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Ready for a road trip? Let The Swampland Jewels take you on a trip down old Highway 61, and across Route 90, through Southwest Louisiana and into East Texas. Playing a mix or original, Gulf Coast oldies, traditional Cajun/Creole, and TexMex tunes, The Swampland Jewels are sure to get you on your feet. If you aren’t a fan of the accordion, you will be after catching this set!
The Swampland Jewels consist of these veteran Iowa City area musicians:
Nate Basinger
Forrest Huesinkveld
Eddie McKinley
Randall Davis
Marty Christensen
Nate Basinger: Bridging Roots from Iowa to the Gulf Coast
Hailing from the heartland of Iowa, Nate Basinger's musical journey has been a rich tapestry woven with blues, roots, and a touch of Czech flair. Born into a family where accordion melodies echoed at every gathering, Nate's early exposure to music was a blend of blues, roots, and the folk tunes of French Louisiana.
In the 90s, Nate plunged into the local music scene, playing in bands and immersing himself in the diverse sounds of Iowa. A pivotal moment came when he joined a band with folklorist Harry Oster's son, opening a gateway to the enchanting music of French Louisiana and the Gulf Coast. Oster's field recordings from the 1950s left an indelible mark on Nate's musical soul.
Nate became a cornerstone in Iowa's music landscape, collaborating with a who's who of local talents. As a longstanding member of The Diplomats of Solid Sound, he contributed to the vibrant Iowa music scene. In 2009, Basinger set forth for Austin, Texas, where he delved into the city's rich roots and blues scene, collaborating with luminaries and honing a repertoire of crowd-pleasing Gulf Coast and Texas tunes.
A decade later, Nate returned to his Iowa roots, bringing with him a treasure trove of musical experiences. The Swampland Jewels, born as a pandemic project, evolved into a unique fusion of Iowan charm and Gulf Coast soul. In 2024, Nate Basinger and The Swampland Jewels unveiled their debut album, a testament to the musical crossroads where Iowa meets the Gulf Coast.
Supported in part by the Iowa Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, this record captures the essence of Nate's journey—bridging the musical landscapes from the plains of Iowa to the vibrant shores of the Gulf Coast, uniting cultures through the universal language of music.