of "Best of" top year picks. "She sings like an angel. Looks like a goddess. Writes beautiful songs about rebellion, submission and the Bible. And as my friend Gurf Morlix says - She races trains. What else could you ask for?" -Sam Baker

03.25.07
Eric Lindell
Another Pretentious Redneck Dinner
www.ericlindellband.com
California-born, New Orleans-schooled singer/songwriter/vocalist Eric Lindell is a roots rocker with dozens of original songs that combine soul-shaking rhythm & blues, reggae grooves, swamp pop and blues. Lindell is a fan favorite in his northern California turf and his adopted home of New Orleans (where he was feature on the cover of OffBeat magazine and performed on the main stage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival). He is accomplished on guitar, harmonica, keyboards and bass, and has performed with some of the Crescent City's top musicians as well as some of the jam band community's biggest names (including members of Galactic). The winner of the 1999 John Lennon Songwriting Competition for his song, Kelly Ann, Lindell is now ready to bring his rough-hewn voice and memorable original songs to the rest of the music-loving world with the release of his Aliigator Records debut, Change In The Weather.

"Stellar, sublime blue-eyed soul and romping New Orleans R&B, played at the same intersection of soul, blues and roots rock as Van Morrison."
--New Orleans Times Picayune

01.20.07
Hamilton Loomis
Mango Music Night
www.hamiltonloomis.com
Hamilton Loomis took his mentor, Bo Diddley's advice. It speaks volumes when the likes of Diddley, Johnny "Clyde" Copeland, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, and Albert Collins take you under their wings. The twenty-something Texas sensation isn't just another cat-in-a-hat with a Strat. He has crafted his blues roots into a funk-a-fied recipe all his own.

01.04.07
Romi Mayes
Mango Music Night
www.romimayes.com

10.03.06
Eric Lindell
Another Pretentious Redneck Dinner
www.ericlindellband.com
Eric and the band have become great friends of ours. Last time through Des Moines, they ate dinner with us at our home. They were a bit perplexed with the meal though...just couldn't identify this mysterious green edible at the table. Yea guys, that's a mixed green salad. Oh, life on the road. Born in 1969, Lindell is an "old soul" from California reinventing New Orleans R&B. He has a cool, genuine old school aura that is both natural and refreshing. Eric does his own thing in his own way and at his own pace. His melodic sensibility and fresh approach are most impressive.

05.16.06
Jon Justice
Our FIRST Pretentious Redneck Dinner
www.jonjustice.com

It's Jon's music that you hear as our Flying Mango site loads for you. Jon's like family. On his first meeting with Mike and our son, Corey, he allowed Corey to sing with him and gave him one of his guitars. Jon is a great talent, amazing guitarist, and awesome songwriter. He also put on a fantastic show for our employee appreciation party.

"The kid can flat-out play!" -- Buddy Guy, legendary blues and rock guitarist