Authors of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and more will share their talents and help strengthen the talents of others during the Midwest Writing Center's David R. Collins Writers Conference at Rock Island's Midwest Writing Center located in the downtown public library, a June 23 through 25 celebration of the written word (taking place both in-person and virtually) boasting workshops, readings, book pitches, and more.

Delivering the organization's first Third Sunday Jazz Workshop & Matinee Series event at its new location in Becherer Hall in Bettendorf's Rivermont Collegiate, Polyrhythms presents a June 26 engagement with the internationally acclaimed Yogev Shetrit Trio, an ensemble boasting the noted jazz gifts of pianist Moshe Elmakias, bass player Noam Tanzer, and its drumming and composing headliner.

Held on Main Street in downtown Port Byron, Illinois, an eagerly awaited music festival returns with the June 25 arrival of Baby Blues Fest, an afternoon of food and drink specials in all neighborhood restaurants, as well as exhilarating blues sets by My Friends and Me at noon, the Donna Herula Group at 2 p.m., and event headliners the Avery Grows Band at 4 p.m.

On June 22, patrons of the East Moline Public Library are invited to meet the victorious general whose strategy and tenacity won the Civil War as writer/performer Dan Haughey presents his historical recreation Mr. U.S. Grant: A Man & a Patriot, a solo stage piece that focuses on Grant’s early life, his time as a citizen in Galena, Illinois, and his rise to Civil War fame.