On May 3, Vic and Deb Switzer, of Liscomb, will be hosting the Sixth annual Central Iowa Steel Guitar Show and Dance at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Marshalltown, at 201 High St. The doors open at 10:30 a.m. Show starts at 11 a.m. and goes all day until 6:30 p.m.

Now in it’s sixth year we have seen some changes. One thing is still the same. The day is set for live music, food on site and most importantly – dancing. A lot of fellow musicians are no longer with us so what better way to celebrate their lives, but with music. New musicians are being introduced to the art. This could be for young and older generations.

The musicians don’t even get paid. Everyone comes because they want to. We never charge for attendance. It’s a free will donation which helps us to continue the show each year. This event is a good time and you can’t have a better time for the cost. Who doesn’t want one day to just smile and laugh with family, friends and meet some new ones along the way.

The folks here at the C.I.S.G.S. have a common goal, and that is to provide a quality, professional show. We like to focus on dance music.

The steel guitar was a very prominent sound during the 60’s and 70’s, with a lot of innovations taking place. The sound exploded during that era, and the outcome of that, lead to the most danceable and beautiful songs ever written.

In the last two decades there has been a sharp decrease of the steel guitar used by artists out of Nashville. Only a few have stayed with their country roots.

New is the norm. In the last few years there has been a surge of interest from the younger generation in the pedal steel guitar. Did you know that the ratio between a guitar player and steel players are 700 to 1? Shows like the Northeast Iowa Steel Guitar Show and the Central Iowa Steel Show can give people, especially the younger ones, a chance to see and hear this magnificent instrument.

Here are some of the talented steelers that will perform at the show.

11 a.m. – Chad Burgess, of Ames

11:50 a.m. – Roger Miller, of Cedar Falls

12:40 p.m. – Vic Switzer, of Liscomb

1:30 p.m. – Bob Harris, of Des Moines

2:20 p.m. – Lefty Schrage, of West Union

3:10 p.m. – Bob Frederick, of Morrison, Ill.

4 p.m. – Brett Willie, of Decorah

4:50 p.m. – Eldon Hardekoft, of Denison

Each band will play for 40 minutes with a 10-minute break in between to switch bands.