A New York Times-bestselling author of 26 mysteries and thrillers for teens and adults who, as she has stated, "makes up for a peaceful childhood in an intact home by killing off fictional characters," April Henry will be the special guest in a September 28 presentation at the Bettendorf Public Library, her recent novels including 2019's Run, Hide, Fight Back, 2020's The Girl in the White Van, and the 2021 two-fer of Playing with Fire and Eyes of the Forest.

In a special evening featuring the First African-American Steinway International Recording Artist from the state of Iowa, the Davenport Public Library program My Journey: Ivory Towers, A True Story": A Conversation with B. K. Davis will be held at the Eastern Avenue branch on October 2, with the author/musician sharing tales from his new autobiography, his experiences within the music business, and his path toward sharing his unique story.

Delivering what The Hollywood Reporter described as “a joyous blast of defiant analog vitality in a manufactured digital world,” Moline's Spotlight Theatre and the QC Rock Academy team up from September 29 through October 8 for the area premiere of School of Rock: The Musical, the Tony-nominated stage sensation based on the beloved film comedy starring Jack Black, and a work lauded by Broadway World as “a big, beautiful blast of musical comedy from start to finish.”

A Tony and Olivier Award-winning drama lauded by The Guardian as "sparkling and suspenseful," acclaimed author Conor McPherson's The Seafarer makes its area debut at Geneseo's Richmond Hill Barn Theatre during the play's October 5 through 15 run, this genre-melding 2006 work inspiring the New York Times to rave that "as unlikely as it sounds, The Seafarer may just be the pick-me-up play of the season."

One of the most beloved stage musicals in American history, as well as a Tony Award nominee whose iconic show tune "Day by Day" reached number 13 on the Billboard pop singles chart, composer Stephen Schwartz's timeless Godspell serves as this year's fundraising performance by Muscatine's New Era Dinner Theatre, its September 29 through October 1 run finding its proceeds benefiting Lutheran World Relief, the Muscatine Chapter of the Salvation Army, and New Era Lutheran Church.

Praised by The Buffalo News as "fiery, passionate, and deeply musical," the collective musical talents of Organ Fairchild headline a September 29 concert event at Davenport's Redstone Room, their 40-plus years of professional experience inspiring the United Kingdom's Soul & Jazz & Funk to call the outfit "a veritable cocktail of flavours – no gimmicks, no hype."

A celebration of one of the most popular and influential recording artists of all time coinciding with the artist's current, record-breaking "Eras" tour, Burning Red: A Tribute to Taylor Swift will take the stage at East Moline venue The Rust Belt on September 30, this exhilarating event "by Swifties and for Swifties" taking fans on a journey through all of Swift's own eras from her pop hits to folk, country, dance, and back again.

Touring in support of his 2023 album Twenty on High, which Holler Country deemed "10 songs of hope pushing back against self-doubt – and vice versa – wrapped in a nostalgic glow," country-music singer/songwriter Drayton Farley headlines an October 5 concert at Davenport's Raccoon Motel, the artist's latest inspiring Saving Country Music to call him "among the top flight of resurgent country-adjacent performers carrying on what artists such as Jason Isbell helped instigate."

With this month's new release Human Reaction praised by Distorted Sound as "an album that is so experimental" yet "still manages to be an evenly-paced experience that doesn’t crumble under being ‘out there,'" the alternative rockers of mssv headline a September 29 concert at Davenport's Raccoon Motel, the trio a project, initiated in 2019, composed of guitarist Mike Baggetta, bassist Mike Watt, and percussionist Stephen Hodges.

Two legendary forces in country music – as well as artists who were born fewer than seven months apart – will be celebrated at the Ohnward Fine Arts Center when the Maquoketa venue presents Cash & Cline: Country Royalty Tribute Show, a September 30 stage sensation boasting Johnny-and-Patsy hits performed by Benny Wheels and Lori Gravel.

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