Davenport, Iowa (July 19, 2010) -- Grandstand acts are a major part of the Great Mississippi Valley Fair, set for Tuesday through Sunday, Aug. 3-8, at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, 2815 W. Locust St., Davenport.

The acts are also a sizeable expense.

"Our budget for talent was $650,000 this year," said fair manager Bob Fox, who handles the booking through a talent agency. "I did it for $600,000, so we're under budget. But that doesn't include the sound and lights."

Here's the lineup:
Tuesday -- Montgomery Gentry.
Wednesday -- Kellie Pickler.
Thursday -- Dierks Bentley.
Friday -- ZZ Top.
Saturday -- Eric Church.
Sunday -- Blake Shelton.

"I think it's a good, varied lineup this year," Fox said.

But he also noted that booking the grandstand acts is not easy. "It's getting more and more difficult every year to reinvent the wheel," he said.

Fox said he has to locate appropriate acts whose routing -- their itinerary for shows before and after the fair -- brings them near Davenport and allows them time to stop and perform during the fair. The artists also need to be affordable.

Admission to the grandstand show at 8 each night at the 91st Mississippi Valley Fair is by Fun Card only, with the exception of children 3 and under, who are admitted free. The Fun Cards, which also cover daily admission to the grounds, are $40 each and are for sale at the fair office and select area businesses.

"We've held the price on the Fun Card this year, and look at the bargain," said Fox. "Look at the value -- six days of major entertainment for $40."

Those who don't buy a Fun Card can still enjoy the fair's many varied exhibits and grounds attractions. Daily admission tickets are $10 for adults and $3 for children 4-12. Children 3 and under are admitted free.

For more information, click on www.mvfair.com or phone (563) 326-5338.

-30-

By huge demand, four more slots open up as 48 filmmaking teams register for this year's event.

The Des Moines 48 Hour Film Project (48HFP) continues its record-breaking year as all 48 filmmaker slots have been filled for this year's event. Due to overwhelming demand, four more slots are now available, super-sizing to a possible 52 filmmaking teams for 2010. Registe r today on the 48HFP website at www.48hourfilm.com/desmoines. Also on the website is the schedule of all filmmakers in their screening groups so the public can reserve their tickets for the Fleur Cinema & Cafe public screenings on MidwesTIX.com.

"We couldn't be more proud," remarks 48HFP Producer Sam Tuomi. "Iowa's talented filmmakers are driving the 48 Hour Film Project to become the premiere short film competition and festival of Iowa."

On July 19 at 7pm, the 48HFP hosts a Casting Social at the Lotus Moments Events Center (2134 E Grand Ave - DSM), including a free Workshop for Actors by well-known Casting Director Kimberly Busbee. The session will cover a variety of techniques for actors with limited experience acting for the camera. It will also focus on helping filmmakers get the best results from new talent. Make sure and bring copies of your headshot or contact information on paper to be given out to the film team representatives.

The Des Moines 48HFP kicks-off July 23 with filmmakers receiving their required elements - genre, character, prop, line of dialogue. Filmmakers have just 48 hours to produce a short film in the hopes to win the "Best of City" award along with its $1000 cash prize. To help all filmmakers in their search for music in their films, the 48HFP is pleased to announce that international touring acoustic alternative band The Speedbumps (http://www.thespeedbumps.com/) is making available three songs from their latest album, "The Moon is Down."

Public screenings of the films are at Fleur Cinema & Cafe on July 28 & 29. Once judges have made their decisions, the Top 12 of the 2010 Des Moines 48HFP will be shown August 12 at Fleur Cinema during the Best of City Celebration and Awards followed up by a Special After Party at the Des Moines Social Club, including an exclusive concert by The Speedbumps. Tickets for the screenings are available at Midwestix.com or at the Fleur Cinema box office on the day of show.

DES MOINES 48HFP IMPORTANT DATES:

July 19, 2010 @ 7pm
* Casting Social - Lotus Moments Event Center (2134 E Grand Ave - DSM). Includes Free Workshop for Actors with Kimberly Busbee.

July 23-25, 2010
Des Moines 48HFP competition weeken d
* July 23 Kick-off Des Moines Art Center for filmmakers only
* July 25 Completed films must be dropped off by 7:30 pm

July 28 & 29, 2010
* Public screenings of all completed 2010 Des Moines 48HFP entries and vote for your favorite
Fleur Cinema & Cafe (4545 Fleur Dr - DSM)
Tickets are available at MidwesTIX.com or at the Fleur Cinema box office on the day of show

August 12, 2010
* Best of City Celebration (open to the public) - includes screenings of the top 12 judged films from the 2010 Des Moines 48HFP entries
Fleur Cinema & Cafe (4545 Fleur Dr - DSM)
Special After Party at the Des Moines Social Club (1408 Locust St - DSM) including exclusive concert by The Speedbumps

STAY UP-TO-DATE ONLI NE:
facebook: www.facebook.com/desmoines48
twitter: www.twitter.com/48hfpdesmoines

The 48 Hour Film Project is a wild and sleepless weekend in which filmmakers make a short film - write, shoot, edit and score it - in just 48 hours. On Friday night, they are assigned a character, a prop, a line of dialogue and a genre, all to include in their film. 48 hours later, the film must be complete. In 2009, some 30,000 filmmakers made films in 70 cities worldwide, including over 40 filmmaking teams in the Des Moines competition. Since 2005, the Des Moines 48 Hour Film Project has showcased over 170 films.

The Des Moines 48 Hour Film Project is sponsored by The Fleur Cinema & Cafe, Put It On Video, Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines Social Club, Greater Des Moines Convention & Visitors Bureau, Iowa Motion Picture Association, Iowa Scriptwriters Alliance, Lotus Moments Event Center & Printing, and MidwesTIX.

###

Davenport, Iowa (July 14, 2010) -- Free grounds shows and attractions are part of the draw of the 91st Great Mississippi Valley Fair, set for Aug. 3-8 at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, 2815 W. Locust St., Davenport.

New shows and attractions this year will join a lineup of perennial favorites, according to fair manager Bob Fox, who books the acts.

"The main thing is, you don't want people coming into the fairgrounds saying, 'Aw, I've seen that before,'" says Fox.

New shows and attractions include :

The Caboodlestoppers -- They are a mother and father and some of their children who sing, dance and do comedy for people of all ages. They describe themselves as America's funniest country family. "It's a great show," says Fox, who saw the Caboodlestoppers perform at the Louisiana State Fair. "It's a family-oriented show, but it's not cheesy. When I saw it, I thought, 'Boy, this would be great for Iowa."

Galaxy Girl -- This aerial superstar performs breath-taking stunts more than 127 feet in the air on an aerial space needle without nets or safety devices. Fox saw her perform at an International Association of Fairs and Expositions convention in Las Vegas and booked her "in keeping with the tradition of trying to have new and fresh acts every year at the fair."

Granpa Cratchet -- "Granpa Cratchet is a brand new puppet show," Fox says. Granpa also will be driving his little Model T around the fairgrounds during the day and chatting with people.

The World's Largest Traveling Horse Wheel -- This is a device that allows people to ride on Percherons, world famous draft horses.

Some returning grounds attractions and shows are:

Gym Bob's Jamboree -- This popular show will be back for its third year. "These guys are really, really talented," Fox says.

Dallas, the Fire Guy -- Fox says Dallas, the Fire Guy is a big crowd pleaser who returns with his fire-breathing act and "irreverent humor."

Globe of Death -- Multiple daredevil motorcycle riders circle inside a 16-foot-wide steel sphere. Says Fox: "This is a jaw-dropping show."

The Diamonds -- This is the third year at the fair for the Diamonds, a vocal group that had 16 hits between 1956 and 1961. "Fair-goers love the Diamonds, so I brought them back again," Fox says. "They just put on a really good interactive show. I get a lot of e-mails about the Diamonds."

Todd the Stiltwalker -- This roving performer is an act you have to look up to. His 10-foot renditions of characters and comedy routines are always a hit. "Todd is my mainstay," says Fox.

Also returning for 2010 are the Frisco Elephants and Petting Zoo, Great Cats of the World and a chainsaw artist, whose week's work will be auctioned off Sunday, Aug. 8, at 4 p.m. in the Genesis Variety Tent.

Grounds admission to the fair is either by ticket, sold daily at the gate, or by Fun Card, on sale at the fair office and select area businesses.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $3 for children 4-12. Children 3 and under are admitted free.

Fun Cards are $40 and include admission to the fair each day and to the 8 p.m. grandstand show each night. Admission to the grandstand is by Fun Card only. Children 3 and under are admitted free to the grandstand.

For more information, go to www.mvfair.com or phone (563) 326-5338.

-30-
String players, are you ready for your Quad City Youth Orchestra and Youth String Ensemble auditions? Will you be at your best?  Get free professional coaching on the required musical excerpts on July 15 courtesy of the QCSO. The sessions are 60-minutes long and be sure to bring your own music stand.

Date:Thursday, July 15, 2010
Location:Grace Evangelical Free Church, 5520 Eastern Avenue, Davenport
Times:
Youth Orchestra excerpts: 11:30 AM-12:30 PM
String Ensemble excerpts: 1-2 PM

Please bring a wire music stand with you to the clinic.

Those students who are unsure of which group they should be auditioning for should prepare both sets of excerpts. They are encouraged to come to both clinic times.

###
Peter Gabriel, Tom Waits, Steve Winwood, Kings of Leon, Rihanna, Ben Harper, Train, Timbaland, McCoy Tyner, Kelly Clarkson, and Many More Celebrities Team Up With High-Profile Music Industry Executives To Choose 2010 ISC Winners

July 12, 2010 - The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) has put together the most high-profile and prestigious judging panel in its nine-year history. Known for its high caliber of judges, ISC offers songwriters and artists the unprecedented opportunity to have their music heard by some of the world's most iconic and successful recording artists, as well as many major and indie record label presidents.

Now accepting entries for the 2010 competition, ISC gives away more than $150,000 in cash and prizes (shared among the 66 winners) including an overall Grand Prize consisting of $25,000 (US) cash and $20,000 in prizes.

To enter, go to
http://www.songwritingcompetition.com

Open to both amateur and professional songwriters, ISC offers 22 categories to enter, representing all genres of popular music. Past winners have included artists at all levels, from Grammy winners to hobbyist songwriters and everyone in between. To better level the playing field for unsigned artists, ISC has added this year the "Unsigned Only" category which is open to songwriters and artists
not signed to a major label record deal, publishing company, or distribution deal. This category provides an excellent opportunity for unknown artists to compete against others on a similar level.

Winning ISC can be a tremendous career booster. In the past five years, three of the Grand Prize winners have been signed to major label deals (Universal and Epic). Many more winners have secured publishing deals, smaller label deals, licensing deals, and distribution deals in addition to getting more gigs, fans, and recognition.

Monte Lipman, President of Universal Records, talks about his role as an ISC judge: "We're always been impressed with the talented songwriters who participate in the ISC. This is a great A&R source to find new artists."

ISC judges include :

Recording Artists: Peter Gabriel; Rihanna; Kings of Leon; Tom Waits; Ben Harper; Jeff Beck; Kelly Clarkson; Timbaland; Keane; McCoy Tyner; Ben Folds; Train; Wynonna; Robbie Williams; Michael W. Smith; John Scofield; Jerry Lee Lewis; Regina Spektor; Alejandro Sanz; Jeremy Camp; Terence Blanchard; Ray Wylie Hubbard; Montel Jordan; John Mayall; Craig Morgan; Jazmine Sullivan; DJ Tiesto; James Cotton; Sandra Bernhard; Robert Earl Keen; Baaba Maal; John Digweed; K'Naan; Adele; Black Francis (The Pixies); Robert Smith (The Cure); Chris Hillman (The Byrds); Darryl McDaniels (Run D.M.C.); Toots Hibbert (Toots & The Maytals); Matt Thiessen (Relient K); and more to be announced...

Industry Executives: Monte Lipman (President, Universal Republic Records); Amanda Ghost (President, Epic Records); Rick Krim (Exec. VP, Talent & Music Programming, VH1); Brian Malouf (VP A&R, Walt Disney Records); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Angel Carrasco (Sr. VP A&R, Latin America, Sony/BMG); Ric Arboit (President, Nettwerk Music Group); Daniel Glass (Founder/CEO, Glassnote Entertainment Group); Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins Entertainment); Dr. Demento (Radio Host, The Dr. Demento Show); Steve Lillywhite (Producer); Dan Storper (President, Putamayo World Music Records and Putumayo Kids); Lisa Ramsey Perkins (Sr. Director, A&R Sony Nashville) Kim Buie (VP A&R, Lost Highway); and more to be announced.

Please visit
http://www.songwritingcompetition.com for an entry form or more details.

ISC Sponsors: ASCAP, Berklee College Of Music, Disc Makers, D'Addario, Shure, Thayers, Onlinegigs, SongU.com, The Music Business Registry, Independent Mastering, Indie Venue Bible, George Stein, Esq., Sonicbids, Taxi, music Submit, and Alphabet Arm Design

###

Over the past three months, twenty bands entered in the Great River Days "Battle of the Bands" competition have been stumping for support and votes, in an effort to make the "final five" bands that will perform on July 30, 2010 on The Family Credit Union Main Stage at Riverfront Park in Muscatine Iowa.

In a unique web-poll format hosted at www.GreatRiverDays.com, the public previewed the best bands from three states, and chose whom they wanted to see perform for over $2250 in cash in the finals at Great River Days. This "Command Performance" was entirely decided by the fan poll results, and over 3000 people participated in the selection process. While every band involved had support from the fans, the "final five" garnered almost 50% of all votes cast.

The "final five" each will perform a 45 minute set of music that evening at the event, with the fans in attendance voting to select the "Best of the Best" homegrown music talent in the region. The "final five" bands are as follows:

Crashing the FM, from Durant Iowa. An up-and-coming music act, they have been playing together for a little over a year throughout eastern Iowa. Their repertoire includes such artists Led Zeppelin, Blink 182, AC/DC, and some original compositions.

Marmaduke, from Davenport Iowa. Last years GRD runner-up in the Battle of the Bands, Marmaduke took the crowd by surprise with an amazing amount of music from just three musicians. High energy style and all things rock, they play regularly to packed venues throughout the Quad Cities area.

The Beat Boxcar Children, from Rock Island Illinois. The Boxcar kids have previously competed in three other "Battle of the Bands" competitions in the area, and have won all of them. With music influences from hip-hop to rock to country banjo, count on them to present a set full of surprises and high energy music.

Pour Boyz from Muscatine Iowa. This six piece band covers all the angles, from rock to country to blues and punk. Multiple vocalists and guitars abound in their music, and they have quickly gained a large following in the Muscatine area.

Room 212 from Muscatine Iowa. 212 is the veteran of the "final five", having performed at last years "Battle of the Bands" and throughout area music venues over the last 14 years. Four musicians who stick it out as a band through thick and thin for so long is a force to be reckoned with. To say that they play well together is an understatement. Rock music is their forte, and they deliver the goods.

The Great River Days "Battle of the Bands" concert will be held on Friday, July 30 starting at 7PM. 97X radio personality Steve Donovan will host the event live on stage. Advance tickets are on sale now throughout Muscatine or available at the gate on the day of show.

Hardacre Film Festival 2010:

Independent Film Returns to Iowa's Longest-Running Festival

TIPTON, Iowa?Stuck elevators, foul balls and the world's largest lava lamp are among the filmed subjects of this year's Hardacre Film Festival. Iowa's longest-running film festival, celebrating its 13th year, will be held Friday and Saturday, August 6 and 7, at the historic Hardacre Theater in Tipton.

"We're really excited about this year's lineup?a terrific variety of subjects and filmmakers to present them," said Will Valet, festival director. "Many of our films have shown at the world's most prestigious film festivals, while others are premiering at the Hardacre. It's a world-class festival that gives movie lovers in our region a great opportunity to experience them and meet the people who made them."

T he 2010 festival will feature dozens of feature-length and short films from all over the world, including two feature-length narrative films, six documentaries, seven animated films and more than a dozen short live-action films.

Among this year's highlights:

Features:

  • American Grindhouse?This documentary (from Iowa-raised director Elijah Drenner) covers the history of the American exploitation film. The movie examines this often-overlooked category of U.S. "shock" cinema in an informative and amusing way.

  • Ballhawks?This documentary tells the story of Cubs fans who chase baseballs?and dreams?outside the ivy-covered walls of Wrigley Field. Filmed in 2004, when Wrigley announced plans to expand the bleachers and change "ballhawking" forever.

  • Between Floors?This funny, claustrophobic and arresting film examines the human condition through five stuck elevators and the people trapped inside them. Each elevator forces its occupants to confront their isolation, themselves and each other in varied and unexpected ways.

  • Cleanflix?This documentary explores the companies that make R-rated films "clean" for families and religious groups and the unhappy film directors whose work is going under the knife.

  • My Vietnam, Your Iraq?This heartbreaking and inspiring documentary tells the stories of Vietnam veterans and their children who have served in each generation's war. This looks at the pride, challenges, fears, prejudices and emotions they have gone through during and after deployment.

  • World's Largest?Shot partially in Iowa, this documentary captures the changing landscape of small-town America. Desperate for tourism, hundreds of small towns claim the "world's largest" objects, from 15-foot fiberglass strawberries to 40-foot concrete pheasants. This film visits 58 such sites and profiles one Washington town's four-year struggle to build the world's largest lava lamp.

Shorts:

  • The Cow Who Wanted to Be a Hamburger?In this animated film from animation legend Bill Plympton, a bovine is mesmerized by a marketing billboard and chases the goal of being the best hamburger he can be.

  • Heartland Transport?This short documentary, shot partially in Iowa City, concerns 17 gay and lesbian couples who define marriage equality as they take a chartered bus from St. Louis to Iowa City to be legally married.

  • Mind the Gap?In this hilarious short from Canada, a beautiful young woman sits next to a sweet elderly man on a train. The ride is anything but boring in this sweet comedy about first and last im pressions.

  • Patient?In this short, a man and a woman meet at a coffee shop for the first time. As if on an awkward date, they exchange timid pleasantries. But as their conversation unfolds, the horrifying truth behind their meeting is revealed.

  • Plastic Bag?This timely short film by hot indie filmmaker Ramin Bahrani (Man Push Cart, Goodbye Solo) traces the existential journey of a plastic bag (voiced by legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog) searching for its lost maker, the woman who took it home from the store and eventually discarded it.

  • Trophy Wife?This short film (from Marion, Iowa) concerns a husband who struggles with failu re and rejection in his hobby and in his marriage. When everything finally falls apart, Frank finds a way to resolve his taxidermy hobby and come to terms with his wife.

The complete list of films and a schedule for the 2010 festival will be released online at www.hardacrefilmfestival.com in early July.

Filmmakers are regularly in attendance, present their films, and take questions from audience members following screenings. The festival takes place during Tipton's Ridiculous Days sidewalk sale event.

The Hardacre will give out awards including Best Feature Film, Best Documentary, Best Short Film, Best St udent Film, Best Animated Film, Best Experimental Film and the Audience Award, which is voted on by audience members during the festival. Award winners will be announced in July.

SIDEBAR

Hardacre Film Festival

Friday-Saturday, Aug. 6 and 7

Hardacre Theater

112 E 5th St.

Tipton, Iowa

Admission to any of the Hardacre's three programs?Opening Night, Saturday Day or Closing Night?is $8 each. An all-festival pass can be purchased for $20. Films on Friday beg in at 6 p.m. On Saturday, screenings will run all day; from 9 a.m. through 11 p.m.

For a full schedule or more information about the Hardacre Film Festival, go to www.hardacrefilmfestival.com.

--END--

 

Your Easy Choice 93.9 WYEC continues its expansion and improvement of its product and services with recent changes to its daily line up.

Beginning June 21st 2010 Your Easy Choice 93.9 WYEC will begin airing  "Remembering Music Mornings" a new morning show to be heard weekdays from 5AM- 10:30AM dedicated to the very best hits from the 50's, 60's and 70's.

Added to the program line up is the much anticipated "Mid-Morning in the Cities" weekdays from 10:30 - Noon with guests to include Moline City Administrator Lew Steinbrecher, QC Senior Olympics Lisa Killinger, Rick Baker from the Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce, Wells Fargo Financial Advisor Dave Barnhart, members from the Children's Therapy Center of the Quad Cities, and Royal Neighbors of America in its inaugural week. Additional guests in the weeks to come, include Moline Mayor Don Welvaert, and former East Moline Mayor Joe Moreno, current Mayor of East Moline John Thodos, the Social Security Administration, Rock Island County Extension Bureau, and Quad City Animal Welfare Center, and many more.

Your Easy Choice 93.9 WYEC will continued its individually chosen music selection through the day with hits from the 50's, 60's and 70's along with a new addition to the line up featuring the very best special selection of 80's music with  "80's at 8" an weekday show catering to 80's music from 8 - 9PM.

Amana - Direct from Branson, Missouri, Doug Gabriel seven-time winner of Male Vocalist of the Year, is returning to The Old Creamery Theatre Company for performances July 7 through 11.

Come hear music from Elvis, Jim Reeves, plus many others and see Doug play his famous Muftar, a guitar made out of a 1969 Thunderbird muffler! All this, plus hilarious comedy and Doug's talented family adds up to an afternoon of truly great entertainment.

Doug is from Cedar Rapids and graduated from Linn Mar. His wife graduated from Cedar Rapids Washington and she performs with him and the kids.

Shows are at 3 p.m. each day, July 7 through 11. Tickets are $31.50 for adults and $22.50 for students. Call The Old Creamery Theatre box office, or visit the website 800-35-AMANA or www.oldcreamery.com. This special event is not part of The Old Creamery Theatre's season ticket or discount ticket offerings.

The Old Creamery Theatre Company is a not-for-profit professional theatre founded in 1971 in Garrison, Iowa. Voted #1 Theatre Group on the 2010 KCRG A-List, the company is celebrating 39 years of bringing live, professional theatre to the people of Iowa and the Midwest.

Grand Opening Thursday July 1 with the Mud Morganfield Band

A newly remodeled bar has opened at 1708 State Street, Bettendorf, in the space formerly housing Hal's Wagon Wheel. The Muddy Waters is owned by Kristy Bennett, a long-time Quad-City resident. The Muddy Waters will feature Open Mic Nite on Thursdays, free live music with local and national blues every Friday and a variety of genres every Saturday, as well as Rock Band and Karaoke on Sundays.

The grand opening of The Muddy Waters will be Thursday July 1, when the son of the legendary blues icon Muddy Waters will perform. Mud Morganfield and his band will travel from Chicago to christen the bar. The show starts at 8:00 p.m., and admission is only $5.00, including appetizers while they last.

The new bar is only three blocks east of the I-74 bridge, close to the bike path, and on the route for the Loop buses. The Muddy Waters is open 365 days a year; hours of operation are 2:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 2:00 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

The Muddy Waters features three pool tables and large-screen TVs. Drink features include $2 domestic bottles (always), a variety of martinis and blended drinks, and import and domestic beers including locally brewed offerings from Bent River Brewing Company and Great River Brewing Company. There is also a separate room perfect for office parties or a small reception.

Check the website for The Muddy Waters at: www.muddys.info; email: info@muddys.info.

# # #

Pages