Jeni Grouws: Iowa City Songwriters Festival 2026
Iowa City Songwriters Festival is a three-day festival and conference that takes a deep dive into the craft of songwriting. Through intimate performances, interviews, panel discussions, and community building, ICSF is designed to unveil the mystery behind the process. Its home, Iowa City, is steeped in literary tradition – home to the Iowa Writers Workshop, the first UNESCO City of Literature in the United States, its sidewalks are literally paved with the words of great writers. ICSF aims to celebrate songwriting as a literary artform alongside poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, and to create its own legacy for Iowa City as a destination for songwriters to get better.
From November 5th through November 7th, ICSF will take over intimate stages all over Iowa City, from the historic Englert Theatre, to the hushed listening room of The James, to the community-centered music incubators Trumpet Blossom Cafe and The Black Angel to present stripped down performances where artists are invited to share not just their songs but the stories behind them. Going deeper, on Saturday, November 7th ICSF will present a conference at the Iowa Conservatory (ICON), a performing arts high school in the heart of Iowa City’s northside, to put down the instruments and talk about the process.
We hope that you will join us, whether as a fan or an aspiring writer, whether for the full three days with the Festival Pass, for an individual show or two, for the conference, or just to experience the free programming happening every day at The Black Angel. Thanks for being a part of our songwriting community. Bring your notebooks!
Jeni Grouws is a talented singer-songwriter and musician, celebrated for her work as both a solo artist and co-founder of the roots rock group Avey Grouws Band. What began as a personal journey of songwriting for therapy evolved into a flourishing career, leading to the 2008 release of her solo EP Scenic Route. Over the years, Jeni has made significant strides in the music world, with Avey Grouws Band earning major accolades, including two top ten Billboard Blues charting albums—The Devil May Care (#10) and Tell Tale Heart (#7). The band has also claimed victory as two-time winners of the Iowa Blues Challenge and two-time semifinalists at the International Blues Challenge. Sharing stages with legendary artists like Keb’ Mo’, Buddy Guy, Beth Hart, Walter Trout, and Shemekia Copeland, Avey Grouws Band has quickly become a dynamic force in the roots rock and blues scenes.
Jeni’s songwriting has also gained widespread recognition, winning top honors in the 2020 Unsigned Only Songwriting Competition and the 2021 International Songwriting Competition. Throughout her career, she has balanced a busy touring schedule with a range of songwriting projects, and in September 2024, Jeni relocated to Omaha when she was awarded a songwriting residency with Playing with Fire.
Never one to settle, Jeni Grouws is constantly pushing her boundaries with new sounds, new songs and new styles. As she continues to tour, she’s also focused on an exciting year ahead, with plans to record a solo album as well as an album with Avey Grouws Band.
Known for her powerful mix of heartfelt lyrics, unforgettable melodies, captivating voice and a rare ability to connect with audiences, Jeni Grouws is making her mark. As one fan famously puts it, “Jeni Grouws is a damn delight!”