What's Happenin'

  • Apr 29, 2025
    “The DougT Hypnosis Show,” May 9

    His credits including touring events with the likes of the Impractical Jokers, comedian Greg Hahn, and two-time Emmy Award winner Jennifer Coolidge, standup hypnotist Doug Thompson brings his touring sensation The DougT Hypnosis Show to East Moline venue The Rust Belt on May 9. Potential stage participants, however, shouldn't worry about doing anything they'll regret in the morning, as Thompson prides himself on delivering a raucously fun evening that doesn’t come at the cost of compromised dignity.

  • Apr 29, 2025
    Monster Jam 2025, May 10 and 11

    An eagerly awaited springtime touring event rides, jumps, and spins into the Vibrant Arena at the MARK on May 10 and 11 as the Moline venue hosts Monster Jam 2025, the amphitheater event that brings a new level of high-flying, four-wheel excitement to the entire family with racing, two-wheel skills, donuts, and freestyle competitions.

  • Apr 29, 2025
    The Putnam Palooza, May 10

    Taking place on May 10 from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m., the Putnam Museum & Science Center's new springtime event The Putnam Palooza will treat guests to a celebration centered around spring and the community, with multiple partners of the Putnam and Quad Cities Cultural Trust joining forces to host live music, games, food trucks, displays, and much more.

  • Apr 29, 2025
    “Blippi: Join the Band Tour,” May 11

    On May11, children of all ages are invited to explore what makes music – including sounds, rhythms, and instruments – in the touring sensation Blippi: Join the Band, allowing kids to shake their wiggles out and OJ Twist their way through a brand-new stage adventure featuring Blippi, Meekah, their singing and dancing buddies, and live musicians.

  • Apr 29, 2025
    Virtual Illinois Libraries Present: “Poverty – A Discussion with Matthew Desmond,” May 13

    The recipient of a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship who, in 2016, was also named one of Politico's “50 people across the country who are most influencing the national political debate," a Pulitzer Prize winner engages in virtual conversation with a Chicago-based journalist in Poverty – A Discussion with Matthew Desmond, the May 13 event with Desmond and Natalie Moore presented by Illinois Libraries Present and the Rock Island and Silvis Public Libraries.

News & Commentary

  • May 05, 2025
    A Couple of Three Things Pritzker Should Know Should He Take the Fight to Trump

    During a rip-roaring speech in New Hampshire last week, Governor JB Pritzker called for mass national protests and “disruption,” assailed “do-nothing” Democrats for their “simpering timidity,” and labeled President Donald Trump a “madman” who cannot be reasoned with. The Jewish Ukrainian-American governor said of Trump: “Stop tearing down the Constitution in the name of my ancestors. Do not claim that your authoritarian power-grabs are about anti-Semitism. When you destroy social justice, you are disparaging the very foundation of Judaism.”

  • May 01, 2025
    Filipino-American Author Jason Tanamor Makes Great Strides in the QC

    Jason Tanamor will help celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May with a new, Filipino-inspired shoe that pays respect to the Philippines flag. He designed the Italian-made shoe, the JT I, produced by Alive Shoes, which also aims to expand the underrepresented market of the Philippines.

  • Apr 28, 2025
    It Was an Open-and-Shut Case. If Only Emil Jones III Hadn’t Failed to Incriminate Himself.

    As you likely know by now, a federal jury deadlocked last week on all three corruption charges against Senator Emil Jones III (D-Chicago). U.S. District Judge Andrea Wood declared a mistrial after polling individual jurors and arriving at the conclusion that they could not possibly reach a verdict.

  • Apr 14, 2025
    Pritzker Advises Orgs to Make Cuts Where They Can Ahead of Trump’s Axe

    Governor JB Pritzker said last week that the extreme uncertainty with the U.S. government and the international economy might mean that the legislature may have to reconvene to reconfigure the state budget after it adjourns at the end of next month.

  • Apr 07, 2025
    Illinois GOP Appears Eager to Employ Methods Foul and Fair to Nullify Dems’ Vote-by-Mail Advantage

    You’ve probably read about the Republican Party implosion last week in suburban municipal and township campaigns, particularly in DuPage County.

Theatre

  • Apr 22, 2025
    “Chicago,” May 7 through July 5

    One of few musicals in history to win Tonys, a Grammy, and the Academy Award for Best Picture, the legendary Chicago makes its long-awaited debut at Rock island's Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse with its May 7 through July 5 run, this second-longest-running show in Broadway history a smash with both audiences and critics, the New York Times stating, "It has theatrical muscle, the characters are vivid, and its issues are ongoing in our public discourse."

  • Apr 22, 2025
    “Proof,” May 8 through 11

    Hailed by Variety as a “wonderfully funny” and “ambitiously constructed work,” and by the New York Observer as “unshowily fresh and humane,” playwright David Auburn's Proof closes the 2024-25 theatre season at Augustana College's Brunner Theatre Center, this Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winner also lauded by the New York Daily News as a “smart and compassionate play of ideas.”

  • Apr 29, 2025
    “Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!: The Musical," May 6 through 10

    With its script written by Mo Willems, the creator of the New York Times number-one-best-selling and Caldecott Honor Award-winning Pigeon picture books, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!: The Musical opens the 2025 theatrical season at Mt. Carroll's Timber Lake Playhouse, this presentation by the venue's Magic Owl Children's Theatre sure to entertain kids of all ages during its May 6 through 10 run.

  • May 05, 2025
    Boys Weakened: “Girls' Weekend,” at the Playcrafters Barn Theatre through May 11

    To my joy, Girls' Weekend, now making its area debut at the Playcrafters Barn Theatre, is delightful. I laughed more than I have in a year of theatre.

  • Apr 22, 2025
    City Circle Theatre Company's “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” May 2 through 11

    Based on an unfinished Charles Dickens novel and the winner of five 1985 Tony Awards including Best Musical, The Mystery of Edwin Drood enjoys a City Circle Theatre Company presentation at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts May 2 through 11, the critically lauded smash famed for being the first Broadway musical to be presented with multiple endings, the finales for each performance determined by audience vote.

Music

  • Apr 29, 2025
    The Beaker Brothers Band, May 9

    Delivering a blues-rock tribute to legendary bands The Allman Brothers and Santana, Iowa City's ever-popular ensemble The Beaker Brothers Band headlines a May 9 engagement at Davenport's Redstone Room, their Fillmore East & West concert finding the musicians performing from a revered repertoire sure to include classics from Santana's Live at the Filmore 1968 and The Allman Brothers Band's At Fillmore East.

  • Apr 29, 2025
    Tropicalisimo Apache featuring Grupo Control, May 9

    Delivering a night of spectacular Latinx music sure to inspire cheers and dancing aplenty, Noche de Sabor presents a special night with headliners Tropicalisimo Apache and national opener Grupo Control at Davenport's Rhythm City Casino Resort Event Center, the May 9 event also boasting a pre-show dance party and post-show Rhythm Room bash hosted by DJ Tommy Beats.

  • Apr 29, 2025
    “Neil Berg's 104 Years of Broadway,” May 9

    Arriving directly from New York and with his latest stage spectacular featuring Dubuque native Rita Harvey, the May 9 performance of Neil Berg's 104 Years of Broadway, presented by the Dubuque Arts Council, finds the producer/pianist/composer returning to the University of Dubuque's Heritage Center alongside a cast of stars from history's greatest musicals, with Berg sharing the songs and stories behind the music that helped change the world.

  • May 06, 2025
    Wild, at Heart: Wolfskill & the Wild Play in Support of Their EP Debut Feral Heart, May 30 at Ragged Records

    Plenty of albums feature songs that are also love stories. Far fewer albums are themselves love stories.

  • May 01, 2025
    Local, Regional, International: A Varied May at Rozz-Tox

    The three live-music events scheduled at Rozz-Tox (2108 Third Avenue, Rock Island, IL) in May pair talented local artists with respectable regional bands, and, on May 18th, a topnotch, brand-new, international heat-seeker.

Movies

  • May 05, 2025
    The Not Ready for Prime Time Avengers: “Thunderbolts*,” “Another Simple Favor,” “The Surfer,” and “Rust”

    Is it possible that, over the past three years, Marvel Studios has been experimenting with a release strategy designed to get audiences excited for every other MCU movie?

  • May 08, 2025
    Mike Schulz with Dave & Darren on Planet 93.9 FM

    Going to the cineplex or staying in and streaming this weekend? Every Thursday morning at 8:15 a.m. you can listen to Mike Schulz dish on recent movie releases & talk smack about Hollywood celebs on Planet 93.9 FM with the fabulous Dave & Darren in the Morning team of Dave Levora and Darren Pitra. The morning crew previews upcoming releases, too.

    Or you can check the Reader Web site and listen to their latest conversation by the warm glow of your electronic device. Never miss a pithy comment from these three scintillating pundits again.

    Thursday, May 8: After a week off, the boys are back with a jam-packed segment: discussion of Thunderbolts* , Another Simple Favor, The Surfer, Rust, The Accountant 2, and Until Dawn; previews of Shadow Force, Fight or Flight, and Clown in a Cornfield; and a reveal of the summer blockbuster Darren is most eagerly anticipating. It might not be what you think. Or maybe it is.

  • Apr 28, 2025
    He Ain't a Heavy, He's My Brother: "The Accountant 2" and "Until Dawn"

    Due to the nature of his role, Ben Affleck is never allowed to laugh here. With Jon Bernthal gleefully egging him on, though, you can sense how deeply the actor must want to. Heaven knows my audience, myself included, was laughing.

  • Apr 21, 2025
    Blues Travelers: “Sinners” and “The Wedding Banquet”

    There's no point in burying the lede on this. Even though it's only April, I can't imagine seeing a more dazzling, thrilling, thunderously satisfying 2025 release than Ryan Coogler's Sinners.

  • May 06, 2025
    Now Playing: Friday, May 9, through Thursday, May 15

    Now playing at area theaters.

Art

  • Apr 29, 2025
    “Brown, Lennox, & Wenthe,” May 9 through June 20

    Exploring themes of place and time by highlighting the Earth and capturing fragments of memories in paint, fiber, and clay, a trio of Midwestern artisans enjoy a collective exhibition at Rock Island's Quad City Arts Center from May 9 through June 20, the Brown, Lennox, & Wenthe exhibit boasting Afrofuturist art by Monica Brown, quilted art by Cheryl Lennox, and ceramic sculpture by Elissa Wenthe.

  • Apr 29, 2025
    Beaux Arts 2025 Spring Fair, May 10 and 11

    An eagerly awaited springtime event taking place over Mother's Day weekend in Davenport's spacious Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, the Beaux Arts 2025 Spring Fair will treat visitors to an outdoor celebration of visual arts and fine crafts on May 10 and 11, with the annual event featuring food, live music, children's activities, and works for sale by dozens of artists and Midwestern vendors.

  • May 01, 2025
    The Figge Gets Lit at 100: “Glow Up” at the Figge Art Museum, May 17

    You only turn 100 years old once. And while the Figge Art Museum – which originated as the Davenport Municipal Art Gallery in 1925 – is marking its centennial year in many ways, it's pulling out all the stops on Saturday, May 17, with a “Glow Up” party, celebrating a landmark $4-million lighting of its building at 225 West Second Street in Davenport.

  • May 08, 2025
    “For the Love of the Garden,” May 17

    An ideal afternoon escape for garden and flower lovers, live-music fans, art enthusiasts, families with kids, and those shopping for unique gifts, the Muscatine Art Center's For the Love of the Garden event will take place on May 17, this outdoor celebration boasting a performance by the Mad Creek Mudcats, live painting demonstrations, studio crafts, a vendor market, and more.

  • Jan 25, 2025
    “Young Artists at the Figge,” through May 25

    Always an eagerly awaited series at the Figge Art Museum, the latest incarnation of Young Artists at the Figge will be on display through May 25, with the Davenport venue celebrating the accomplishments of budding creative talents of local elementary and junior-high art students whose works will be showcased in a continuing series of individual exhibitions.

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