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! Brianna Hobbs was in middle school when the then-new River Music Experience first opened its doors June 12, 2004, in the historic Redstone building at 2nd and Main streets, Davenport. Now, the 28-year-old East Moline native is thrilled to join the growing nonprofit’s staff as new programs director, as the veteran RME leaders Bret Dale and his wife Kate transition out as... Read More

Come celebrate the Birthday and life of Ellis Kell with a two-day vinyl record sale and musical swap meet! Peace, Love, and the Joy of Music: Ellis Kell’s Birthday Bash will take place on Friday Aug 23 from 4 – 8 p.m. and Saturday Aug 24 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the RiverCenter (136 E 3rd Street Davenport). Multiple vendors will be selling vinyl albums, amps, instruments, and other musical wares, all while being serenaded by sets from local musicians and guest DJ’s that knew and loved Ellis.  A portion of all proceeds will benefit The Karli Rose Kell Music Scholarship Fund, River Music... Read More

Music.  Film.  Comedy.  Art. That’s right, Alternating Currents returns to Downtown Davenport. Alternating Currents, now in its 3rd year, will take place from Thursday Aug 22 through Sunday Aug 25, and will include 100 + performances and events throughout 17 different venues. Come celebrate the Birthday and life of Ellis Kell with a two-day vinyl record sale and musical swap meet Friday Aug 23 from 4 -8 p.m. and Saturday Aug 24 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the River Center (136 E 3rd St. Davenport)!  Multiple vendors will be selling vinyl albums, amps, instruments, and other musical wares,... Read More

Do you have a young aspiring musician in your home? Give them the gift of guidance and joy this holiday season! The Ellis Kell Winter Blues Camp takes place at the River Music Experience (129 N Main St. Davenport) this Wednesday Dec 26 through Saturday Dec 29 from 1 – 5 p.m. This annual Winter Blues program features vocal and instrumental workshops (guitar, bass, harmonica, keyboards & drums), as well as concentration on blues composition and improvisation. Sessions are open to area musicians from 8-18 years old. The cost is just $175. These sessions will be led by RME’s Bret Dale with... Read More

Looking for some outdoor live music and delicious food to enjoy this weekend? Then look no further than the Baby Blues and BBQ Fest! The Village of Port Byron will be holding their 4th Annual Baby Blues Fest on Saturday Jun 30 at the new gazebo in Port Byron. From 5-11 p.m. you are invited to enjoy live blues music along with the best BBQ east of Texas and premium beer specials. There is no admission charge for this event. Port Byron’s Village Board Member Wes Wells, the organizer of this amazing event, shares the events for the evening, “After recognizing Veterans of the Vietnam Era and the... Read More

Are you in the mood for some live music? How about helping raise money for area youths to obtain music education and performance opportunities, while enjoying some live music? Moondance 2017 is happening this Saturday Oct 14 in the Redstone Room at the River Music Experience (129 N Main St Davenport). Doors open at 6:30 and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at http://rivermusicexperience.org/Upcoming-Events/Calendar-of-Events/Moondance-2017. All proceeds from this spectacular event go to benefit the Karli Rose Kell Music Scholarship Fund at RME. Karli Rose Kell... Read More

What do you say when someone passes away? How do you celebrate their life and everything they did? How do you help their grieving family members and friends? Ellis Kell was a beloved musician in the Quad Cities who inspired many people with his music. To honor him and his life, the Quad Cities will be celebrating and remembering what he gave to the community. On Saturday, January 21 at 4:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m., The River Music Experience will be holding a benefit concert for his family in the Great Hall of the RiverCenter titled “Peace, Love & the Joy of Music: Ellis Kell Family Benefit... Read More

Ellis Kell will always live on his the hearts and memories of those who remember him, and his music will always live on in those who heard and were inspired by him. And so it’s entirely fitting that a visitation and celebration of his life, after the legendary local musician passed away from complications from cancer Dec. 16, is filled with music. Kell’s visitation and celbration of life service will take place beginning at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Adler Theatre. Friends and family will also be throwing a jam session at RME later in the evening; musicians and anyone else who has been touched... Read More

It sounds unrealistic and perhaps a bit cliché, but there are some people you can never imagine dying, because they’re so full of life. Ellis Kell was one of those people. The local music legend passed away from cancer early the morning of Dec. 16. It had been known for a while that Ellis was battling the disease, but I, like everyone else, thought that surely a man this strong, this full of life, this force of nature, was going to beat it. He didn’t. And so, he joins his beloved daughter, Karli Rose, once more, in another life, beyond this one. To be honest, the entire thing has felt surreal.... Read More