Forrest McCurren at the Raccoon Motel and Rock Island Public Library Southwest Branch -- September 29 and 30.
Tuesday, September 29, 6 p.m.
Raccoon Motel, 315 East Second Street, Davenport IA
Wednesday, September 30, noon
Rock Island Public Library Downtown Branch, 401 19th Street, Rock Island IL
Currently touring the country in support of his latest recording Small Prayers, Big Blessings, country and Americana singer/songwriter Forrest McCurren returns to the Quad Cities for a pair of special concert events: a headlining engagement at Davenport's Raccoon Motel on September 29, and, on September 30, performing alongside his wife in Songs & Stories with Forrest & Margaret McCurren at the Rock Island Public Library's downtown branch.
As stated at ForrestMcCurren.com, the singer/songwriter "comes from the heart of the heartland, where the foothills of the Ozarks meet the Big Muddy: The Middle-of-Missouri. Blazing his own trail while stylistically tipping his hat to the songwriting giants of the past, McCurren wields the magic of lyricism to cast a light on the many intricacies of everyday life set against vignettes of Middle America. Tackling topics such as: wise words from waitresses, heartbroken high school football standouts, and tattooed trailer park lovers, McCurren writes songs for good people that got bad grad
"Forrest McCurren is a road dog. You hear it in his songs. The grit. The gears. The unexpected turns that produce a favorite mantra: You got to get lost to get found. His delivery is a pearl-snap shirt on a Saturday night, a Prine-like glimpse into sticky life, sycamore sweet in the Texas heat, sparkling in the Ozarks sun where the sacred Osage flows into the Missouri River. He raises a beer to trailer park lovers with matching tattoos and waitresses wise beyond their bar stools. His ballads salute good people who got bad grades in school, drunk on dreams, still trying to figure out if life is sour or sweet. Then he drives off in a van that looks like it might be your plumber. Equally at home quoting Shakespeare and the Bible, McCurren’s pluck and dirt songwriting prompted Blake Shelton and Taylor Sheridan to stick him in the lineup to compete in the series, The Road, which premiered October 2025 on CBS." es in school, are drunk on dreams, and still trying to figure out if life is sour or sweet."
In an interview with Kansas City's independent-news source The Pitch, McCurren said, "I was born in ’90. Where I’m from, there was always music. My grandma played organ at church. Some of my first memories are watching her play Hammond organ on Sundays. And I still love that music. I think 'Amazing Grace' is probably the best-written song ever, along with 'Will the Circle Be Unbroken' and 'Just a Closer Walk With Me.'
"My daddy used to sing songs to me to go to bed. He’d sing old soul songs like 'Stand by Me,' and my mom listened exclusively to Willie Nelson, but like I only played sports. That was what I did growing up, and sports was king and I come from a good sports family and so that’s what I did until I graduated school at 23. My brother gave me a guitar and he was listening to some great tunes from guys that I still love – Dylan of course, Springsteen, Justin Towns Earle. I saw Dawes, the rock and roll band from California, when they were touring that North Hills album at the Blue Note. That was my first album. I was probably 20 and that was the first time I’d been to a rock and roll show. I remember falling in love with just watching folks do their thing and do it well.”
Forrest McCurren headlines his Davenport engagement on September 29 alongside special musical guests, admission to the 6 p.m. concert is $15.88, and more information and tickets are available by visiting TheRaccoonMotel.com.
Songs & Stories with Forrest & Margaret McCurren will take place at the Rock Island Public Library's downtown branch on September 30, participation in the noon event is free, and more information is available by calling (309)732-7323 and visiting RockIslandLibrary.org.
