Davenport Junior Theatre (DJT) will be celebrating its 70th season of theater “for kids, by kids” with a four-show Mainstage season consisting of two DJT classics, Winnie-the-Pooh and Imagine That!, and two first-time shows: Annie Jr. and The Phantom Tollbooth. All shows will be free to audience members. “Coming out of the pandemic into our 70th season makes the cause for celebration even more special,” says Ben Gougeon, DJT’s artistic director. “We wanted to honor our history while also looking forward to DJT’s future. During last year’s ‘pause’ on live theatre, we also envisioned... Read More

The Quad Cities International Airport has received more than $13 million in federal relief and safety upgrade funds in the last few weeks. The Federal Aviation Administration awarded $8.57 million to the Moline airport for construction on taxiways and runway 5/23. This project will eliminate the intersection of three runways which will increase safety and efficiency, and reduce risk for aircraft operations. The Q-C Airport is among a small number of airports in the U.S. with three runways intersecting at a single point. The 5,000-foot runway will be shortened by 2,000 feet and taxiways will be... Read More

The three-year-old Crawford Brew Works (CBW) is literally raising the bar on mixing community partnerships, fundraising, volunteerism and the time-honored traditions of local live music and craft beer into a delicious, hearty whole. The brewery and bar, at 3659 Devils Glen Road, has served up a new initiative called “Crawford’s Culture of Care” and it involves a more focused amount of time and energy to local non-profit organizations and getting the brewery’s culture involved in the community. Phase one of this culture is a new guest bartending series, which for two months will benefit... Read More

Mike Mathews and Sean Ryan are pumped for this year’s Dawn and On Music Festival – firstly for the simple fact that it’s back on. The all-day celebration of music, family and fun – Saturday, July 10th from noon to midnight at Schwiebert Riverfront Park, 101 17th St., Rock Island – had to be canceled due to Covid last year, and there were serious questions whether it would be a go this summer. “We got off to a very late start just because the artists didn’t know what was going to happen,” Mathews, the event co-director, said recently. “They weren’t necessarily making... Read More

Saturday in the Arts is a weekly feature covering a trend, subject, event or personality of local interest. It runs every Saturday morning on your site for the best entertainment and arts coverage in the area, QuadCities.com! Even though four of the group of 10 students and adults who recently returned from a two-week trip to Italy had been there before, it was a unique, life-changing experience for all involved. Pat Bereskin – longtime artist, teacher and owner of Bereskin Art Gallery & Academy, 2967 State St., Bettendorf – has taken summer trips to Italy every year since 2004, except... Read More

For someone like me, who hadn’t seen a big musical with a big cast – live and in person – in 18 months, getting back to Quad City Music Guild Thursday night for the last dress rehearsal of the new “Mamma Mia!” (after nabbing next to the last spot in the parking lot) was a terrific treat. My son Josh and I wore masks and sat in the back row – but every one of the 535 seats in the Prospect Park theater is great, because you’re at Music Guild, seeing immensely talented people pursuing their passion: putting on the best possible entertainment and faithfully reflecting some of the greatest... Read More

Most struggling businesses only had to deal with a global pandemic last year. By the time of the mass shutdown in mid-March 2020, Ragged Records and Trash Can Annie’s in downtown Davenport were already closed about 42 weeks – forced out by the historic flooding in 2019. They’re finally ready to reopen at a new nearby building, 311 E. 2nd St., on Saturday, July 17. “It’s been a dream come true,” Laura Heath – who owns TCA, the vintage clothing, styling and photography business – said this week of the totally renovated space formerly occupied by Abernathy’s, which moved in August... Read More

After more than 16 months of sonic darkness, the TaxSlayer Center in Moline is more than ready to rock Friday, July 9 at 7 p.m. Its first concert since the Zac Brown Band on Feb. 28, 2020 will be the powerhouse lineup of legendary arena rock bands — featuring Dokken, Lynch Reunion (with special guest star guitarist George Lynch), Firehouse, Jack Russell’s Great White, and special guest Brandon Gibbs (a native of Burlington, Iowa). While Illinois indoor venues have been able to open to 100-percent audience capacity since mid-June, TaxSlayer Center executive director Scott Mullen said about... Read More

“Sons & Daughters of Thunder,” a new film by Mid-America Emmy nominated filmmakers Kelly and Tammy Rundle of Moline-based Fourth Wall Films, will be showcased by the Over-the-Rhine Film Festival at the historic Harriet Beecher Stowe House in Cincinnati, Ohio, Thursday, July 8 at 4 p.m. Central time. A Q&A with the filmmakers and others will follow the screening. The film will receive the Harriet Beecher Stowe “Power of Voice” Award, according to a Fourth Wall release. Viewers can attend the exclusive event virtually by purchasing advance tickets at https://thirdrow.live/otrff . “Sons... Read More

Continuing its string of multiple-artist concert nights throughout the Quad-Cities since late February, Jambrella Productions brings its CountryFest from 7 p.m. to midnight, Saturday July 10 at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, 2815 W. Locust St, Doors open at 7 with music starting at 8 p.m. Presented by Realty ONE Group: Opening Doors, Diane Lestor Fairway Mortgage Loan Corporation, and WQUD 107.7 Vintage Radio, the fest headliner is Texas country artist Tanner Usrey. The complete lineup will be: Tanner Usrey Music Joe Stamm Band Michael Moncada and Whiskey High Angela Meyer John Cole Born “He... Read More