Friday, November 3, and Saturday, November 4, 7 p.m.
Rozz-Tox, 2108 Third Avenue, Rock Island IL
Experimental musicians from five Midwestern states will gather for Rozz-Toxx's fourth Weirdtown Fest, with electronica, synth, noise rock, and more performed in sets by nearly two dozen local and regional artists and bands.
Four outfits based in the Quad Cities perform on November 3, with sets by Chill Smith featuring vocalist Alex Mahaffey and EYES drummer JT; the heavy-metal two-piece National Hero; Harrison Phillis' harsh-noise experiment We Also Let Blood; and the postmodern jazz ensemble Blue Movies. Joining them for the night are five additional Weirdtown guests from Iowa and Illinois: the Dubuque-based Bob Bucko Jr.; Chicago's noise artist Alexander Adams; solo performer Crimson Rex in her Quad Cities debut; Iowa City's dub sampler True Commando; and the heavy-metal musicians of Aurora, Illinois' I Like You, Go Home.
Meanwhile, on November 4, Weirdtown's lineup will boast a dozen unique outfits and soloists. Two electronica artists from Grand Rapids, Michigan – Palm Hands and Dead Hawk – will perform, along with the soundscape creators of Colorado's A Light Among Many and Kansas' Contraktor. Chicago's electro-acoustic outfits Fire-Toolz and Mkot Pt. appear on the bill alongside harsh-noise duo Culled from the Chicago suburb of Crystal Lake. Iowa-based participants include the Muscatine-based five-piece Croatians, hip-hop artist A.R.U. from Dubuque, and Ottumwa's electro-rap performer Voidweller. And rounding out Saturday's roster are two experimental artists based in the Quad Cities: Jerx and daggers // cloaks.
Admission to the Weirdtown Fest is a sliding scale of $5-10 on both days, with Rozz-Tox's doors opening at 6 p.m. and the shows starting at 7 p.m. For more information, call (309)200-0978 or visit RozzTox.com.
