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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


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