James Biehn
James M. Biehn got his first taste of music when he began playing the trumpet at the age of 10. He picked up a guitar shortly after and by the age of 13 was a featured soloist in the school jazz band. He continued playing guitar at Norwalk High School in Norwalk, Iowa where he won multiple soloist awards and helped the band win first place in the state competition two years in a row. Continuing his musical studies at Southwestern Community College in Creston, IA, under the direction of Grammy-nominated department head Phil Mattson, James became proficient in music theory, jazz keyboard, and big band/vocal arranging. Throughout his high school and college years, James balanced his schoolwork with the rigors of recording and performing with his first band, the McKenzies. The band released two albums, “A Collective Sigh of Relief” and “Cold in September,” which collectively sold more than 2,000 copies. James has continued to play live as a solo performer as well as with bands such as the Nadas, the Jeff Banks Band, Hyde Park, and Soapbox Prophets. He is a first-call studio musician in Iowa and has contributed to albums by the Nadas, Bonne Finken, the Josh Davis Band as well as various commercial works. He has opened for countless national touring bands such as Blues Traveler, Sonny Landreth, Gov’t Mule, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, King’s X, and many more. In 2005, James was the winner of Lazer 103.3’s “Guitar Battle,” which earned him the opportunity to play onstage with the band Tesla. For two years running he was the regional winner in Guitar Center’s King of the Blues guitar competition. In addition to his musician experience, James owns and operates Central Iowa Music Lab, a music lesson studio in Des Moines, Iowa. He currently oversees 9 other instructors as well as almost 200 students. CIML teaches private lessons as well as Rock Band classes, getting students to work together as a team and learn the importance of making the whole thing sound good, not just individuals.
Upcoming Gigs
20
February 2026
JB Solo
Embassy Club West • West Des Moines, Iowa
520 Market St, West Des Moines, IA 50266
6-8 P.M.
*Club members only | ALL-AGES
27
February 2026
On guitar with Southbound
A Tribute To The Allman Brothers Band
Benefit Show For KHOI-Radio Ames Public Radio
Ames Auditorium
520 6th St, Ames, IA 50010
7-9 P.M.
ALL-AGES
13
March 2026
James' Birthday Show
with Southbound and special guests Mission In The Rain (Jerry Garcia Tribute)
xBk Live
1159 24th St, Des Moines, IA 50311
7-10 P.M.
ALL-AGES
4
April 2026
On guitar with XOLEX
Opening for Pork Tornadoes
Knucklehead's Saloon
2715 Rochester Ave, Kansas City, MO 64120
8 P.M.
21+
17
April 2026
JB Solo
Embassy Club West • West Des Moines, Iowa
520 Market St, West Des Moines, IA 50266
6-8 P.M.
*Club members only | ALL-AGES
2
May 2026
James Biehn & The Wheelhouse
(band show)
Leon, IA
ALL-AGES
More info TBA
3
May 2026
Central Iowa Music Lab Spring Recital
Location TBA
12-6 P.M.
ALL-AGES
9
May 2026
On guitar with XOLEX
Tulip Time Festival, Pella IA
Time TBA
ALL-AGES
15
May 2026
On guitar with XOLEX
Wildwood BBQ & Saloon
4919 Walleye Drive SE, Iowa City, IA 52240
Time TBA
21+
16
May 2026
On guitar with XOLEX
The Laramar Ballroom
710 1st Avenue North, Fort Dodge, IA 50501
Time TBA
ALL-AGES
30
May 2026
James Biehn & The Wheelhouse
(band show)
The Greenwood Lounge
3707 Ingersoll Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312
8-11 P.M.
21+
26
June 2026
On guitar with Southbound
A Tribute To The Allman Brothers Band
Club 76
2349 Mehaffey Bridge Rd NE A, North Liberty, IA 52317
21+
4
July 2026
On guitar with XOLEX
4th of July Festival - Messina, IA
ALL-AGES
More info TBA
10
July 2026
JB Solo
Truman's
400 SE 6th St, Des Moines, IA 50309
5-8 P.M.
ALL-AGES
17
July 2026
On guitar with XOLEX
Waukee Arts Festival, Waukee, IA
8-10P.M.
ALL-AGES
22
July 2026
JB Solo
Gilroy's Kitchen, Pub, & Patio
1238 8th Street, West Des Moines, IA 50265
6-9 P.M.
ALL-AGES
24
July 2026
On guitar with XOLEX
Great Jones County Fair
800 N Maple St, Monticello, IA 52310
4-5 P.M.
21+
1
August 2026
On guitar with Southbound
A Tribute To The Allman Brothers Band
Captain Roy’s
1900 Saylor Rd, Des Moines, IA 50313
6-9 P.M.
ALL-AGES
14
August 2026
On guitar with XOLEX
Iowa State Fair
Jalapeño Pete’s @ The Iowa State Fair
3000 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317
Time TBA
ALL-AGES
15
August 2026
On guitar with XOLEX
Iowa State Fair
Jalapeño Pete’s @ The Iowa State Fair
3000 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317
Time TBA
ALL-AGES
22
August 2026
On guitar with XOLEX
Iowa State Fair
JR's SouthPork Ranch @ The Iowa State Fair
3000 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317
Time TBA
ALL-AGES
27
August 2026
JB Solo
Thursday Acoustic Series
Prairie Trail District
Ankeny, IA
5:30-8:30 P.M.
More info TBA
29
August 2026
On guitar with XOLEX
Downtown District Street Party
Downtown Cedar Falls, IA
Time TBA
ALL-AGES
9
September 2026
JB Solo
Gilroy's Kitchen, Pub, & Patio
1238 8th Street, West Des Moines, IA 50265
6-9 P.M.
ALL-AGES
23
September 2026
On guitar with XOLEX
Gray’s Station
451 SW SW 12th St, Des Moines, IA 50309
6-8 P.M.
ALL-AGES
25
September 2026
On guitar with XOLEX
Friday Night Live
128 N 12th Street, Centerville, IA 52544
6-10 P.M.
ALL-AGES