The grant-funded "America's Music" project has filled local libraries and non-profits with the beat of American Blues, Broadway/Tin Pan Alley and Country/Bluegrass musical genres in the past few weeks. Now it's time for Rock and Roll, with two events at the Rock Island Public Library next week.
The Rock Island Library hosts a viewing and discussion of the film, "The History of Rock 'n Roll: Plugging In," from 5:30 to 7:30 pm on Tuesday, May 7 at the Main Library, 401 19th Street. This episode from the 10-part series centers on the reinvention of rock in the 1960s, combining performance footage with commentaries from such musicians as Arlo Guthrie, Judi Collins, Bruce Springsteen and Pete Townsend. Singer/songwriter Bob Dylan's decision to 'go electric' at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival shocked and dismayed many, but marked a turning point in rock history. The film also chronicles the emergence of 1960's California groups, the rise of guitarist Jimi Hendrix and the emergence of the rock concert as an art form.
On Thursday, May 9, the Rock Island Library hosts a performance by Meet the Press, a classic/contemporary rock group known for its crisp sound, three-part harmonies and a high energy stage show. Featuring original band members Robbie Bahr on lead guitar and vocals, Steve Law on drums and vocals, and John Resch on bass and vocals, Meet the Press mixes songs of the 80s and 90s with popular music of today. The free performance starts at 6:00 pm in the Main Library Community Room, 401 19th Street.
Meet the Press formed in 1984 with Bahr, Resch, Law and Dan Allen, and found local radio success in 1985 and 86 with hits "Dance Her Life Away" and "She's Cool." The group was able to tour with such bands as Edgar Winter, Foghat and Head East. After a few years of playing in different forms, the group reformed in 2012.
As part of "America's Music: A Film History of Our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway," project partners Bettendorf, Davenport, Moline and Rock Island Public Libraries, River Music Experience and Western Illinois University-Quad Cities have hosted documentary film screenings, scholar-led discussions of twentieth-century American popular music and live performances. Each week in the series covers a different musical style. After Rock and Roll, the project goes on to consider the genres of Mambo/Hip Hop and Swing Jazz.
The project concludes on May 23 with "Celebrating America's Music in the Quad Cities," a night of stories about Quad Cities music in the past 50 years and an open microphone event for local performers, at the Western Illinois University-Quad Cities Riverfront Atrium. A full list of performances and locations is available at www.americasmusicqc.com
For more details, please contact americasmusicqc@gmail.com or 309-524-2470.
"America's Music" is a project by the Tribeca Film Institute in collaboration with the American Library Association, Tribeca Flashpoint, and the Society for American Music. "America's Music" has been made possible by a major $2,500 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.
Additional funding for the Quad City effort was received from the Riverboat Development Authority, Sedona Technologies, UAW Local 2282, Friends of the Moline Public Library and Friends of the Rock Island Public Library, along with in-kind sponsorships from River Cities Reader, WQAD-TV Newschannel 8, STAR 93.5, WQPT Quad Cities PBS and WVIK Augustana Public Radio.
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