On October 9, a gifted series of disparate artists ranging from Quad City Symphony Orchestra musicians to professional dancers to an Augustana College instructor/performer to a visiting guest conductor will gather at St. Ambrose University for QCSO Up Close with Ballet Quad Cities: The Soldier's Tale, an evening of music and movement headlined by the influential and rhythmic Igor Stravinsky ballet of the title.

A family-friendly treat that the River Cities' Reader said “bubbles with color, personality, and wit,” the sweet and hilarious musical Miss Nelson Is Missing! opens the 2021-22 theatre season at Augustana College on October 9 and 10, the show based on a series of beloved, best-selling children's books by Harry Allard and James Marshall.

An early member of REO Speedwagon whose guitar talents were described by the Michigan Daily as “B.B. King played through Jimi Hendrix (with a touch of Andy Gill),” blues guitarist, songwriter, vocalist, and humorist Duke Tumatoe and his ensemble the Power Trio play Davenport's Redstone Room on October 8, sharing the talents that enabled the headliner and Chicago native to open for the legendary likes of Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, George Thorogood, and John Fogerty.

Lauded by World Music Report as an “energetic and ingenious musician and drummer” whose music “is a boiling and bubbling cauldron of African Highlife and every other kind of rhythmic style,” Afro-fusion percussionist and composer Paa Kow plays Davenport's Redstone Room in a Guest List Series co-presentation with Quad City Arts, the free October 7 event sure to prove why Modern Ghana calls the performer “Ghana's most artistic drummer.”

A legendary, groundbreaking achievement whose original Broadway production received six Tony Awards and whose most recent New York presentation won the Tony for Best Revival of a Musical, composer Stephen Sondheim's and author George Furth's Company enjoys an eagerly awaited run at Moline's Black Box Theatre October 7 through 16, the work a resonant dramatic comedy by an artist the New York Times calls “one of the most sophisticated composers ever to write Broadway musicals.”

Performing locally in a special event sponsored by Pierce's Promise, beloved folk singer/songwriter Cody Diekhoff – better known by his recording alias Chicago Farmer – plays an October 2 concert at Davenport's Redstone Room, the artist a soulful crooner and guitarist who inspired No Depression to rave, “If the Midwest is looking for a voice, the search is over.”

Described by DC Metro Theatre Arts as a mystery comedy with “a dizzy, stimulating joy that makes it a whole lot of fun,” the movie and board-game adaptation Clue: On Stage takes residence at Geneseo's Richmond Hill Barn Theatre October 7 through 17, the show a farcical riot that, according to Broadway World, “creates one laugh after another – and a series of 'Ah-hah!'s – as the audience is led on a merry chase.”

A stunningly gifted singer, comedian, and ventriloquist who, at age 13, was the grand-prize winner of the 12th season of NBC's America's Got Talent, Darci Lynne Farmer brings her singular talents and felt-laden pals to Davenport's Adler Theatre on October 10 alongside some of her touring friends, among them the diva-esque rabbit Petunia, the shy and soulful mouse Oscar, and a sarcastic old lady (puppet) named Edna.

Touring in support of the band's recently released third album Walkman, a recording described by Paste magazine as “a jubilant half-hour punctuating a newfound maturity,” the Minnesota-based Bad Bad Hats play Davenport venue the Raccoon Motel on October 13 demonstrating the talents that NPR described as “programmed to fire all neural pathways associated with carefree indie-rock fun.”

An annual, eagerly awaited fundraising event for Gilda's Club Quad Cities that gives ladies a night out to enjoy each other's company, bid on live and silent auction items, and generally let loose, this year's Diamonds & Divas event takes place at Davenport's Hotel Blackhawk on October 7, and will be highlighted by a performance with celebrated comedian – and former Quad Cities resident – Tammy Pescatelli.

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