With the Washington Post calling his latest book “a gift that's meant to be shared” and Publishers Weekly insisting "this resonant, vivid meditation shouldn’t be missed," a bestselling essaying and award-winning poet takes center stage in Inciting Joy: A Conversation with Ross Gay, a virtual January 11 conversation with the Inciting Joy author made possible by Illinois Libraries Present, and hosted by the Rock Island and Moline Public Libraries.

Bringing his national tour to the Quad Cities on January 7, lauded standup comedian and original In Living Color castmate Tommy Davidson will entertain crowds at Davenport's Rhythm City Casino Resort Rhythm Room on January 7, his two sets treating audiences to the artist's singular comic observations and tales from his newly released book Living in Color: What's Funny about Me.

Court-ing fans in their eagerly anticipated return to Moline, the electrifying athletes of the Harlem Globetrotters bring their “2023 World Tour" to the Vibrant Arena at the MARK on January 10, thrilling crowds with phenomenal basketball action, comic hijinks, ankle-breaking moves, jaw-dropping swag, and rim-rattling dunks in a fully-modernized amphitheater production.

Fans of such animated masterpieces as Castle in the Sky, Kiki's Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle, and the Oscar-winning Spirited Away will be in for a day of delights when the Rock Island Public Library's downtown branch hosts January 4's Studio Ghibli Film Fest, a day of screenings, snacks, and activities such as creating Totoro cutouts and learning the art of writing Japanese characters.

A high-energy 11-piece ensemble boasting some of the sharpest musical talents the Quad Cities has to offer, 10 of Soul headlines a special New Year's Eve concert at the Rhythm City Casino Resort Event Center, their Davenport engagement on December 31 boasting classic tunes from the genres of soul, funk, and blues, as well as a few funky arrangements of their own.

On December 31, fans of classic pop hits and iconic ballads are invited to ring in the New Year with the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse when the Rock Island venue hosts Salute to the Rat Pack & Friends, a thrilling concert event that will take audiences back to the showroom of the Sands Hotel circa 1960 through beloved standards including “Fly Me To The Moon,” “Volare,” “Mr. Bojangles,” and many more.

A celebration of three musical legends whose careers all effectively started with Sam Phillips at Sun Studios, the concert event Elvis, Orbison, & Cash is set to delight New Year's Eve crowds at the Ohnward Fine Arts Center, the Maquoketa venue proud to host three gifted tribute artists in Joseph Hall as Elvis Presley, Jesse Aron as Roy Orbison, and David Allen as Johnny Cash.

An exhilarating spectator event nearly 100 years in the making, the World Championship Motorcycle Ice Racing Series' “Vengeance Tour” is set to thrill fans at Moline's Vibrant Arena at the MARK on December 30, the pre-New-Year's event known for offering the most competitive point series of its kind at packed amphitheaters throughout the country.

A soulful musical drama about the Magi and their quest to find the one prophesied about for centuries, Gold, Frankincense, & Myrrh will fill Davenport's Adler Theatre with seasonal riches during the show's engagement on December 17, with its producing company Breath of Encouragement founded by Karen Roebuck, a native of Dayton, Ohio, and longtime resident of Davenport.

Touring in support of the band's most recent album Blood & Stone, a recording that New Noise magazine raved “starts off strong and grows stronger with each track,” the Grammy-nominated alternative-metal artists of Sevendust play East Moline venue The Rust Belt on December 29, performing from a repertoire that includes 13 studio albums, one live album, and 36 singles.

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