24 Oct 2013

Iowa-based film production company Backrow Studios announces red carpet premieres across the Midwest

By Joe Clarke

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Three University of Iowa graduates are holding a red carpet premiere tour event at different college campuses around the Midwest including Purdue, Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, Columbia, and Grand Valley State University for their locally shot film, 'The Formula.'.  In addition to screening the film,  cast and crew members will also be present for a Q and A session and after party, including the star of the film, Brandon Baker. After starring in the Disney Channel film, 'Johnny Tsunami,' and as Mowgli in 'The Jungle Book,' this is Baker's first feature film after a five year hiatus. "The Formula," also stars Reginald VelJohnson (Carl Winslow in 'Family Matters' and 'Die Hard'), and Sasha Jackson ('Blue Crush 2').

Backrow Studios' production team Ravi Patel, Tim Nash, and Joe Clarke present, "The Formula." Also starring Second City veterans Mike Schminke and Tyler Thirnbeck, the film is the story of Quinn (Baker) and Graham (Schminke), two engineering students who discover a mathematical formula to pick up women with ease. Quinn is a hopeless romantic who falls head over heels for a young student teacher. Graham is a chauvinistic womanizer who thinks the key to finding the woman of his dreams is by wooing as many as possible. As "The Formula" follows Quinn and Graham from one date to the next, they discover that there is no shortcut to finding true love.

With many of the cast and crew also reigning from the Midwest, "The Formula" is the third film produced by Backrow Studios, LLC. Its first feature length film, "Kung Fu Graffiti," signed a contract for sales and distribution with Los Angeles -based production house Entertainment 7. The company's second feature "The Wedge" is hitting the film festival circuit, and landed three awards including Best Professional Feature at the Cedar Rapids Independent Film Makers Festival.

"The Formula" was directed by Joe Clarke and Thomas Beecher, with executive producer Ravi Patel. For media inquiries and interview requests, please contact producer Joe Clarke at 712-898-5390.

23 Oct 2013

Sarah Shafer sings Barber and Mozart

By QCSO

Mark Russell Smith knew he was working with a budding talent the first time he worked with Sarah Shafer at the Curtis Institute in 2007. Sarah had been given the small but important part of Barbarina in Mozart's Marriage of Figaro. "She made an immediate impression as an innately musical singer and had a radiant presence on stage," explained Mark Russell Smith. Smith invited her to perform with the Quad City Symphony Orchestra as one of the four vocalists for Mozart's Requiem during the 2010-11 season, and later as one of three soloists for Strauss' Suite from Der Rosenkavalier in 2011-12 season. In the mean time, Shafer's professional career has blossomed.

 

Shafer recently made her professional operatic debut in the role of Barbarina and the cover role of Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro at the Glyndebourne Festival and at the BBC Proms in London's Royal Albert Hall. Roles for the 2012-13 season included her American debut with Opera Memphis singing Adina in L'Elisir d'Amore, Mary Lennox in the world premiere of San Francisco Opera's newly commissioned work The Secret Garden, and Papagena in Opera Philadelphia's Die Zauberflöte. And now Shafer returns to the Quad Cities from these lead operatic roles to lend her "luminous voice" (New York Times) to Samuel Barber's deeply personal Knoxville, Summer of 1915.

 

Shafer will also make an appearance on the second half of the program to perform Mozart's "Ch'io mi scordi di te?" with celebrated pianist Joel Fan. Joel Fan has been described as a "versatile and sensitive pianist" (Washington Post) and praised for his "vivid imagination" (New York Times). This impromptu recital for soprano and piano will be followed by Richard Strauss' "Morgen!" for soprano and orchestra and performed in the midst of Strauss' Suite of incidental music from Le bourgeois gentilhomme, enacting a portion of the original stage play. You are sure to be smiling at the end of this delightful production.

 

Masterworks II

Saturday, October 26, at 7:30 p.m.

Adler Theatre, Davenport

 

Sunday, October 27, at 2:00 p.m.

Centennial Hall, Rock Island

 

Masterworks II is sponsored by Margaret Burrows-Getz and Tom Getz, MD, in memory of Meg Burrows LeGrand

Click here to purchase tickets online

 

Click here to read the concert program notes

22 Oct 2013

More $20 seats just released for Chris Tomlin on Friday!

By New Anthem

More $20 seats have just been released for sale!

Coming this week Friday!

Chris Tomlin

Louie Giglio

The Burning Lights Tour

7:30 PM Friday, Oct 25

Venue:

i wireless Center

1201 River Drive

Moline, IL 61265 US

 

Grammy-winning and multi-platinum recording artist Chris Tomlin with special guest Louie Giglio will bring his Burning Lights Tour to the iWireless Center. His latest album Burning Lights features the radio single Whom Shall I Fear [God Of Angel Armies] and an all new recording of White Flag. Chris continues to write songs that connect people to the heart of Jesus and lead them to a greater worship of Him.

The world at large is learning his music: accumulating the biggest first-week sales numbers of his history-making career, Chris Tomlin's latest album,Burning Lights, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. With more than 72,000 units sold, Burning Lights marks Tomlin's first trip to the top of the Billboard 200 and only the fourth time in history that a Christian music album has entered that chart at No.1.

Chris Tomlin combined with Louie Giglio is promising to be an evening of powerful worship and inspiration. Dont miss it!

Concert time: 7:30 PM

Doors open time: 6:30 pm

Ticket Prices: (plus fees)

$20.00
$25.00
$35.00

 

Get tickets:

http://www.ticketmaster.com/chris-tomlin-burning-lights-tour-with-moline-illinois-10-25-2013/event/06004ACDE699D734?artistid=982298&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=50&tm_link=artist_msg-0_06004ACDE699D734

 

OTHER WAYS TO BUY TICKETS

iWireless Center Box Office
Monday through Friday 10:00am -5:30pm
Saturday 10:00am -2:00pm

TicketMaster Phone Center: 1-800-745-3000

Area TicketMaster Outlets

 

The Burning Lights Tour is brought to us by:

Awakening Events

Join us for Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio and the Burning Lights Tour!

We hope to see you there!

Yours in Christ,

Timm Dalman

New Anthem

21 Oct 2013

The iWireless Center Wants Your Tree

By Stephani Nagle

The i wireless Center is currently in search of their 2013 Christmas tree to be displayed in the arena's circle drive throughout the holiday season and is also featured at the annual Lighting on the Commons Ceremony to be held Saturday, November 23.

The i wireless Center will pay for the removal of the tree and provide four complimentary tickets to the Quad City Symphony Holiday Pops in exchange for the tree donation. Trees should range in height from 20' to 40' and be available for removal the week of November 4th. Consideration will be given to size, shape, fullness, ease of removal, and proximity to building. Trees not selected in 2013 will be added to a list of potential trees for future years.

Have the perfect tree? Please contact Kevin Snodgrass via email at ksnodgrass@iwirelesscenter.com with subject line 2013 Christmas Tree Donation or at 309-277-1379.  Interested parties should include contact information, location of the tree to be donated, and approximate size. Photos of the tree are also welcome.

###

21 Oct 2013

Sweetheart Duet Teams with Hollywood Director On First Music Video

By Isa Villasenor

Acoustic Truth to Release Full Length Video Just in Time for Sweetest Day

Chicago, IL - This Sweetest Day is extra special for fan favorites, Sarah Lendy and Ryan Knott of  Acoustic Truth and they are sharing the love with everyone. The local performers launched their first professionally produced and directed video for their original song; Time just in time for the annual holiday Saturday, October 19, 2013 to coincide with the annual celebration of everything sweet and lovely. The video marks a milestone for the local pair and solidifies their place on the new music scene in Chicago. On the heels of booking their first performance at the House of Blues set for January 2014 and being invited unto America's Got Talent as well as impressive iTunes and Amazon performance listings for their song, Valentine, the video will engage new fans and serve as a treat for long time followers.

The product of a chance meeting at the airport in Los Angeles, the collaboration has resulted in a video that captivates in its storytelling, cinematography and sheer emotional draw. "When I met Sarah and Ryan during a gate delay in LA, I recognized Ryan's guitar and struck up a conversation about music and videos. They kindly and confidently offered to play for me (and the entire airport). It took moments for people to start buzzing about the impressive and alluring lyrics and voices echoing through the terminal. Passengers basically just stopped to hear and see the two perform. It was surreal," said Michael Estrella, Director and President of the production company Avelane Road, Inc. "It was then that I essentially offered (pro-bono) to help them with their first professional video."

The Time video tells the story of a couple deeply united and in love over the course of a beautiful life together and the stark recognition that time is fleeting. As the sands of time sift away, the couple takes an evening to rejoice in the celebration of young love that they've cultivated over the past 50 years. It's in this finely crafted celebration that we see the select personal aspects of life that define friendship, companionship and love. And in this case a bit of a twist. With local Illinois farm town community participants donating their resources, on camera time (the lead characters have been married over 50 years) and historic and iconic locations (100 year-old homes, Chicago's Aragon Ballroom) the video reflects a special small town effort in support of Acoustic Truth's rising mercury.

The video leaves a memorable and sweet impression on the viewer and compliments the powerful vocal delivery by Sarah Lendy and impressive guitar and vocals by Ryan Knott. The emotionally telling tone, heartfelt lyrics, inviting voices, and intimate details of the video convey an undeniable take on the magic of life-long sweethearts that's guaranteed to tug at the heart strings. As one joyful attendee mentioned at the recent private screening of the video, "there wasn't a dry eye in the place."

For anyone celebrating Sweetest Day, at any stage of the journey, viewing Time will be a special moment of reflection. The video can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veklOafOFCQ

Sarah, Ryan and Michael are available for interviews, in studio performances and call-ins.

"Whether you like alternative, country or simple love songs from any genre, Acoustic Truth delivers the heart and soul we don't hear often enough," said Barbara Varinaitis of Lippman Entertainment "To then realize that they are collaborating and romantically liaised as well as so involved in community service and charity is a sweet surprise.

Please contact Isamar at jessica@jpriego.com with inquiries.

21 Oct 2013

British Blues Guitarist Joanne Shaw Taylor Brings Award-Winning Style to Bettendorf, Iowa November 15

By MVBS

UK guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Joanne Shaw Taylor is currently touring the US and will be making a stop at The Muddy Waters, 1708 State Street, Bettendorf, IA on Friday, November 15. This exceptional show is being presented by The Mississippi Valley Blues Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the general public about the native art form of blues-related music through performance, interpretation and preservation. Joanne's performance will start at 9:00 p.m. with a $15 cover charge, or $12 for members of the Mississippi Valley Blues Society.

When Joanne Shaw Taylor was called to the Buckingham Palace stage by Annie Lennox, 17 million viewers were asking "who's that girl?" She was an unintimidated 16-year-old, played a savage Les Paul solo, and brought an attitude that indicated she was going to be a star. Soon enough, the buzz built and the new-girl-on-the-block soon became the "Best British Female Vocalist" at both the 2010 and 2011 British Blues Awards.

Joanne never imagined any of that at the start. She was just a country schoolgirl, bored with the music she heard on late-'90s pop radio, and decided to drop out of school and try her fate in the music industry. As destiny would have it, her demo tape landed in the hands of Eurythmics icon Dave Stewart. Stewart recalls that "she made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end", and his phone call the following day proved the start of a lasting friendship. Joanne accompanied Stewart's supergroup across Europe in 2002.

Stewart offered Joanne her first deal, and once the dam broke, things moved fast. In 2008, she was working with veteran producer Jim Gaines (Carlos Santana, Johnny Lang, Stevie Ray Vaughan), bassist Dave Smith, and drummer Steve Potts on the songs that became her debut album, White Sugar. Since then, she's broken into the notoriously hard-to-crack US market, beaten the stereotypes of her age and gender, and won the respect of the guitar giants of today.

"There are a lot of great guitarists and singers in the blues today," says Joe Bonamassa. "What I see in Joanne Shaw Taylor that sets her apart from the rest is the ability to write a great song. Not only is she a killer guitarist and singer, but you find yourself walking away from her shows singing her songs as well."

joanne-shaw-taylor-press-photo_1.jpg

# # #
17 Oct 2013

Chris Tomlin with special guest Louie Giglio will bring his Burning Lights Tour to the iWireless Center

By Timm Dalman

Next week!

Chris Tomlin

Louie Giglio

The Burning Lights Tour

7:30 PM Friday, Oct 25

Venue:

i wireless Center

1201 River Drive

Moline, IL 61265 US

Grammy-winning and multi-platinum recording artist Chris Tomlin with special guest Louie Giglio will bring his Burning Lights Tour to the iWireless Center. His latest album Burning Lights features the radio single Whom Shall I Fear [God Of Angel Armies] and an all new recording of White Flag. Chris continues to write songs that connect people to the heart of Jesus and lead them to a greater worship of Him.

The world at large is learning his music: accumulating the biggest first-week sales numbers of his history-making career, Chris Tomlin's latest album,Burning Lights, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. With more than 72,000 units sold, Burning Lights marks Tomlin's first trip to the top of the Billboard 200 and only the fourth time in history that a Christian music album has entered that chart at No.1.

Chris Tomlin combined with Louie Giglio is promising to be an evening of powerful worship and inspiration. Dont miss it!

Concert time: 7:30 PM

Doors open time: 6:30 pm

Ticket Prices: (plus fees)

$20.00
$25.00
$35.00

Get tickets:

http://www.ticketmaster.com/chris-tomlin-burning-lights-tour-with-moline-illinois-10-25-2013/event/06004ACDE699D734?artistid=982298&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=50&tm_link=artist_msg-0_06004ACDE699D734

OTHER WAYS TO BUY TICKETS

iWireless Center Box Office
Monday through Friday 10:00am -5:30pm
Saturday 10:00am -2:00pm

TicketMaster Phone Center: 1-800-745-3000

Area TicketMaster Outlets

The Burning Lights Tour is brought to us by:  Awakening Events

Join us for Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio and the Burning Lights Tour!

We hope to see you there!

Yours in Christ,

Timm Dalman

New Anthem

17 Oct 2013

Inside the Music at the Figge Art Museum

By QCSO
You're invited to the
Inside the Music
Luncheon
Join us on Friday, October 25, at 12:00 noon for the Inside the Music Luncheon with Conductor Mark Russell Smith at the Figge Art Museum. This is your chance to get the inside scoop on the Masterworks performances scheduled for October 26 and 27. This next concert features music from Schubert, Barber, Mozart, and Richard Strauss.
Mark Russell Smith will be joined by soprano Sarah Shafer and celebrated pianist Joel Fan. There will also be time to socialize with your friends and door prizes given away. Inside the Music is the perfect place to enjoy your Friday lunch.
Reservations for this lunch are $20 and can be made using the link below.
Inside the Music is hosted by Volunteers for Symphony. VFS members can purchase tickets to this luncheon for just $15. Click here to become a member.
When
FRIDAY
October 25, 2013
from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.
Where
Figge Art Museum
225 W. 2nd Street, Davenport
14 Oct 2013

Ladies of Lee Perform in Bettendorf

By Brittany Marietta

Former Student Brings University Choir to Rivermont Collegiate for Performance & Workshop 

What: Ladies of Lee Choir (Lee University - Cleveland, TN) perform at Rivermont Collegiate, offer workshop for Rivermont Show Choir

When: Friday, 10/18 - 1:00 p.m.

Where: Rivermont Collegiate campus - 1821 Sunset Drive, Bettendorf

The Ladies of Lee Choir from Lee University in Cleveland, TN will perform for Rivermont students this Friday, 10/18 at 1:00 p.m. in the Rivermont auditorium.  The Ladies of Lee, directed by Dr. Loralee Songer, travel throughout the eastern U.S. and graciously offered to provide a show for Rivermont students.  The President of the Ladies of Lee is Marlee Sullivan, a former Rivermont student and daughter of Mark and Jennifer Sullivan of Silvis, IL.  The Ladies of Lee will also conduct a workshop for Rivermont's Upper School Show Choir following the performance.  The Ladies of Lee are comprised of 44 students, freshman through seniors.


14 Oct 2013

Iowa Independent company Backrow Studios announces new LA distribution deal and College Tour

By Joe Clarke

IOWA CITY, Iowa - After bringing Hollywood and Midwest talent together on their latest feature, three Iowa City-based filmmakers signed on with LA based distribution company Level 33 Entertainment for their feature film 'The Formula,' and will go on a College Tour in late November to promote the upcoming DVD release. "The Formula," starring Brandon Baker, Reginald VelJohnson and Sasha Jackson, premiered at the Englert Theater in Iowa City back in January, and has since picked up numerous awards in various film festivals across the state.  After self-distributing on a state wide level, the company will look to expand to increased domestic and international market places. To coincide with the upcoming release, cast and crew from the film will be going on a week long college tour in November, stopping at college towns around the midwest including Illinois, Wisconsin, Kansas City, and Michigan.

Backrow Studios' production team Ravi Patel, Tim Nash, and Joe Clarke bring the story of two engineers who invent a mathematical formula for wooing women with "The Formula." The film stars Brandon Baker, best known for his work in Disney movies such as "Johnny Tsunami," "The Jungle Book," "Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board," as well as the NBC sitcom "One World." Also starring in the film is Reginald VelJohnson, a veteran actor best known for his roles in the classic action picture, "Die Hard," and as Carl Winslow in the long running family sitcom, "Family Matters." Rounding out the cast is Sasha Jackson, who played the lead role of "Dana" in 2011's "Blue Crush: Wild Coast." She also plays the recurring character of "Kylie" on the popular TV series, "One Tree Hill."

Level 33 reaches all media platforms and releases can be found in every major retail and rental account including Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Amazon, Redbox, Blockbuster, Netflix, iTunes, Google Play, Playstation, Hulu, DirecTV, Dish, Comcast, and Time Warner. Formed in 2010, the team brings a wealth of experience from Paramount, 20th Century Fox, and Walt Disney Studios. This industry exposure  helps ensure each film has the maximum opportunity to reach its target audience.

"The Formula" is the story of Quinn (Baker) and Graham (Second City's Mike Schminke), two engineering students who discover a mathematical formula to pick up women with ease. Quinn is a hopeless romantic who falls head over heels for a young student teacher. Graham is a chauvinistic womanizer who thinks the key to finding the woman of his dreams is by wooing as many as possible. As "The Formula" follows Quinn and Graham from one date to the next, they discover that there is no shortcut to finding true love.

With many of the cast and crew also reigning from Chicago, "The Formula" is the third film produced by Backrow Studios, LLC. Its first feature length film "Kung Fu Graffiti" signed a contract for sales and distribution with Los Angeles -based production house Entertainment 7. The company's second feature "The Wedge" is hitting the film festival circuit, and landed three awards including Best Professional Feature at the Cedar Rapids Independent Film Makers Festival.

"The Formula" was directed by Joe Clarke and Thomas Beecher, with executive producer Ravi Patel. For media inquiries and interview requests, please contact producer Tim Nash at 319-531-6324.

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