Quad Citians hungry for music, comedy, food, fun, public art and more should head to downtown Rock Island, Davenport and Bettendorf for the eighth – and growing – Alternating Currents Festival Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 14-17.
Alternating Currents, or AC for short, was founded in 2017 by the Downtown Davenport Partnership (DDP), an affiliate of the Quad Cities Chamber. Now powered by DDP and fellow chamber placemaking partners at the Downtown Bettendorf Organization (DBO) and Rock Island Downtown Alliance, the festival thrives via partners and businesses who collaborate to deliver a dynamic and inclusive experience, AC organizers say.
This year, the multi-city bi-state event includes more than 200 performances plus comedy sets, film screenings, visual art displays, live murals, maker showcases and experiences. For more about the AC schedule and entertainment lineup go here. Events are free and open to all in each of the three cities.
For example, for the fifth consecutive year, Downtown Rock Island will host activities and music at the Arts Alley Block Party. It also will feature music at Schwiebert Riverfront Park and on Sunday, downtown visitors can enjoy a car show, professional wrestling, live music and more at a variety of venues.
Something for everyone
“As Alternating Currents continues to grow, we are prioritizing creative programming on Thursday and Sunday to maximize our exposure and incentivize festival-goers to explore the region during this exciting weekend in the Quad Cities,” Rock Island Alliance Executive Director Jack Cullen said in a news release. “There’s something on this schedule for everyone and we’re proud of that.”
Meanwhile, across the river, DBO Executive Director Ryan Janzi said “The Downtown Bettendorf Organization is excited to be adding more events downtown at this year’s Alternating Currents festival.”
He added, “We have a new outdoor stage at Adventurous Brewing that will host two lunch shows with Floyds on Friday and two more shows on Sunday afternoon.” In addition, K&K Hardware, Verde and Harley Corin’s will host events this year.
Davenport also is launching a new outdoor block party on Second Street outside of Common Chord. In addition, what began as the Skybridge Courtyard Stage is evolving into a full-block party experience, allowing for larger performances, expanded family-friendly programming and even more ways to engage with the innovative pulse of downtown, according to DDP.
“Alternating Currents is where you find your vibe,” Alisha Espey, festival director said in an earlier release. “When artists like Hembree and Post Sex Nachos outgrow every venue we’ve placed them in, that’s something to celebrate – it means the community is showing up, discovering new favorites and demanding more.”
Download the AC app
Interested festival-goers also are urged to download the free app, at alternatingcurrentsqc.com/acapp. Organizers call it the go-to resource for discovering everything that the festival has to offer. There users can discover the acts that interest them and customize their personal festival schedule, enabling the creation of their own unique Alternating Currents experience.
With more than 200 performances and events across music, film, comedy and visual art, AC transforms downtown spaces into stages, galleries and gathering places each year. Nearly all programming is open to the public with no ticket required, inviting audiences to discover a wide range of creative experiences throughout the weekend.
This year’s leading supporters include: Presenting Sponsors – Regional Development Authority (RDA) and Rhythm City Casino Resort; Major Partners – Rubberstamps.net and Scott County Regional Authority; Accessibility Sponsor – Bechtel Trust; Arts Partner – The Quad Cities Cultural Trust; and Mural Fest Partner – Quad City Arts.
Additional programming and supporting sponsors include Estes Construction, Palmer College of Chiropractic, Nature’s Treatment of Illinois, The Last Picture House, MidAmerican Energy, Express Employment Professionals and Iowa Arts Council. Hive Event Consulting serves as a producing partner.
Media Partners include KWQC, Quad-City Times & Dispatch-Argus, Townsquare Media, Planet 93.9 and WQPT.
