What a difference an audience makes. Any performer – especially in this dizzying, chaotic age of Covid-19 – knows this. And when Mark Russell Smith, starting his 12th season as music director and conductor of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, took to the Adler Theatre stage Oct. 3 for the first time in seven months – he knew it for sure. “It was moving, very powerful,” he said Thursday of leading a smaller, socially-distanced ensemble, as he wore a face mask. “Even before we played a note, the audience greeted us with a standing ovation. I came out like normal, the orchestra stood up... Read More

Iowa native Maddie Poppe – the winner of 2018’s “American Idol” — is coming to the Adler Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. Tickets will go on sale this Friday, Nov. 6 at 10 a.m. in person at the Adler Theatre Box Office (136 E. 3rd St., Davenport) and online at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets ($29.50 & $39.50) for the socially-distanced event will be sold in pods of 2, 3, 4 and 5. Guests must purchase all tickets in a selected pod. All guests will be expected to follow new health and safety guidelines, which includes wearing face coverings, maintaining distance between groups,... Read More

Despite the Covid crisis, the Downtown Davenport Partnership (DDP) — an affiliate of the Quad Cities Chamber – has been very busy for the past eight months. The result of all that work was presented Tuesday afternoon, as DDP executive director Kyle Carter unveiled a new strategic master plan to the Davenport City Council during a public work session. The 110-page plan (led by a New York-based consulting firm) will be added to upcoming city council agendas for further public input, and a vote to accept the final version is expected by December. Carter is most excited about providing hope... Read More

For decades, the battle has raged: Beatles or Stones? Through their heyday, fans accused London’s Rolling Stones of stealing ideas — even entire albums – from their Liverpool counterparts. At the same time, the Beatles secretly envied the Stones’ “bad boy” image and attitude, often copying their style. Both bands are unmistakably great, scoring an array of hits that changed musical history, but only one can be the best. The most infamous rivalry in rock and roll never played out in a public arena until now as Beatles vs. Stones – A Musical Showdown. The two greatest rock ‘n’ roll... Read More

This weekend, YouTube and the National Independent Venue Association are doing an awesome thing for local music venues nationwide, and I’m sure many of you have heard about the star-studded Save Our Stages Fest. It’s the kind of huge, publicity-grabbing event that gets a ton of attention with people in markets across the country. Which is a good thing, because it’s for a good cause, and it needs to get in front of a large group of people to make that positive impact. I do not begrudge that at all, and I wholeheartedly encourage people to check it out, and any other event of that... Read More

Wow! Who could’ve seen this coming? Theresa Caputo Live! The Experience, previously scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at the Adler Theatre, has been rescheduled to Sunday, May 16, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. No action is required at this time. Previously purchased tickets will be honored for the new date on Sunday, May 16, 2021. Patrons requesting a refund will need to contact the original point of purchase. Due to the unprecedented volume of postponements and cancellations, please expect to receive a refund in as soon as 30 days. For questions concerning tickets, please call the Adler Theatre... Read More

The Napoleon Dynamite: Movie & Conversation, originally scheduled for Saturday, September 26, 2020 at the Adler Theatre, has been rescheduled amid COVID-19 concerns. The rescheduled date has been confirmed for Saturday, September 25, 2021 at 7:30 p.m.  No action is required at this time. Previously purchased tickets will be honored for the new date on Saturday, September 25, 2021. Patrons requesting a refund will need to contact the original point of purchase. Due to the unprecedented volume of postponements and cancellations, please expect to receive a refund in as soon as 30 days. For questions... Read More

Quad City Arts is partnering with several local institutions to celebrate women’s empowerment and work by female artists. This month marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing and protecting women’s constitutional right to vote. This historic centennial offers an unparalleled opportunity to commemorate a milestone of democracy and to celebrate the achievements of women — especially in the arts. Quad City Arts’ September and October exhibition at Quad City International Airport, Moline, titled “A Portrait of Remarkable Women,” will feature... Read More

The TaxSlayer Center in Moline will join with live-music venues across the U.S. Tuesday to literally or virtually light their facilities in red to promote passage of more federal financial assistance, covering lost income due to the pandemic. Spearheaded by the #WeMakeEvents coalition, the #RedAlertRESTART campaign seeks to bring awareness to the dire situation live music faces if Capitol Hill does not supply support for venues that have been shuttered since mid-March to slow the spread of Covid, according to a recent piece in Billboard. On Tuesday night, the venues are encouraged to be lit red... Read More

In this time of paralyzing pandemic, unreal unemployment, furious racial unrest and bitter political division, we could all use some simple peace and beauty. The eloquent, inspiring artist Cecile Houel provides it – displaying 20 deeply penetrating portraits of Nobel Peace Prize winners throughout the Quad-Cities, in a cooperative exhibit starting Friday. Convinced that art can contribute to world peace, the 56-year-old French woman started the “Nobel Peace Prize Collection: Peace Starts Within” in 2014, to celebrate all of the Nobel Peace laureates of the prestigious Nobel Foundation since... Read More