One of Iowa's top concert venues is in a barn

Codfish Hollow, near Maquoketa, is unique

One of the risks music fans have to accept when they attend a show at the Codfish Hollow barn-turned-concert venue: the dogs require belly scratches.

Since 2009, when the hall opened in rural Maquoketa, the fun and funky structure has delighted fans and bands.

It’s an entirely different experience than most concert goers have come to expect — from the conveniences of asphalt roads and indoor plumbing to comfy, cushioned seats. Or even reliable cell phone service.

Codfish Hollow, a converted barn, has become a much-loved small music venue. (Photo by John Naughton.)

But that’s part of the charm, isn’t it?

You will find a folksy, rustic setting surrounded by lush, green fields and a beautiful view of sunsets. It seems far from the city, and an idyllic place for artists who appreciate the atmosphere.

If you hate camping or getting dirty, odds are you don’t belong here.

Fans can get an up close view of national touring bands. (Photo by John Naughton.)

But is it a great place for a show? Absolutely. I’ve been at a few barn parties with music, and even those can’t compare to this venue.

It’s an old barn (circa 1950s) sited on a century farm. Ten days before the first show, according to the venue’s website, the building was loaded with hay.

Concert goers drive across gravel roads (some quite muddy after a storm) and park in a rather primitive lot that’s mostly grass. From there, a bus takes you for a short drive to the barn.

The whimsical lights at Codfish Hollow add a rural charm to the venue. (Photo by John Naughton.)

An evening show welcomes fans with a trail of lights. Nothing fancy. But absolutely charming in a rural Iowa way.

There are fire pits, a food truck, a nice selection of beverages and “portable restrooms” (known by a number of different names in the vernacular lingo of our state).

Inside the barn, rejoice in the wood. As in wooden floors, the curved roof and the converted church pews that offer limited seating. Many bands are honored with carved wooden plaques that dangle from the ceiling like heraldic shields displayed in a castle.

And there are the dogs. On the night I visited to see the Big Star Quintet, there were several dogs roaming the barn, making themselves at home as they weaved around customers. Several rested on the floor, luring in concert goers willing to provide belly rubs.