A popular group of touring Chicago musicians, both figuratively and literally, play the Timber Lake Playhouse on September 28 when the Mt. Carroll venue hosts a night with The Chicago Experience, the tribute artists' repertoire taking audiences from the early hits off Chicago Transit Authority’s 1968 self-titled album, including “Beginnings” and “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?”, through the 1980s smashes including “Hard To Say I’m Sorry” and “You’re The Inspiration."

Boasting an array of stunning tunes that capture the spirit and brilliance of one of the all-time-great American composers, Gershwin: A Birthday Celebration Performance will be presented at Moline's Sound Conservatory on September 28, the special encore performance (of the September 14 concert) dedicated to the genius responsible for timeless works including 1924's Rhapsody in Blue, 1928's An American in Paris, the songs "Embraceable You" and "Fascinating Rhythm," and the opera Porgy and Bess.

With its creator's artistic practice belonging to a tradition that intertwines nature, technology, and human experience, Leo Villareal: Interstellar, on display at Davenport's Figge Art Museum through February 23, will showcase nine works from light sculptor Villareal’s Nebula series, inviting patrons into the realms of space, time, and perception through LEDs and custom software.

Held in conjunction with the September 22 through 28 Banned Books Week – a celebration of our collective freedom to read – the Midwest Writing Center's and Rock Island Public Library's annual Banned Books Read-In will take place on September 24, with more than a dozen participants gathering at the library's Watts-Midtown Branch to read from frequently challenged works and unite in the fight against censorship.