Appearing locally in support of the band's January release Politics in the Time of Heroin, the Iowa-based indie rockers of The Penny Serfs will play a Moeller Nights concert on October 25. Audiences will subsequently be treated to the genre-hopping sound that, in the Prelude Press, lead vocalist and LeClaire resident Mikey Loy described as: “Take The Beatles out for a drink or five; introduce them to Kurt Cobain (preferably under the influence); give them a few topics to discuss (i.e. politics, fear, past, present, and future); convince Paul and John to let Kurt sit in for a few sessions; hit the record button.”

Performing in support of their 2018 EP Paper Crown, the indie-folk musicians of The Ballroom Thieves play Davenport's Redstone Room on October 26, the lauded trio's latest release inspiring ConsequenceOfSound.net to rave: “The Thieves find new ways to blend the old-school pop and country sensibilities of Etta James and Willie Nelson with gang harmonies and rumbling folk for a sound that’s bigger and sturdier than ever before.”

Lauded by the New York Times for their “vibrantly warm-blooded” song stylings and by Iowa City's The Gazette for their “silky smooth a cappella harmonies shaking up pop tunes and standards,” the Chicago-based male vocalists of Straight No Chaser play Davenport's Adler Theatre on October 27, the group's singular sound and thrilling blend leading The Morning Call to ask, “What's not to love?”

Described by NoDepression.com as possessing “a natural signature sound that is as timeless as it is enjoyable,” and with his home country's The Saturday Paper deeming his latest album Gon' Boogaloo “a masterpiece,” Australian blues artist C.W. Stoneking headlines a Moeller Nights concert on October 19, sharing the talents that led The Guardian to call him “a droll entertainer with a flair for making old-timey sounds into party music for the present.”

Boasting more than 94 charted records and 45 top-10 hits between them – among them such indelible recordings as “Stand by Me,” “Yakkety Yak,” “On Broadway,” and “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” – a trio of iconic ensembles will share the Adler Theatre stage on October 20 when the Davenport venue welcomes The Drifters, Cornell Gunter's Coasters, and The Platters for an unforgettable evening of R&B, doo-wop, pop, and soul.

A pair of highly regarded country musicians from Nashville will team up at the Ohnward Fine Arts Center on October 20, when the Maquoketa-based venue presents the touring sensation The Dave & Daphne Show – an evening of toe-tapping originals and country and gospel favorites performed by recording stars Dave Salyer and Daphne Anderson.

A jazz great with significant ties to the area makes a return appearance at Davenport's Redstone Room on October 21, with chanteuse, composer, and music educator Semenya McCord performing with her quartet in Polyrhythms' Third Sunday Jazz Workshop & Matinée Series, the concert event also featuring Boston-based pianist Frank Wilkins and a tribute to legendary trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie.

With Exclaim! praising his latest album as “a soft and sumptuous collection” that “features some of the finest songs of his career,” Grammy-winning folk rocker Ray LaMontagne plays Davenport's Adler Theatre on October 24 in support of his 2018 release Part of the Light, a work that led Spill magazine to state, “The only disappointing aspect of this albuym is that it is only nine songs long.”

Rock and blues guitarist/vocalist Eric Gales has already earned wild praise from his peers, with Carlos Santana calling him “absolutely incredible” and Joe Bonamassa labeling him “one of the best, if not the best guitar player in the world.” On October 11, Gales will no doubt equally thrill fans at Davenport's Redstone Room, sharing the venerable talents that led Dave Navarro to state, “How Eric Gales isn't the hugest name in rock guitar is a total mystery.”

Performing a Moeller Nights concert on October 11, the Heligoats – what NPR called “a strange name for a guy strumming a guitar, but oddly befitting someone who stuffs his songs with so many sideways ideas and observations” – delivers acoustic indie rock courtesy of singer/songwriter Chris Otepka, whom NPR declared “writes songs that are brainy in the best way: clever without straining for cuteness, wry but never smug.”

Pages