Music
Tommy Emmanuel
Adler Theatre
Wednesday, September 10, 7:30 p.m.
Guitar virtuoso Tommy Emmanuel performs at the Adler Theatre on September 10, and as fans of the two-time Grammy nominee can attest, he's famed for perfecting a complex playing technique called "fingerstyle." That's what I used to call my talent for eating jarred peanut butter without a spoon, but I'm betting Emmanuel's fingerstyle never got him kicked out of the family kitchen.
Of course, those familiar with the artist's fascinating biography know that for a portion of Emmanuel's youth, he and his family didn't have a kitchen. The 59-year-old native Australian received his first guitar at age four, and by age six, he was already working as a paid musician - and, with his parents and older brother Phil, living in a pair of station wagons while touring the continent as a family band. After his father's passing in 1966, Emmanuel eventually made his way to Sydney, where he won a series of national talent competitions as a teenager. By the late 1970s, he and Phil were employed as session musicians and performing together in the band Goldrush; by the early 1980s, Emmanuel was lead guitarist for Doug Parkinson's Southern Star Band; by 1987, he was in the rock outfit Dragon opening for Tina Turner.
That would seem a career highlight for any musician, but for Emmanuel, it was just the first of many. Thanks partly to the fame generated by his association with legendary guitarist Chet Atkins - who called his frequent collaborator "one of the greatest guitar players I've ever seen" - Emmanuel went on to perform opposite such notables as Eric Clapton, John Denver, Sir George Martin, and the musicians of Air Supply. He and Phil played for the closing ceremony of 2000's Summer Olympics. He received 1998 and 2007 Grammy nominations for Best Country Instrumental Performance. He was appointed the prestigious Member of the Order of Australia citation in 2010.
And as a celebrated master of the fingerstyle technique - playing bass lines, chords, melodies, and harmonies simultaneously using only the fingers of the right hand - Emmanuel has produced a number of instructional videos for guitarists, among them Guitar Talk, Certified Gems, and a 2008 release titled Emmanuel Labor. World-renowned, mad-talented, friend to the famous, and he's adept at puns? That just seems unfair.
Tommy Emmanuel performs in Davenport alongside the guitar duo Loren & Mark, and tickets to the concert are available by calling (800)745-3000 or visiting AdlerTheatre.com.
Exhibit
Hometown Teams: How Sports Shape America
Rock Island Public Library
Saturday, September 13, through Saturday, October 25
Ah, how the times do change. When I was a kid, my limited motor skills and inability to properly catch a ball kept me frequently at the library, as I couldn't really go out for sports. Had I been born a couple of generations later, I could've gone to the library and just had the sports come to me.
I say this because from September 13 through October 25, the Rock Island Public Library is going to be positively sports-happy with events related to the traveling exhibition Hometown Teams: How Sports Shape America. Arriving via the Smithsonian's "Museum on Main Street" program, and presented in cooperation with the Illinois Humanities Council, the exhibit will explore the underdog heroics, larger-than-life legends, fierce rivalries, exhilarating victories, and gut-wrenching defeats of professional, amateur, and scholastic teams and players, revealing how sports, in many ways, shape the cultural life of American communities. And fittingly, this fascinating celebration of athletes and their fans will find its stories shared not only at the library, but through programming taking place in numerous other venues on the Illinois side of the Mississippi.
Among the events scheduled for Rock Island's Main Library are September 13's 11 a.m. opening-day reception featuring high-school band performances, tours, and free hot dogs; that day's "baseball storytime" with a visit by the River Bandits' mascot Rascal; and presentations on such varied subjects as "Motorsports in the Quad Cities" (September 16), "Women Who Played Baseball" (September 22), "The Inspirational Life of Duke Slater" (October 4), and "Classic Arena, Big-Time Basketball: Tri-City Blackhawks of the NBA" (October 14).
But in addition to these and other programs - plus the display of the library's locally themed Small Town Roots of Big-Time Sports - the Hometown Teams exhibition will find the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat also showcased at several neighboring sites. The Moline Public Library will have golf on the brain in September 30's presentation "From the Quad Cities Open to the John Deere Classic." Moline's Butterworth Center will host discussions on subjects ranging from "The Evolution of Women's Boxing" (September 12) to "Paintings & Sculptures of Athletes in Action" (November 14). And running in tandem with Hometown Teams will be the Karpeles Manuscript Museum's housing of the exhibit Professional Baseball: Relics of Baseball's Past, and the Rock Island Historical Society's "Baby Doll" Jacobson: A Life in Baseball. Check out the accompanying photo of Jacobson. Now there's a smile you don't see every day.
But plan on your own smiles at the Hometown Teams programming being much wider, with information on this autumn's events available by visiting RockIslandLibray.org.
Visual Art
Dwelling in Minutiae
Galvin Fine Arts Center
Saturday, September 13, 7:30p.m.
Puerto Rican visual artist Anaitte Vaccaro, who works in a medium she describes as "digital scenography," will bring her staged presentation Dwelling in Minutiae to St Ambrose University's Galvin Fine Arts Center on September 13. Frequent readers of the What's Happenin's consequently owe Vaccaro a huge debt of thanks, because considering the astonishingly unclassifiable nature of her work, this is one of those rare moments in which I'm nearly at a loss for words. Nearly.
Holding a BFA from Puerto Rico's Escuela de Artes Plasicas and an MFA in Visual Effects from Georgia's Savannah College of Art & Design, Vaccaro has long been interested, as she said in an August 7 Examiner.com interview, in "bringing the surreal to life." And that might be the only way to truly describe the singular melding of dance, music, film, scenery, and sound effects in the artist's oeuvre, for which she has earned numerous commendations (including an L.A. Weekly Theatre Award) and many fans - among them the band Duran Duran, whose musicians recently commissioned Vaccaro for a special video project.
The artist's Examiner.com profile also found her saying, "Right now I'm working on two new pieces which will be presented in Davenport, Iowa," so Dwelling in Minutiae attendees will have the pleasure of seeing Vaccaro works never seen before. But if you'd like an idea of what you can expect on September 13 - and if your curiosity isn't sated by the accompanying photo and its battle between man and ... well ... not-man - click on this 2012 reel of Vaccaro's digital scenography. It'll blow your mind.*
For more information on, and tickets to, Dwelling in Minutiae, call (563)333-6251 or visit SAU.edu/galvin.
*Sadly, those reading the print version of this article won't have any luck making a video pop up ... though I bet Anaitte Vaccaro would've found a way to make it happen.
Music
Riverfront Pops: Michael Cavanaugh & the Songs of Elton John
LeClaire Park
Saturday, September 6, 6:30 p.m.
Lady Samantha:
I've been loving you from Denver to L.A., from Georgia to Belfast, with my heart in the right place and the weight of the world on my shoulders. You gotta love someone in hard times, and even though I cry at night and sing sad songs, knowing I need you to turn to is the greatest discovery of my life. I guess that's why they call it the blues.
But are you ready for love? At the club at the end of the street, I saw you with your ball and chain - he with his blue eyes and sartorial eloquence - and I said, "I think I'm going to kill myself with my father's gun." I couldn't believe there was true love between you, and while Saturday night's alright for fighting, I refused to sacrifice my ego committing original sin against that tiny dancer with the razor face. I don't care. I don't wanna go on with you like that.
Still, loving you is sweeter than ever. And despite my restless madness, I'm still standing, so don't go breaking my heart. Dear God, be in this town on September 6 for the electricity of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra's Riverfront Pops in LeClaire Park. We'll be gazing at the bridge and enjoying an Indian-sunset reverie while Broadway's Movin' Out vocalist/pianist Michael Cavanaugh will be breaking hearts with Elton John songs - including your song. It'll be like a return to paradise, my princess!
I know it ain't gonna be easy. You can't cage the songbird, and there's no keeping aflame a candle in the wind. But it's me that you need, my part-time love, so don't forget to remember that night of elderberry wine and the shooting star - when we were just freaks in love determined to shine on through.
Tonight, I'll be at the Holiday Inn between seventeen and twenty. Don't let the sun go down on me with bad blood. Hakuna matata, baby.
Your rocket man and pinball wizard,
Daniel
The 6:30 p.m. concert will be preceded by 5 p.m. performances by Minus Six and the Quad City Youth Symphony Orchestra, and for tickets to the Quad City Symphony Orchestra's Riverfront Pops concert with Grammy and Tony Award nominee Michael Cavanaugh - and the chance to hear some of the 65 aforementioned Elton John tunes - call (800)745-3000 or visit QCSymphony.com.
What Else Is Happenin' ...?
MUSIC
Friday, September 5 - The Matt Flinner Trio. Concert event with the mandolin player and his ensemble, presented by the Bucktown Revue. Nighswander Theatre (2822 Eastern Avenue, Davenport). 7 p.m. $12-20. For tickets and information, visit BucktownRevue.com.
Friday, September 5 - Highroad III. Country and gospel concert with Nashville musicians Sarah Davison, Anna Grace-Kimbrough, and Kiley Phillips. Ohnward Fine Arts Center (1215 East Platt Street, Maquoketa). 7 p.m. $10-20. For tickets and information, call (563)652-8915 or visit OhnwardFineArtsCenter.com.
Friday, September 5, and Saturday, September 6 - Lock & Dam Country Jam. Outdoor festival featuring vendors, children's activities, Friday concerts with Cody Road, North of 40, and headliners Confederate Railroad, and Saturday concerts with Danika Holmes, the Cal Stage Band, Dirt Road Rockers, and headliner Craig Campbell. Schwiebert Riverfront Park (17th and 20th Streets, Rock Island). Friday 4:30 p.m. gates, Saturday 3 p.m. gates. $20, $30 weekend pass. For information, visit the event's Facebook page or call (309)721-6801.
Thursday, September 11 - An Evening with Janiva Magness. Singer/songwriter performs in support of her new album Original. The Redstone Room (129 Main Street, Davenport). 7:30 p.m. $18. For tickets and information, call (563)326-1333 or visit RiverMusicExperience.org.
Friday, September 12 - Reverend Horton Heat. Dallas-based psychobilly trio in concert, with opening sets by the Tossers and the Krank Daddies. Rock Island Brewing Company (1815 Second Avenue, Rock Island). 8 p.m. $20 advance tickets. For information, call (309)793-4060 or visit RIBCO.com. For a 2009 interview with bandleader Jim Heath, visit RCReader.com/y/heat.
Saturday, September 13 - Hot Club of San Francisco. Jazz artists perform in Quad City Arts Visiting Artist series. First Presbyterian Church of Davenport (1702 Iowa Street, Davenport). 7:30 p.m. $10-15. For tickets and information, call (563)326-1691 or visit QuadCityArts.com.
Saturday, September 13 - The Fez. Outdoor concert tribute to Steely Dan. Rock Island Brewing Company (1815 Second Avenue, Rock Island). 8 p.m. $10. For information, call (309)793-4060 or visit RIBCO.com.
Sunday, September 14 - Joel Peña Memorial Jam. Third-annual concert-tribute event. Geezer's Draft House (1654 West Third Street, Davenport). 4 p.m. Free admission. For information, call (563)328-3702.
Tuesday, September 16 - Mary Gauthier & Sam Baker. Concert with the folk singers/songwriters. Englert Theatre (221 East Washington Street, Iowa City). 8 p.m. $22-25. For tickets and information, call (319)688-2653 or visit Englert.org.
THEATRE
Thursday, September 4, through Saturday, September 6 - The Children's Hour. Lillian Hellman's boarding-school drama, directed by Stacy Phipps. St. Ambrose University Studio Theatre, Galvin Fine Arts Center (518 West Locust Street, Davenport). Thursday and Friday 7:30 p.m., Saturday 3 p.m. $6. For tickets and information, call (563)333-6251 or visit SAU.edu/theatre.
Thursday, September 4, through Sunday, September 28 - Cash on Delivery. Farcical comedy by Michael Cooney. Old Creamery Theatre (39 38th Avenue, Amana). Fridays and Saturdays 7:30 p.m.; Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 2 p.m. $18.50-28. For tickets and information, call (319)622-6262 or visit OldCreamery.com.
Friday, September 5, through Sunday, September 28 - Red. John Logan's Tony-winning drama about painter Mark Rothko, directed by Sam Osheroff. Riverside Theatre (213 North Gilbert Street, Iowa City). Thursdays through Saturdays 7:30 p.m., Sundays 2 p.m. $18-30. For tickets and information, call (319)338-7672 or visit RiversideTheatre.org.
Wednesday, September 10, through Saturday, November 1 - Funny, You Don't Look Like a Grandmother. Musical comedy about modern-day grannies, directed by Ann Nieman. Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse (1828 Third Avenue, Rock Island). Fridays, Saturdays, Wednesdays, and September 11: 5:45 p.m. doors, 6-7 p.m. buffet, 7:15 p.m. pre-show, 7:45 p.m. show. Sundays: 3:45 p.m. doors, 4-5 p.m. buffet, 5:15 p.m. pre-show, 5:45 p.m. show. Wednesday matinées: 11:30 a.m. doors, 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. plated lunch, 1 p.m. pre-show, 1:30p.m. show. $29.26-49.12. For tickets and information, call (309)786-7733 extension 2 or visit Circa21.com.
Friday, September 12, through Sunday, September 21 - Marrying Terry. Romantic comedy by Greg Opelka, directed by Greg Bouljon. Playcrafters Barn Theatre (4950 35th Avenue, Moline). Fridays and Saturdays 7:30 p.m., Sundays 3 p.m. $10. For tickets and information, call (309)762-0330 or visit Playcrafters.com.
Friday, September 12, through Sunday, September 28 - Lost Boy Found. Author Thomas P. Johnson's chamber-theatre production that revisits a century-old Iowa County kidnapping. Iowa Theatre Artists Company (4709 220th Trail, Amana). Fridays and Saturdays 7:30 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays 2 p.m. $10-22.50. For tickets and information, call (319)622-3222 or visit IowaTheatreArtists.org.
Saturday, September 13 - After Anna. Jennifer Fawcett's drama performed in the Working Group Theatre's "In the Raw" series. Englert Theatre (221 East Washington Street, Iowa City). 7 p.m. $10. For tickets and information, call (319)688-2653 or visit Englert.org.
LITERARY ARTS
Friday, September 12 - SPECTRA Poetry Reading. Event featuring poets Adam Clay, Alex Lemon, and Tyler Mills, co-presented by the Midwest Writing Center. Rozz-Tox (2108 Third Avenue, Rock Island). 8 p.m. Free admission. For information, call (563)324-1410 or visit RozzTox.com.
EXHIBITS
Friday, September 5, through Friday, October 24 - Good Enough to Eat: An ART Buffet. Exhibit by 24 regional artists displaying works ranging from serious food portraits to whimsical and sculptural interpretations. Quad City Arts Center (1715 Second Avenue, Rock Island). Tuesdays through Fridays 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free admission. For information, call (309)793-1213 or visit QuadCityArts.com.
Friday, September 5, through Saturday, October 25 - A Different Way of Seeing. Exhibition of Swedish art from the Charters collection. Augustana Teaching Museum of Art (3703 Seventh Avenue, Rock Island). Tuesdays through Saturdays noon-4 p.m. Free admission. For information, call (309)794-7231 or visit Augustana.edu/arts/art-museum.
Wednesday, September 10, through Friday, October 24 - Brian Borchardt and Erick Wolfmeyer. Exhibit featuring handmade books by Steven's Point, Wisconsin, artist Borchardt and handmade quilts by Iowa City's Wolfmeyer. St. Ambrose University's Catich Gallery (2101 Gaines Street, Davenport). Mondays through Fridays 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free admission. For information, call (563)333-6444 or visit SAU.edu/catich.
Saturday, September 13, through Sunday, November 2 - Artists First: College Art Faculty of the Quad Cities. Exhibition of works by art professors from Ashford University, Augustana College, Black Hawk College, Eastern Iowa Community College, Knox College, Monmouth College, St. Ambrose University, and Western Illinois University. Figge Art Museum (225 West Second Street, Davenport). Tuesdays through Saturdays 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thurdsays 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sundays noon-5 p.m. Free with $4-7 museum admission. For information, call (563)326-7804 or visit FiggeArtMuseum.org.
EVENTS
Friday, September 5, through Sunday, September 21 - East/West Riverfest. More than 300 events will take place at venues across the Quad Cities, with theatres, music clubs, concert halls, galleries, historic sites, parks, libraries, museums, and attractions offering cultural and history-related festivals, concerts, performances, tours, activities, presentations, and workshops. For information, visit EastWestRiverfest.com.
Friday, September 5 - Pints for Preservation. Fourth-annual fundraiser in which guests explore the zoo, visit the animals, and enjoy samplings of brews and wines. Niabi Zoo (13010 Niabi Zoo Road, Coal Valley). 6 p.m. $30-35. For tickets and information, call (309)799-3482 or visit NiabiZoo.com.
Saturday, September 6 - Bags & Brews Fundraiser. Gilda's Club of the Quad Cities hosts its second-annual bags tournament and beer tasting, with Famous Dave's food, a cash prize for tournament winners, yard games, raffle and door prizes, and more. Lindsay Park (River Drive and Mound Street, Davenport). 3 p.m. $20-30. For information, call (563)326-7504 or visit BagsAndBrews.com.
Saturday, September 6 - Cancer Can Kiss My A** Benefit. Annual event featuring a bags tournament, raffles, and food, with all proceeds going toward cancer research. Len Brown's North Shore Inn (700 North Shore Drive, Moline). 11 a.m.-5 p.m. For information, call (309)764-6823 or visit NorthShoreInnAndMarina.com.
Monday, September 8 - Cinema Vivant. Film and concert event featuring silent work with live gypsy swing accompaniment by Hot Club of San Francisco. Moline Public Library (3210 41st Street, Moline). 6:30 p.m. Free. For information, call (309)524-2470 or visit MolineLibrary.com.
Saturday, September 13 - Taming of the Slough. Annual triathlon hosted by River Action in which individuals and teams attempt to paddle, mountain bike, and run toward victory. Empire Park (Illinois Route 84, East Moline). 8 a.m. $35-75 registration. For information, call (563)322-2969 or visit RiverAction.org.
Saturday, September 13 - NAMIWalk. The 11th-annual event sponsored by the Greater Mississippi Valley affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness to raise funds for free family education classes and support groups for individuals and families living with serious mental illnesses. Centennial Park (Beiderbecke Drive and Marquette Street, Davenport). 9 a.m. check-in. For information, call (563)322-8870 or visit NAMIWalks.org.
Saturday, September 13 - Nick Teddy 5K. Third-annual family event held in memory of Port Byron native Nicholas Theodore Strub featuring races and walks, kids' games, food, live entertainment, and a silent auction and raffle. Downtown Port Byron. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. $15-35 races. For information, call (309)798-3081 or visit NickTeddy5K.com.
Also visit "What's Hapenin': Fall, 2014."
