To say Rock Islanders were a wee bit miffed about city officials blowing $15 million and getting stiffed by Walmart is like saying Bix Beiderbecke played around with music as a little hobby. The outrage has been justifiably hot. As I said in my last column, the city overspent by millions buying up decrepit properties on 11th street ostensibly to create space for a new Walmart which didn’t materialize. That money could’ve, and should’ve, gone to help already existing businesses owned by locals or to help local entrepreneurs looking to start up locally-owned businesses in the area. After all,... Read More

To say Rock Island made a colossal error in wasting $15 million to woo Walmart to 11th Street is a stunning understatement. But what’s perhaps saddest and most pathetic about it is its irony. Rock Island, like thousands of other cities across the country, will, at least once a year, pay lip service and throw promotional money at “small business weeks” and hollow pitches to “shop local.” City officials should’ve heeded their own advice in this matter. Aside from the property owners who were able to hit a stunning jackpot on selling their failed and crumbling 11th Street businesses at... Read More

RFD -TV is teaming up with comedians Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy to bring the We’ve Been Thinking Tour to a city near you.  Superstar comedians Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy will reunite on the We’ve Been Thinking Tour to bring an unforgettable night of comedy to the Adler Theatre in Davenport.  During this momentous event, both comedians will deliver a laughter-packed evening of all new material before they come together on stage for an uproarious encore you won’t want to miss!  Tickets ($59.50) will go on sale Wednesday, August 24 at 10:00 a.m. at the Adler Theatre... Read More

For the last 25 years, Ya Maka My Weekend has been a tradition in The District of downtown Rock Island. This festival celebrates the culture of the Caribbean. It is known for its colorful atmosphere, delicious foods, and lively reggae music. This year, the celebration takes place on the third weekend of August, scheduled for the 19th at 5: 00 P.M until 12:30 A.M and on the 20th 3:00 P.M until 12:30 A.M. Ya Maka My Weekend will be held on the Great River Plaza, 2nd Avenue between 18th street to 1st and 3rd avenue, in downtown Rock Island, IL. Admission is $9 for a one-day pass and $14 for a two-day.... Read More

Chicago’s Hemmingbirds are hovering into town for two gigs this weekend. They’ll be at Rozz-Tox on Thursday (http://www.rozztox.com/) and on Friday they’ll be recording their second Daytrotter session. (Their first, from 2013, is at http://www.daytrotter.com/hemmingbirds/futureappletree-august-16-2013.html.)

The band was born as a solo project, through a scattered collection of songs by Yoo Soo Kim. Navigating relationships and the uncertain future, he bunkered down in the echo chamber that was his basement and hashed out ten recordings that became Hemmingbirds’ debut, Death Wave.... Read More

Everyone remembers Rick Springfield as easily as they recall the opening chords of “Jessie’s Girl,” one of the catchiest power pop tunes of all time, but Springfield has proven himself to be more than the sum of one stellar song, as he proved with energy and verve Aug. 12 at Moline’s I wireless center, during a massively entertaining 90 minute show. Springfield has always been an act I’ve enjoyed and touted to people as they’ve rolled their eyes, typically bogged down with the perception of him as a teen idol or a heartthrob actor from his time on “General Hospital,” but to anyone... Read More

It’s hard to believe that anything could be better than cover bands, karaoke and gravy, unless it’s a Nickelback cover band that leads a karaoke version of “Call Me Maybe” retitled “Call Me Gravy,” as they’re making gravy, but, as incomprehensible as it may be even within the realm of quantum physics, Andrew King insists that the new Bix Beiderbomb Presents MAY be even better than that. MAY be. He’s not making any promises or guarantees. So, if your to-do list for the week includes downing cheap beer, laughing at cheap comedy, being surprised by cheap thrills and stories and getting... Read More

Hello and welcome to the new QuadCities.com! We are so excited to share with you some of our new additions to the site, along with the new design and technology involved. I’ve been working with our Publisher, Steve Holmes and our Lead Developer, Trevor Bertucci, the past few months building up to the official debut of this revamp and we’re really excited to unleash it on the world. We know you’re going to love it! Not only is the content terrific but we’ve added a lot of awesome new technology that you can enjoy whether you’re on your PC, your laptop, your tablet or your phone. And we’re... Read More

Looking for fun in the Quad Cities? If so, check out QuadCities.com, a new entertainment website offering all local news and features on entertainment and leisure and original entertainment content from Quad-Cities creators! QuadCities.com covers the area arts, entertainment and leisure scene, offering articles, podcasts and video shows on cool events happening around the area and great places for people of all ages to go to have fun. Everything from music to theater to comedy to family events and more are featured. It also boasts the area’s most comprehensive listing of businesses (highlighting... Read More

The Bix is back. That’s right, everyone’s favorite annual ode to the Quad-Cities’ favorite jazz musician son is once more filling Davenport with the sounds of Dixieland jazz. The Bix Beiderbecke 2016 Jazz Festival will be held at the Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center and the Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf. Call now to reserve your room for the event! The Isle is just a few minutes away from the historic LeClaire Park Bandshell and other Bix related sites in Davenport. Join us for a fantastic week of celebrating Bix and the 45th Annual Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival on August... Read More