Moline, IL - April 1, 2013 - West Music Quad Cities is excited to get spring rockin' by celebrating International
Guitar Month throughout the month of April. The store will host weekly clinics to educate and celebrate the versatile instrument. West Music Quad Cities is located at 4305 44th Avenue, Moline, IL 61265. For questions or more information, please call 319-351-2000.

Clinic Information
Before anyone can play, they need to pick out a guitar. West Music will kick off the month with a "How to Pick Out the Perfect Guitar for You" clinic on Wednesday, April 3rd, at 6:00 pm. The clinic, hosted by Ellis Kell, is designed to help musicians find the right guitar for their needs, as well as cover the differences between acoustic and electric guitars, various body styles, and pickup configurations. He will also cover how certain guitar models are beneficial for beginners, advancing players, or those looking to play a certain style. This clinic is great for anyone looking to start playing, shopping for a gift, or just interested in learning more about different types of guitars. There will be free giveaways for participants.

The second clinic, "How to Care for Your Guitar," on Saturday, April 6th, starting at 1:00 pm, will teach guitar care basics. Attendees will learn from clinician and luthier, Tony "Sweeps" Carducci, how to tune and clean their guitar, as well as how to change its strings. West Music will also have care kit bundles for sale, in addition to discounts on accessories such as strings and tuners. Musicians in attendance will also be able to sign up for guitar lessons and have their registration fee waived.

So you've got your guitar and you know how to take care of it. Now what? On Saturday, April 13th, beginning at 3:30 pm, the third clinic, "How to Play - Free Guitar Demonstrations!" will teach the foundations of playing the guitar, including learning how to play chords, a simple song, as well as provide information on how to find the right teacher and lesson format. The presenter will be Andy Cowan. The clinic will host a drawing for free giveaways, as well as provide free guitar lesson registration, and special discounts will be available on select lesson book bundles.

On Saturday, April 20th, at 1:00 pm, the fourth clinic, "How to Make Your Guitar Sound Like the Greats with Effects," taught by Scott Whitehall, will teach guitarists new ways of expression through the creative use of effects pedals. Local guitar legends will teach the tips and tricks to guitar effects to help musicians capture the elusive tones established by greats such as Jimi Hendrix, Steve Vai, Johnny Greenwood, and Matt Bellamy. Attendees will continue to be able to win free giveaways, register for guitar lessons for free, and get discounts on select guitar effect pedals.

To end the month in celebration of one of the best instruments around, the final event, "Guitar Shows & Open Mic Sessions," will take place on Saturday, April 27th, from 11:00 am-2:00 pm. The event will begin with an informal open mic with appetizers and drinks. The stage will be set up with various products and a sound system so players can jump on up and jam. The event is open to all guitar lovers, who are encouraged to bring their own prized classic, cool, and unique guitars to the guitar show to display for everyone to look at and then jump on stage to show everyone how great they sound. This event will be a fun finale to International Guitar Month with West Music!

About West Music Company

Founded in 1941, West Music's mission to "Enrich peoples' lives through participation in music" is at the root of its success and continued growth. West Music specializes in pianos, guitars, drums and percussion, band and orchestra instruments, and print music as well as offers music instruction, repair and music therapy services. West Music has six retail locations in eastern Iowa and western Illinois. For more information, visit West Music's comprehensive online website at www.westmusic.com or call 1-800-373-2000.

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• LUKE BRYAN

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS

• THOMPSON SQUARE
• FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE

June 13th, 2013

Peoria Civic Center Arena

Peoria, IL

Tickets On-Sale Friday, 4/5 at 10am!!

At all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com, the Peoria Civic Center Box Office, or charge by phone at
800-745-3000.

LUKE BRYAN SELLS OUT FIRST LEG OF
"DIRT ROAD DIARIES TOUR"

Peoria, Ill. - The SMG managed Peoria Civic Center and LiveNation announce with great
enthusiasm Luke Bryan's tour date confirmed in Peoria, Il on June 13th, 2013 in the Peoria Civic Center
Arena. Tickets will go on-sale Friday, April 5th at 10 a.m. on Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations,
at the Peoria Civic Center Box Office or charge by phone at 800-745-3000. Ticket prices for the concert
will be $27.25 and $52.00

Luke Bryan's cache as a seasoned performer has long been recognized by his growing legion of fans and
has recently captured the attention of the music community. His ability to draw great crowds to his
concerts became evident today as it was announced the first leg of shows on his headline tour, the "Dirt
Road Diaries Tour," have all sold-out! The current 21-city run has now been extended with a second leg
beginning May 17 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Florida Georgia Line and Thompson Square are special
guests on both legs.

"I feel like I have waited a lifetime to take my own show on the road," shared Luke. "The band and I
have a lot of exciting things in store for the fans and are eager to get it started!"

Live Nation is the national tour promoter for the "Dirt Road Diaries Tour." Cabela's, the World's
Foremost Outfitter of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is sponsoring the tour. GAC: Great American
Country is the media sponsor for the second leg of the tour. For additional information on the tour and
ticket on sale dates please go to www.lukebryan.com or www.livenation.com.

Luke's career has sky-rocketed the last couple of years ending 2012 with some of his best accolades. His
latest album tailgates & tanlines produced three back-to-back Platinum singles, became a Top 10 album
in 2012 according to SoundScan, and sold seven million tracks. He has placed a total of six career singles
at #1 and was named the #1 Artist of 2012 and #1 Male Artist of 2012 by Country Aircheck. Billboard
named tailgates & tanlines the #2 Country Album and the #3 Country Artist Album of 2012 and claimed
Luke as the #3 Top Country Artist of the Year. Also in 2012, Luke took home 11 music awards, including a
record nine wins at the American Country Awards as well as his first American Music Award.

Luke was recently tapped to co-host the 48th Annual Academy Of Country Music® Awards on April 7,
2013 on CBS. He also co-hosted the "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock" special on ABC last
summer.

(Peoria, Ill.) - The SMG managed Peoria Civic Center and the Peoria Hispanics announce Noche De Fiesta Cinco to be held in the Peoria Civic Center Ballroom on Saturday, April 6th. Tickets are on sale now at the Peoria Civic Center Box Office, Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations or by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Noche De Fiesta Cinco features live music by the Chicago band IMPACTO BORICUA playing from 8pm to 11pm. Impacto Boricua is a Chicago based tropical band whose repertoire is highly versatile, offering their unique blend  of Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Cumbia, Cha-Cha-Cha and more. Blending vocal harmonies, hot percussion and high energy dance routines, Impacto Boricua provides a complete entertainment experience that is sure to get  audiences on their feet and on the dance floor.

Dance lessons and music by DJ Caballero will be offered from 7pm-8pm and the night will include performances by Salsa Touch and Peoria Latin Vibe.There will be prizes and proceeds go to benefit the Peoria Hispanic Outreach.

Noche De Fiesta Cinco is sponsored by Brewers Distributors, CEFCU, Centerplate and the Peoria Civic Center.

Saturday, April 6, 2013 in the Peoria Civic Center Ballroom

Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 day of the event and just $10 for students.

For more information please contact Megan Pedigo at (309) 680-3640 or mpedigo@peoriaciviccenter.com.

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America's Music Quad Cities is  a cooperative effort from Bettendorf, Davenport, Moline and Rock Island Libraries, along with River Music Experience and Western Illinois University-Quad Cities, to present the series of programs America's Music: A Film History of Our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway.  This six week series features documentary film screenings, scholar-led discussions of twentieth-century American popular culture, and live performances.

Detailed information about the series schedule can be found by visiting our web site http://americasmusicqc.com.

Quad City Libraries, Non-profits Band Together to Present 19 Programs for "America's Music: A Film History of Our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway"

From April 11 to May 23, the halls of local libraries and non-profits will resound with the beat of uniquely American musical genres, thanks to the grant-funded "America's Music" project.

Bettendorf, Davenport, Moline and Rock Island Public Libraries, in collaboration with River Music Experience and Western Illinois University-Quad Cities, will host the six-week series, which features documentary film screenings, scholar-led discussions of twentieth-century American popular music and live performances.

"America's Music: A Film History of Our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway" covers a wide span of musical interests, including blues and gospel, Broadway, jazz, bluegrass and country, rock n' roll, mambo, and hip hop. Featuring 19 presentations in the Iowa and Illinois Quad Cities, the local effort is one of just 50 sites nationwide selected to host this program series, which is funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.

Starting with blues and gospel and ending with swing jazz, the general audience programs will explore the connections between six uniquely American genres of 20th century music and the influence of music on the history, culture and geography of the United States. Each screening and discussion session will examine an important American musical genre in the context of key social and historical developments, giving attendees of  all ages an opportunity to recognize the influence of these popular music forms on the cultural landscape.

A full list of performances and locations is available at www.americasmusicqc.com, but the basic line-up is as follows:

Program partners and sponsors will kick off the series with a live performance by Iowa Blues Challenge winners The Candymakers from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm at the River Music Experience. Blues and gospel fill the week of April 15, with film/discussion events of "Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues" and "Say Amen Somebody" at the Rock Island Main Library and Davenport Public Library, Eastern Avenue Branch.

Broadway and Tin Pan Alley fill the week of April 22 with film/discussion events of "Broadway: The American Musical" at Moline Public Library and River Music Experience, along with a Broadway performance by The District Theatre and Tristan Layne Tapscott at the Moline Public Library.

Bluegrass and county music are the focus of the week of April 29, with film/discussion events of "High  Lonesome: The Story of Bluegrass Music" at Western Illinois University-QC and the Bettendorf Public Library. Bettendorf Library will also host a bluegrass performance by River Town, a four-piece ensemble performing traditional bluegrass and folk favorites.

Classic rock and roll takes the stage during the week of May 6, with film/discussion events of "The History of Rock 'n Roll: Plugging In," at the Bettendorf Public Library and Rock Island Main Library. The Rock Island Library will also host a performance by Meet the Press, a dynamic three-piece band performing 80s and 90s originals.

Mambo and Hip Hop music will fill the week of May 13, with film/discussion events of "Latin Music U.S.A. and "From Mambo to Hip Hope: A South Bronx Tale," at Davenport Public Library Eastern Avenue Branch and Western Illinois University-Quad Cities. The Davenport Public Library will also present a Hip Hop dance performance and instruction event with Midwest Academy of Dance.

Swing Jazz events fill the week of May 19, starting with a jazz performance at the Polyrhythms Third Sunday jazz at the River Music Experience. The event, featuring the Bill Bell Trio, is the only ticketed event in the series. Cost is $10 general admission or $15 for reserved seating. Tickets will be available at the door, or by calling 309-373-0790. Free swing jazz film and discussion events with excerpts from "Ken Burns Jazz" and the "International Sweethearts of Rhythm" take place during the week at River Music Experience and Moline Public Library.

Discussions, along with a call for stories about memories of the Quad City musical landscape, will be led by program scholar Dr. Daniel S. Malachuk, associate professor of English at Western Illinois University-Quad Cities, and several faculty colleagues, including Dr. Everett Hammer (English), Dr. Nancy Schaefer and Dr. Tammy Werner (Sociology), and two students in the English Masters program, Chelsea Clearman and Jill King.

With help from his students, Dr. Malachuk will present some of the local stories collected at the final event in the series, "Celebrating America's Music in the Quad Cities, " from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Thursday, May 23, at the Western Illinois University - Quad Cities Riverfront Atrium. Attendees are encouraged to bring their stories about the great variety of music heard in the Quad Cities over the past 50 years. Musicians are encouraged to bring instruments, as the event will close with an open mic event of local performers.

For details, please visit www.americasmusicqc.com or 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 News Channel 8, STAR 93.5, WQPT Quad Cities PBS and WVIK Augustana Public Radio.

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