Several Quad-Cities cultural organizations and projects were among 176 grants totaling just over $2 million, announced Friday by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs (IDCA), for works in art, film, history, and culture. The funding comes through programs overseen by the department’s divisions: the Iowa Arts Council, the State Historical Society of Iowa and Produce Iowa, the state office of film and media production. “These funds are critical to help sustain arts, film, heritage and cultural vibrancy across the state and showcase Iowa’s world-class cultural programs and destinations with... Read More

Rock Island District dance club Billy Bob’s has announced they’ll be closing, at least temporarily, due to low business numbers caused by covid-19. The bar posted the following on its Facebook last night: One month ago when we were finally able to open our doors back up after almost 4 months of being closed due to Covid 19. We were pretty honest in reaching out to everyone and letting them know we really needed their support. We are not sure the reason for such low numbers. Probably due to people still wanting to shelter at home and perhaps due to the District needing to close at 2am... Read More

Another major Quad-Cities cultural event is biting the dust due to Covid-19. Event organizers from Downtown Davenport Partnership (DDP) on Wednesday announced the cancellation of Alternating Currents, originally scheduled for August 27-30, as a regional event across five Quad-Cities downtown areas. Downtown Bettendorf Organization’s (DBO) “Be Downtown” event — in its third year originally re-scheduled from June to coincide with Alternating Currents — also has been canceled. Both organizations are divisions of the Quad Cities Chamber. “In order to keep Quad Citizens and visitors... Read More

The Tenacious D performance, originally scheduled to play the Adler Theatre on Friday, September 25, 2020, has been canceled. A message from Tenacious D: “Dear D-sciples:  We are very sad to announce that – due to the ongoing status of COVID-19 – we have had to cancel “The Purple Nurple Tour…Twisting Hard To The Left!” We were looking forward to hitting so many of these great cities this Fall, but it’s important to let health and safety lead the way at this time. All tickets can be refunded at the point of purchase.   The idea behind The Purple Nurple... Read More

“The Wedding Singer” this past February was the last musical at the Spotlight Theatre, 1800 7th Ave., Moline. Because the Illinois phase 4 reopening guidelines limit indoor theaters to a maximum of 50 patrons, the young theater can’t present any more musicals this year, as it plans to reschedule the rest of its 2020 season for 2021. “We had in our minds, our big hope that it was going to be 50-percent capacity,” co-owner Brent Tubbs said Wednesday of the state announcement June 26. “That was just like a punch to the gut.” As Circa ’21 recently announced that it would remain closed... Read More

The Midwest Monster Fest, originally slated Sept. 5-7 at The Rust Belt in East Moline, has been postponed until those same dates in 2021, fest officials announced today. QuadCities.com is, and will remain, a proud sponsor of Midwest Monster Fest. The following post went out on the festival’s social media today: At MIDWEST MONSTER FEST the safety, health and well-being of all our fans, vendors, stars, and staff are top priority. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on the local and Illinois state restrictions on indoor gatherings we have decided to cancel our Sept 2020 show and focus on... Read More

Richmond Hill Barn Theater has canceled the rest of their shows for the remainder of 2020. The Geneseo theater released the following statement just minutes ago: After careful deliberation, Richmond Hill Players regretfully announce the cancellation of the remaining shows of our 2020 season. With the unpredictability of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent upsurge in cases in many parts of the country, our board has chosen to exercise caution, since nothing is more important than the health and safety of our patrons, our volunteers, our performers, and, indeed, our community as a whole. Please... Read More

Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse, 1828 3rd Ave., Rock Island, will remain closed until this fall, since it can’t financially absorb losses due to the latest Illinois reopening guidelines, owner/producer Denny Hitchcock announced Wednesday. On Friday, June 26, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the new guidelines for indoor theaters would allow for reopening at a 50-percent capacity, or 50 guests, whichever is lesser. “In working with several state officials over the previous weeks, we had been very optimistic that the Phase 4 guidelines for the state of Illinois would put our dinner theatre in the same... Read More

There will be no joy in Mudville, or Davenport, again this year. The Quad City River Bandits have canceled their season, in accordance with Major League Baseball’s decision to cancel the entirety of the 2020 minor league season. This is the second year in a row the Bandits’ season has been decimated, as the 2019 season was destroyed due to flooding in downtown Davenport. The outlook for the Bandits, minor league baseball and the mood surrounding the announcement is grim, especially given previous discussions to contract the number of teams in the minor leagues earlier this year and... Read More

The Mississippi Valley Fair will go on, albeit in a stripped back fashion minus all of their big-name Grandstand Acts, Aug. 4-9 at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, 2815 W. Locust, Davenport, event representative Shawn Loter announced in a live press conference broadcast on Facebook Monday night. The move to downsize is a different one from those taken by most other area events. The majority of local performance venues and events have decided to go virtual, including the Walcott Truckers Jamboree being held online July 9-11 and the Bix Beiderbecke Jazz Festival, being held online July 31 and... Read More