BREAKING NEWS: The Quad Cities’ grassroots music festival “Dawn and On” revealed their talent lineup on Tuesday for their 2021 event, taking place on July 10, 2021 at Schwiebert Park in Rock Island. With its roots in jam music, the festival’s lineup features local and national performers and remains diverse with a mix of rock, funk, bluegrass and folk bands. The day-long festival, now heading into it’s sixth year will be headlined by Colorado jam rockers Magic Beans and Illinois Bluegrass favorites The Way Down Wanderers.  Additionally, the festival will feature Wisconsin folk rockers... Read More

The Rock Island Artists’ Market has announced it will be hosting two events for the 2021 season. Join local artists, makers, and growers on Sunday, June 27th and August 29th from 12 to 5 pm in the parking lot of Skeleton Key Art and Antiques, 520 18th Street, Rock Island, IL. This outdoor event is free to the public, and family friendly. Applications are now being accepted for vendors. Interested artists can find more information and the application form under the “Rock Island Artists’ Market” tab on Skeleton Key’s website, www.skeletonkeyqc.com, or in person during regular store hours.... Read More

The fourth full season of Mississippi Bend Players will feature a total of five performers over three productions this summer at Augustana College’s Brunner Theatre Center. After it was forced to cancel its 2020 in-person season, the 2021 lineup will be: “Red” (June 17-20), by John Logan, directed by Catherine Bodenbender and featuring MBP favorites Mike Schulz and Tristan Odenkirk. Master abstract expressionist Mark Rothko has just landed the biggest commission in the history of modern art, a series of murals for New York’s famed Four Seasons Restaurant. In the two fascinating years... Read More

Quad City Arts presents the 44th-annual High School Art Invitational at Quad City Arts Gallery in Rock Island, through April 29, 2021. The exhibition is free and open to the public. The gallery (1715 2nd Ave., Rock Island) will be open extended hours — until 8 p.m. — on April 29th.  A virtual award presentation is live on Quad City Arts Facebook page , along with an online gallery where all of the entries can be viewed at www.quadcityarts.com/hs-invitational.html, This exhibition features exemplary works of art selected by each high school art teacher in the region. On average, 16 schools,... Read More

Quad City Arts presents the 44th-annual High School Art Invitational at Quad City Arts Gallery in Rock Island, through April 29, 2021. The exhibition is free and open to the public. The gallery (1715 2nd Ave., Rock Island) will be open extended hours — until 8 p.m. — on April 29th.  A virtual award presentation is live on Quad City Arts Facebook page , along with an online gallery where all of the entries can be viewed at www.quadcityarts.com/hs-invitational.html, This exhibition features exemplary works of art selected by each high school art teacher in the region. On average, 16 schools,... Read More

After the year we’ve all had, we all could use a little peace, love and understanding. And as she’s done for years, Rita Melissano, Ph.D., has a new way of delivering those priceless commodities. A passionate Italian, Melissano is the former director of the holistic Satva Center in Rock Island, Trinity Enrichment Center in Davenport, and among her many roles, is a psychologist, marriage and family therapist, holistic psychotherapist, mindfulness teacher and trainer, meditation teacher, Reiki master teacher and ordained minister. After four years based in southern California, she recently moved... Read More

Want to learn more about Taoism? Spellbound is holding an online class to teach you about it! This is a free class, online via Zoom. To attend, you must first register with your e-mail address in order to receive an invitation on the day of the class. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/…/intro-to-taoism-free-class… Instructor: Eric Friedman  Read More

Isabel Dawson, a 2020 Augustana College graduate, wears many hats – which each reflect her many skills in theater and business. The bright, enthusiastic 23-year-old, who did a lot of theater in high school in Normal, Ill., is the new assistant executive director for Genesius Guild and is helping assemble this summer’s abridged schedule of three productions outside in Rock Island’s Lincoln Park. Doug Tschopp has been executive director for about 15 years, involved in Genesius for 25 years, and worked closely with Dawson at Augie, where she majored in theater and business management. “I just... Read More

On Thursday, Matt Manweiler had a “come to Jesus” moment. Just not the kind you may think. The kind, bright and artistically adventurous orchestra director for the Rock Island-Milan School District, Manweiler has accepted a new position of education programs coordinator with Jesus Florido and his company Latinfiddler Music. On Facebook Thursday, Manweiler posted: “Jesus is a world-renowned Latin violinist who is a caring educator at heart. I will be working with Jesus on arrangements for his orchestral and educational residences, in helping build his pedagogy, and in coaching classically-trained... Read More

The Speakeasy is the newest location in the Quad Cities for Karaoke! Located in downtown Rock Island, The Speakeasy is happy to be taking over the successful weekend Karaoke event from popular downtown bar, MD Green’s, which unfortunately has closed. The Speakeasy has two Saturdays in April scheduled, April 17 and 24, and then, beginning in May, Karaoke will be happening the second Saturday of each month! What makes The Speakeasy different than other Karaoke events in town? “The biggest difference is we have an actual stage you’ll be performing on! We also have professional stage... Read More