One of the absolute thrilling joys of theater is not only how it brings fictional characters to life, but illuminates the intimately human struggles and triumphs of well-known, real-life icons. The Quad-Cities premiere of “The Mountaintop” – an emotional, haunting reimagining of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s last night on earth – is an extraordinary example. The 90-minute, two-person Katori Hall play debuted Thursday night at the new Mockingbird on Main, a beautiful, 40-seat cabaret at 320 N. Main St., Davenport, created by Tristan Tapscott and Savannah Bay Strandin. The mood before... Read More

Those crazy lads and ladies of The Late Nite Show are back with “Shakespeared” at The Black Box Theatre in downtown Moline on 5th Avenue. Improvisers present an all-new “lost” play by William Shakespeare. Blending classic iambic pentameter and vernacular vulgarity, this show is hilarious, not high brow. Come hither, peasants! Rated R for Raucous. Tickets are $10 online at theblackboxtheatre.com or get them at the door. Beverages available for a donation. So, come one, come all to “Shakespeared” July 31 at 7:30 pm.  Read More

Bettendorf, IA – The Bettendorf Public Library’s popular Brown Bag Lunch series is offering the community a month-long virtual opportunity to enjoy local music. Running through the entirety of July, a performance by Rebecca Casad and Alan Morrison will be available via the Bettendorf Public Library’s YouTube channel. No registration is required to access this online concert and viewing is free thanks to the support of the Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library. Brown Bag Lunch concerts are part of the Bettendorf Public Library’s rich history in highlighting local musicians. Rebecca Casad’s... Read More

The River Music Experience, 2nd and Main streets, Davenport, has brought back the free Live@Five on Fridays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The RME courtyard will host live music featuring a wide range of genres and styles. This year’s schedule of bands is: July 30: 10 of Soul 6: Heads In Motion sponsored by Downtown Davenport 13: The Dawn sponsored by Quad Cities Foot & Ankle Associates 27: Class of ’82 (‘80s New Wave / Retro Tribute Band) sponsored by NerdFest& Massetone Entertainment 3: The Bobby Ray Bunch sponsored by MidAmerican Energy 10: Avey Grouws Band 24: The Wontu... Read More

What to do this weekend… what to do this weekend… Need some help? Need some tips? Want to know what’s going on? Check out our Weekend in 2 Minutes podcast! It runs every week on your fun, free, local QuadCities.com! This week, the River Bandits are in town offering baseball on some beautiful days, lots of outdoor music is in store, find out what Smurchella is at TaxSlayer Center, and the Mississippi Valley Fair is lurking on the horizon. Get the details on these and tons of other events in this week’s Weekend! Click HERE to listen in to your Weekend in 2 Minutes!  Read More

One of the most popular columns I’ve ever written was a fun whirl through the predictions of an alleged time traveler from the year 2485. Since it was published last fall, it’s been read by hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. Every day, it gets hundreds, sometimes thousands, of views. When I first wrote it, I had no idea it was going to be so popular. I was just fascinated and amused by this person claiming to be from the future, putting predictions out there on the Internet. If I had known it was going to be so popular, I probably would’ve included a plug for one of my... Read More

Missing iambic pentameter? Then don’t miss improve with The Late Nite Show “Shakespeared” coming to The Black Box Theatre July 31 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $10 and available at theblackboxtheatre.com. “Shakespeared” is performed by the comedy crew behind GIT and the former Comedy Sportz in downtown Rock Island. All of their Late Nite Shows have moved to Black Box Theatre in downtown Moline, the new home for late night improvisational comedy in the Quad-Cities!    Read More

This year’s Art in the Garden is Saturday, Aug. 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Quad City Botanical Center, 2525 4th Ave., Rock Island. The 5th-annual event features local and regional artists — including potters, painters, sculptors, jewelry makers and others who are inspired by nature to create. Their works will be exhibited and sold at this outdoor show. The handcrafted works will be on display in tents throughout the gardens and a variety of art price points will be offered. Pieces to be sold include sculpture, jewelry, pottery, quilts, paintings and painted objects, charcoal and pastel... Read More

Claud (@claud.mp3) is coming to the Motel on July 30th to play songs from their INCREDIBLE album Super Monster LIVE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME!! Tickets are on sale here: https://www.tixr.com/groups/raccoonmotel Claud Mintz is an American bedroom pop musician from the suburbs of Chicago. Claud is a non-binary artist and performs under the stage name Claud. Claud began releasing music under the pseudonym Toast, releasing an EP in 2018. In 2019, they dropped out of college at Syracuse University to pursue music full-time. Claud released an EP called Sideline Star on October 25, 2019. In 2020, Claud... Read More

Attention Rock and Roll Fans: Come out for a night of fun and party at 8:30 p.m. Friday at The Gypsy Highway, 2606 W. Locust St., Davenport! Toxic Blonde is an Iowa-based rock band quickly gaining attention for its intense and energetic live performances. Featuring some of the areas finest musicians, Toxic Blonde is the perfect mix of entertainment and technical skill. Covering everything from Prince to Van Halen, each show is a must-see event.  Read More