Describing Mantis, Umphrey's McGee bassist Ryan Stasik doesn't mince words about the band's ambitions: "This record was like our opus, ... withstanding of time and complex and progressive and still a little heavy with aspects of pop."

It is not a "summer fun" album, he said, and despite the Chicago-based outfit's reputation as a jam band, Mantis is daring, tight, and expertly played.

That's different, however, from saying it's concise or disciplined. "Complex and progressive and still a little heavy with aspects of pop" describes not only the album but pretty much every song.

When the group plays the Capitol Theatre on Thursday, it will be debuting the Mantis material in the Quad Cities - a departure from its typical road-testing of material. Fans of Umphrey's are used to knowing the songs by the time they've been committed to a studio album, but Mantis is different. The group worked on the recording for two years and didn't play the songs in front of an audience until it was released in January.

The Listener engenders confusion.

Is it Listener, or the Listener Project? Yes. But not anymore.

The albums Whispermoon (2003) and Ozark Empire (2005) sure sound like hip-hop, but their creator prefers the term "talk music." "What we do is not hip hop," said Dan Smith, the Arkansas-based performer who is the Listener.

So in advance of the Listener's July 5 show at Fireworks in Moline, let's clear a few things up.

(Here you'll find links to all the content in the official guide to the 2009 IH Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, along with previous coverage of this year's performers from the River Cities' Reader.)

Thursday, July 2

Bandshell (Performer Bios)

5 p.m.: Bob Dorr & the Blue Band (2001 interview, 2006 review)

7 p.m.: Peña Brothers Band

9 p.m.: Cobalt Blue

11 p.m.: Roy Rogers & the Delta Rhythm Kings (2009 interview)

Tent Stage (Performer Bios)

5 p.m.: Radoslav Lorkovic (2009 interview)

6:30 p.m.: Hawkeye Herman (2007 interview)

8:30 p.m.: Bo Ramsey (2008 interview)

10:30 p.m.: Saffire - the Uppity Blues Women (2001 interview)

Friday, July 3

Bandshell (Performer Bios)

2 p.m.: The Avey Brothers

4 p.m.: Ellis Kell Band

6 p.m.: Eugene "Hideaway" Bridges

8 p.m.: Ric E Bluez

10 p.m.: Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater (2008 interview)

Tent Stage (Performer Bios)

2 p.m.: T.J. Wheeler

4 p.m.: David "Honeyboy" Edwards

5:30 p.m.: Fiona Boyes (2009 interview)

7:30 p.m.: Dee Alexander (2009 interview)

9:30 p.m.: Sugar Pie DeSanto (2009 interview)

Free Workshops

1 p.m.: Saffire (2001 interview)

2:30 p.m.: Fiona Boyes (2009 interview)

4 p.m.: David Horwitz, Blues Photography

5:30 p.m.: David Berntson

BlueSKool

2:30 p.m.: Winter Blues Academy Kids

3:45 p.m.: David Berntson

5 p.m.: T.J. Wheeler

Saturday, July 4

Bandshell (Performer Bios)

2 p.m.: Steady Rollin' Band

4 p.m.: Robin Rogers (2009 interview)

6 p.m.: Craig Horton

8 p.m.: Larry McCray (2009 interview)

10 p.m.: Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers (2004 interview)

Tent Stage (Performer Bios)

2 p.m.: Marquise Knox

3:30 p.m.: Juke Joiunt Duo

5:30 p.m.: Kenny Brown

7:30 p.m.: Diunna Greenleaf

9:30 p.m.: Magic Slim & the Teardrops (2005 interview)

Free Workshops

1 p.m.: T.J. Wheeler

2:30 p.m.: Kenny Brown

4 p.m.: Hawkeye Herman (2007 interview)

5:30 p.m.: Radoslav Lorkovic (2009 interview)

BlueSKool

2:30 p.m.: Winter Blues Academy Kids

3:45 p.m.: T.J. Wheeler

5 p.m.: David Berntson

How to Buy Tickets

Advance tickets for the 2009 IH Mississippi Valley Blues Festival are available at all IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union locations, the River Center/Adler Theatre Box Office, and through Ticketmaster. The price of an advance three-day pass for the fest is $30. Individual fest tickets at the gate will cost $5 on Thursday, July 2, and $15 on Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4.

IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union and Mississippi Valley Blues Society members can purchase individual advance fest tickets at a discounted rate of $12.50 each only at IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union locations.

Children 14 and under will be admitted free if accompanied by an adult with a ticket. Tickets are good for admission only on the day printed on the ticket.

Bob Dorr & the Blue Band, 5 p.m.

The Blue Band turned 28 on June 10! As Bobby's Blue Band (a tongue-in-cheek play on blues icon Bobby Blue Bland), the group headlined at the first Blues Fest in LeClaire Park in 1985. For the 25th-anniversary IH Mississippi Valley Blues Fest, Bob Dorr & the Blue Band will kick off the festivities on Thursday, July 2. This band is guaranteed to have you up and dancing with their rockin' blues and soul tunes!