A transcendent musical work that will be performed in two intermission-less concert experiences, Austrian composer Anthon Bruckner's Symphony No. 8 will, on February 5 and 6, be performed in its entirety as the latest presentations in the Quad City Symphony Orchestra's 2021-22 Masterworks series, this thrilling piece credited by BBC Music Magazine as one of “the 20 greatest symphonies of all time.”

In the Redstone Room's first concert event under the "All Sweat Original Series" banner, local songwriters are paired up alongside topnotch area musicians to act as their own personal backing band, with this January 20 explosion of community and fun showcasing three exceptional headliners on the Davenport stage: Randy Leasman, Erin Moore, and John Born.

Boasting a discography encompassing more than two decades and collaborations with diverse artists ranging from The Doors and Eminem to Boyz II Men, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, hip-hop and rap artist Tech N9ne plays East Moline's The Rust Belt on January 21, the musician currently touring nationally in support of his 2021 release Asin9ne.

More than a balm, music this past year was a glorious brick to the head, shaping how we see the world and introducing us to new experiences that temper our reality in ways that aren’t always positive, but are always quite welcome. Here are four releases from last year that blew my mind and kept the bricks flying.