08 Dec 2015

What's Happenin': Thursday, December 10, through Wednesday, December 23

By Mike Schulz

Michele Stine and Scott Ray Merchant in Chicago Shorties, top, and Gashlycrumb OrphanageTheatre

Gashlycrumb Orphanage and Chicago Shorties


Rockridge High School

Thursday, December 17, 7 p.m.

 

The Center for Living Arts

Friday, December 18, 7 p.m.

 

Nearly every local friend I have is antsy for that eternally promised passenger-rail service to and from Chicago, and among those friends, all the ones who are also active in stage productions say variants of the same thing: "It'd make seeing Chicago theatre so-o-o much easier." Well, we still don't have that train. But the week before Christmas, we'll at least get a momentary respite from our complaining, because Chicago theatre is coming to us.

24 Nov 2015

What's Happenin': Winter 2015-16

By Mike Schulz and Ashley Allen

Christmas at Augustana, December 5Music

Holiday Concerts

November and December

 

If you're planning to treat the family to a holiday concert (or several) and check out the "Music" section of the Winter Guide events calendar, the sheer volume of area options can appear a tad overwhelming. I consequently recommend viewing the seasonal scene not as a mass of individual happenings but as one big, beautiful advent calendar, with a different musical treat behind every window flap. Granted, it's not quite the same as those awesome advent calendars that have chocolate hidden inside, but what's revealed will do doubt be just as sweet.

24 Nov 2015

What's Happenin': Wednesday, November 25, through Wednesday, December 9

By Mike Schulz

The Purple Xperience Live on StageMUSIC

Wednesday, November 25 - Dark Side of the Rainbow: Pink Floyd Party. A pairing of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon with The Wizard of Oz, followed by local musicians performing some of their favorite Pink Floyd songs. The Redstone Room (129 Main Street, Davenport). 9 p.m. $7. For tickets and information, call (563)326-1333 or visit RiverMusicExperience.org.

Friday, November 27 - The Purple Xperience Live on Stage. Concert with the Minneapolis-based Prince & the Revolution tribute band led by Matt Fink. Col Ballroom (1012 West Fourth Street, Davenport). 9 p.m. $20-25. For tickets and information, call (563)508-2893 or visit LegendaryColBallroom.com.

Saturday, November 28 - Stayin' Alive: A Tribute to the Bee Gees. Touring celebration of the chart-topping pop and disco performers. Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center (2021 State Street, Bettendorf). 7:30 p.m. $25. For information, call (800)843-4753 or visit QCWCC.com.

Saturday, November 28 - The Brat Pack. Concert with the almost-totally-'80s pop musicians. Rock Island Brewing Company (1815 Second Avenue, Rock Island). 9 p.m. For information, call (309)793-1999 or visit RIBCO.com.

10 Nov 2015

What's Happenin': Thursday, November 12, through Tuesday, November 24

By Mike Schulz

John MorelandMusic

John Moreland

Village Theatre

Saturday, November 21, 7 p.m.

 

Oklahoma-based Americana and alt-country musician John Moreland released his third solo album, High on Tulsa Heat, this past April, and in its review of the artist's latest, the New York Times described Moreland's voice as "full of potholes and gravel." I could say the same of the driveway to my home, but in the paper of record's case, this is actually meant as high praise.

27 Oct 2015

What's Happenin': Thursday, October 29, through Wednesday, November 11

By Mike Schulz

Luke RedfieldMusic

Luke Redfield

Rozz-Tox

Wednesday, November 4, 8 p.m.

 

If you're reading this article hot off the (electronic) presses, folk singer/songwriter Luke Redfield's new EP Uncover the Magic - described by GoodMoMusic.net as "haunting and alluring" - will have been released less than a week ago. You also have roughly a week to commit the EP to memory before November 4 lands, when Minnesota native Redfield makes one of his early tour stops at Rock Island's Rozz-Tox. I urge you, though, to resist singing along even if you know every lyric of Uncover the Magic by heart. I made a similar mistake at a recent Wiggles concert and got such strange looks ... .

13 Oct 2015

What's Happenin': Thursday, October 15, through Wednesday, October 28

By Mike Schulz

Christine Broughton and Emily Mason in MachinalTheatre

Machinal

Augustana College

Friday, October 16, through Sunday, October 25

 

Last month, playwright Sophie Treadwell's expressionistic drama Machinal - a work inspired by a real-life 1927 murder - celebrated the 87th anniversary of its Broadway debut. But when Augustana College stages this little-known classic October 16 through 25, it won't exactly be the same show New York audiences saw in 1928. For one thing, it won't feature Clark Gable in his Broadway debut. For another, I'm reasonably sure the original didn't incorporate the talents of a beatboxer.

29 Sep 2015

What's Happenin': Thursday, October 1, through Wednesday, October 14

By Mike Schulz

the original Night People, circa 1965Music

The Original Night People 50th Draught House Reunion

Col Ballroom

Saturday, October 10, 6 p.m.

 

On October 10, Davenport's Col Ballroom will host a special concert event officially titled "The Original Night People 50th Draught House Reunion." And local music fans will surely know the Night People, at least by reputation - and especially if they're also local-music (with the hyphen) fans.

15 Sep 2015

What's Happenin': Thursday, September 17, through Wednesday, September 30

By Mike Schulz

Javier ColonMusic

Javier Colon

Galvin Fine Arts Center

Friday, September 18, 8 p.m.

 

Back in the day - by which I mean a couple decades ago - friends and I would frequent karaoke nights and challenge one another to perform randomly picked songs. On one of those nights, I wound up faced with the challenge of singing Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time," which I (and the pour souls listening) mercifully survived. Consequently, I feel a true kinship with performer Javier Colon, who, in April of 2011, crooned the same Lauper hit on the debut episode of TV's The Voice.

Of course, Colon sang it better than I did ... and for a few million people as opposed to a few dozen ... and I don't recall getting $100,000 and a recording contract for my efforts ... .

01 Sep 2015

What's Happenin': Fall 2015

By Mike Schulz

Celtic Woman -- October 17Events

Adler Theatre

September through November

 

"Mademoiselles, messieurs: It is with deepest pride, and greatest pleasure, that we welcome you tonight. And now we invite you to relax, let us pull up some chairs, as the Adler Theatre proudly presents - your autumn!" Okay, so that may not be the official greeting at the Davenport venue these days. But the Adler could do worse than steal from the candlestick Lumiere's "Be Our Guest" intro, considering how many fall events the theatre will be proudly presenting - among them the touring production of the Tony-winning fairytale musical Beauty & the Beast (November 3).

01 Sep 2015

What's Happenin': Thursday, September 3, through Wednesday, September 15

By Mike Schulz

Brushville @ RIBCO - September 5MUSIC

Friday, September 4 - Nashville Pussy. Atlanta-based hard-rock musicians in concert, with opening sets by Valient Thorr and Heavyweight. Rock Island Brewing Company (1815 Second Avenue, Rock Island). 8 p.m. $15 advance tickets. For information, call (309)793-1999 or visit RIBCO.com.

Friday, September 4 - Andrew Landers. Concert with the Americana and folk musician, with an opening set by The Dupont Brothers. The Redstone Room (129 Main Street, Davenport). 7 p.m. $10 plus $1.50-2 fees. For tickets and information, call (563)326-1333 or visit RiverMusicExperience.org.

Saturday, September 5 - Festival of Praise. High Praise Unlimited presents an evening of fellowship with outdoor concert sets by MercyMe and Justin Rizzo. LeClaire Park (400 Beiderbecke Drive, Davenport). 7 p.m. $17-20, ages 12 and under free. For information, call (563)359-7617 or visit NewAnthem.com.

Saturday, September 5 - Brushville. Outdoor concert with the country musicians, with an opening set by Just Chords. Rock Island Brewing Company (1815 Second Avenue, Rock Island). 8 p.m. $5-10. For information, call (309)793-1999 or visit RIBCO.com.

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