Authors of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and more will share their talents and help strengthen the talents of others during the Midwest Writing Center's 2023 David R. Collins Writers Conference at Augustana College's F.W. Olin Center for Educational Technology, a June 22 through 23 celebration of the written word boasting workshops, readings, book pitches, and more, with special events planned at several additional Quad Cities locales.

With the eagerly anticipated weekend event hosted by Rock Island's Quad City Arts and taking place for the seventh time, glorious colors and imaginative designs will be gracing the pavement of Rock Island's Schwiebert Riverfront Park in the Quad Cities Chalk Art Fest, a June 24 and 25 summertime fixture boasting beautiful artistic creations, live music, children's activities, food and drink vendors, and more than $1,800 in cash prizes.

Praised by the The Bristol Herald Courier as being "massive in voice and fluid in style," and by Taste of Country as an artist who "has always known the power of a song," rising country singer/songwriter Larry Fleet brings his national tour to Davenport's Adler Theatre on June 24, his talents having inspired Whiskey Riff to rave, “There’s just something about a live acoustic performance from Larry Fleet that feels like a borderline spiritual awakening.”

Touring in support of their most recent album One to Grow On, a 2021 release that inspired Saving Country Music to rave that "the single greatest band in country music at the moment has just released one of the single greatest records you will hear in country music in the last few years," the Austin, Texas-based ensemble Mike & the Moonpies headline a June 25 engagement at Maquoketa' Codfish Hollow Barn, their sound praised by No Depression for its “shining tautness” and “crisp precision that is marvellous.”