The holidays are a time of giving and receiving. And if you peruse the holiday events listed in this issue's accompanying Winter Guide, you'll realize that we'd all better get crackin' on that "giving" part. Have you checked out just how much receiving we'll be doing this season?
Some of that community-wide gift-getting, of course, is already taking place. Quad City Arts' annual Festival of Trees continues at the Davenport RiverCenter through November 30, with the Jingle Jam dance party for high-schoolers set for the night of November 26, and the 12-hour Family Day celebration held on November 29. As for the adjoining Adler Theatre, there's Thanksgiving Eve fun in November 26's concert event A Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, founder Chip Davis' touring blend of classical music, rock, and holiday tunes that hits our area prior to its stop at Cedar Rapids' U.S. Cellular Center on December 6.
But to be honest, I'm a little surprised that the entirety of the Adler hasn't been gift-wrapped and topped with a bow this season. Beyond the Mannheim Steamroller show and its December 12 and 13 hosting of Ballet Quad Cities' The Nutcracker, the Davenport venue will be overflowing with Christmas cheer through a quartet of special concert events: "Iowa's Own Pianist" delivering his annual presentation Jim McDonough: Holiday Grande (November 30); a chart-topping country singer treating us to Trace Adkins: The Christmas Show (December 7); Branson's violinist extraordinaire and his family performing The Shoji Tabuchi Christmas Show (December 17); and, in a post-Christmas treat, a Grammy-nominated pianist celebrating the season in Jim Brickman: On a Winter's Night (December 28).
Plus, plenty of additional touring artists will be decking our collective halls at area venues this season. A platinum-selling country singer/songwriter will make merry at the Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center in Suzy Bogguss' Swingin' Little Christmas Show on December 5, while some of Shoji Tabuchi's musician and comedian friends light up Maquoketa's Ohnward Fine Arts Center in November 29's A Branson Classic Country Christmas. Over in Iowa Ciy, following its annual community celebration Festival of Carols (December 9), the Englert Theatre hosts the acclaimed Celtic musicians of Danú in their touring production A Christmas Gathering: Féile Na Nallog (December 10).
Neighboring Amana presents Gaelic talents of its own in Celtic Christmas with IrishJam (December 6), a week before offering up acoustic holiday classics in The Great Bluegrass Herons Christmas (December 12 and 13). The Riverside Casino Event Center will get bells a-ringin' and toes a-tappin' with the country-music legends of The Skaggs Family Christmas (December 12). But if you're starting to feel "All Out of Love" this holiday season, fear not - the Riverside Casino will be "Making Love Out of Nothing at All" with the chart-topping Australians and pop legends of An Air Supply Christmas (December 20).
Talents of a more local nature will be doing some touring of their own over the next few weeks. An area vocal ensemble boasting numerous Music Guild talents will perform "Joy to the World," "In Dulci Jubilo," and other favorites in Christmas with the Quad City Singers at Colona's Lavender Crest Winery (December 12 and 13). After its December 19 engagement at its home city's First Lutheran Church, Galesburg's professional vocal ensemble the Nova Singers brings its annual presentation of seasonal tunes, titled A Nova Christmas, to Davenport's St. Paul Lutheran Church on December 19. And a beloved Iowa City chanteuse makes holiday magic at the Circa '21 Speakeasy in Lynne Rothrock's Christmas Cabaret (December 14), three days after Circa '21 Bootleggers Brad Hauskins and Marc Ciemiewicz bring music and comedy to the venue in December 11's Marc & Brad's Good Time Spectacular Holiday Variety Hour - a show title I can't believe the Brady Bunch didn't nab first.
With Christmas carols permeating both the indoor and outdoor air in such holiday traditions as the Village of East Davenport's Christmas in the Village (December 5 and 6), Christmas in LeClaire (December 5 through 7), and the Butterworth Center's 19th-Century Christmas (December 7), it should go without saying that area churches will be sharing the spirit this Christmas season. The numerous local concerts include Rock Island's Heritage Church presentation Celebrate the Holidays: A QCA Variety Show (December 5) and the First Presbyterian Church of Davenport hosting the Quad City Flute Association's Third-Annual QCFA Piccolo Christmas (December 6), while a 25th seasonal anniversary takes place in the church's O Come, All Ye Faithful! (December 20 and 21) with performances by the Sanctuary Choir, Celebration Singers, and Vesper Bells.
Local schools will also be getting seasonal in a number of holiday concerts. Davenport's St. Ambrose University, for instance, will offer biblical readings, cherished carols, and even a bit of Spanish dance in the annual event An Ambrosian Christmas (December 6). Meanwhile, a trio of offerings are lined up for Rock Island's Augustana College: more than a half-dozen music groups collectively celebrating Christmas at Augustana on December 5 and 6; stories and songs courtesy of Ascension Chapel's Lessons & Carols on December 18; and more than 250 voices filling Centennial Hall with Handel in December 13's and 14's A Christmas Messiah. (Andover's Jenny Lind Chapel also hosts local talent in December 10's Joy of Christmas: Augustana Kammarkor.)
Students from Davenport Central High School, meanwhile, will share their vocal gifts at Rock Island's Abbey Station, in December 2 and 5 performances of the Black Hawk College-hosted Songs of the Season. Some of BHC's own vocal artists celebrate the season in December 11's Black Hawk College Holiday Choral Concert at Moline's First Congregational Church. Even more student talent from the city will be on display when the Moline Public Library hosts its holiday concert with the Moline High School Chamber Choir on December 12.
And on the subject of libraries, let's not forget about the Bettendorf Public Library hosting Milwaukee-based musicians in A Branches Band Christmas (December 16), the Christmas Open Houses at the River Valley District Library (December 4) and East Moline Public Library (December 6), and, on December 6, the soothing seasonal activities in the Fairmount Street Library's Holiday Stress Oasis. Any chance they'd think of keeping that thing open year-'round?
For more information on holiday events in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas, visit the MUSIC and EVENTS sections of the Reader's online calendars.
