Josie Fischels
Arts and Culture ReporterExpertise: Performance art, visual art, Iowa life, music industry news
Education: The University of Iowa
Favorite Iowa Destination: Dunnings Springs, Decorah
Experience:
- Covered local and statewide arts, news, and lifestyle features for The Daily Iowan, The Denver Post, NPR and currently for IPR and Studio One
- Is an award-winning reporter, including a retrospective of Iowa’s first poet laureate, Marvin Bell, following his death in 2021
- Writes regularly for IPR’s internationally award-winning newsletters
- Covered the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, climate and the Kabul takeover by the Taliban in 2021 for NPR’s news desk
- Served as an editor and mentor for multiple projects with NPR’s Next Generation Radio
- Created IPR’s weekly news quiz and launched IPR’s TikTok (follow us!)
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A bipartisan coalition of states says the terms of a tentative settlement reached with Live Nation on Monday don't go far enough and plans to continue the case in court. Iowa, along with a handful of other states, accepted the terms of the settlement. Iowa negotiated with Live Nation and will receive $3 million dollars in settlement of its claims. -
Since 2020, Des Moines has lost several cornerstones of its live music scene, from small clubs to major festivals. The closures have narrowed the path for local artists to develop, even as new venues and entertainment giants reshape how live music operates in the metro. -
KFMW Rock 108 has been transparent from the start about their use of an AI DJ to introduce eastern Iowa to new rock 'n' roll music. -
The announcement of the venue's closure by the end of the year marks another blow for Des Moines' local music scene. -
Hinterland celebrated its 10th anniversary in an expanded location in St. Charles this year, bringing headliners Tyler, the Creator, Kacey Musgraves and Lana Del Rey. -
Rainbow Kitten Surprise is back and better than ever. The band is working their way through a lengthy tour of their 2024 album, Love Hate Music Box, with another record on the way. -
The music festival, which has hosted both Chappell Roan and Noah Kahan, and matched her donation, pledged its support for "access to mental health care for all musicians." -
The Hinterland Music Festival returns this August to St. Charles, Iowa with a lineup that includes the first hip-hop act to headline the festival in its 10-year history. -
The Japanese House, the solo musical project of artist Amber Bain, sat down with IPR to discuss the role her pets play in her music and writing her next album. -
The five-member indie art rock band played Hinterland for the first time this summer. They chatted with IPR about the success of their debut album, Prelude to Ecstasy, and their decadent sense of style.
