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
29
May 2026
Backing Jeremy Alvarez
Middlebrook Mercantile
4125 Cumming Ave, Cumming, IA 50061
6-9 P.M.
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+
24
June 2026
On guitar with XOLEX
Barn State at County Drive Golf Course
Ashland, NE
9:00 P.M.
ALL-AGES
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
15
July 2026
On guitar with XOLEX
Raccoon Motel
315 E 2nd St, Davenport, IA 52801
8:00 P.M.
ALL-AGES
16
July 2026
On guitar with XOLEX
Music at the Meridian in Riverside Park
Park Dr. Yankton, SD 57078
5:30 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
Legacy Square - RAGBRAI
Dyersville, IA
7:00 P.M.
ALL AGES
24
July 2026
On guitar with XOLEX
Great Jones County Fair
800 N Maple St, Monticello, IA 52310
10:00 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
16
August 2026
On guitar with XOLEX
Leavitt Amp Series
Earlham City Park
Earlham, IA
7:00 P.M.
ALL-AGES
22
August 2026
On guitar with XOLEX
Iowa State Fair - Opener for BIGXTHAPLUG
Grandstand
3000 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317
8:00 P.M.
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
8:30 P.M.
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
2
October 2026
On guitar with XOLEX
Whiskey Fest
The Meridian, 7001 Westown Parkway, Ste. 100, West Des Moines, IA 50266
5:00 P.M.
21
November 2026
On guitar with XOLEX
Farley Memorial Hall
135 2nd Ave NW, Farley, IA 52046
5:00 P.M.
ALL AGES
30
January 2027
On guitar with XOLEX
Ringgold County Cattlemen
TBD