Alternating Currents (AC) is preparing for what festival organizers call “the region’s largest live comedy event of the year” on Aug. 15-18. That’s when the event will host dozens of comedians and comedic styles including stand-up, sketch and improv.
AC is the Quad Cities’ seven-year-old celebration of music, film, art and comedy. This year the comedy will kick off on Thursday, Aug. 15, when Greg Warren takes the stage at the historic Capitol Theater in downtown Davenport.
“As our audiences with the comedy shows continue to grow, we’re excited to invest into the talent lineup to offer a larger scale show,” Alisha Espey, program director of the Downtown Davenport Partnership, which stages the festival each year, said in an AC news release.
“It will also be the first time that Alternating Currents is able to utilize the beautifully restored Capitol Theatre – and as with all of our Alternating Currents events, this is a free show and great opportunity to visit a treasured space in the community,” she added.
Laughs fill the lineup
Mr. Warren of St. Louis, Missouri, has appeared on Nateland, The Bob & Tom Show, Drybar and Comedy Central. He recently released his special The Salesman. It was co-produced by Nate Bargatze and 800 Pound Gorilla Media. It tells the story of his post-college phase when he had a stint selling Jif and Pringles for Procter & Gamble. In turn, that lead to his decision to become a full-time comedian, the release said.
According to The New York Times, Mr. Swanson “has done for peanut butter what Jerry Seinfeld did for Pop-Tarts and Jim Gaffigan did for Hot Pockets.” A mix of self-deprecation, frustration and an arsenal of lifelike characters highlight this comedians’ colorful perspective, the AC news release said.
Mr. Swanson also can be seen in his Amazon Prime Special, Where The Field Corn Grows, Fish Sandwich on Dry Bar Comedy, Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Late Late Show and Comedy Central Presents.
He’s performed as a finalist on BET’s Coming to the Stage and on Country Music Television. His comedy has been a daily staple on Sirius/XM’s Pure Comedy and Jeff and Larry’s Comedy Roundup channels, AC said. He’s also a frequent guest on Never Not Funny, Bertcast, Dumb People Town and The Adam Carolla Show.
According to the AC news release, Mr. Swanson will be joined on stage throughout the weekend joined by funny men and women who include:
Diverse roster of talent
- Clifton Dewayne Antoine – Is an actor/comedian from Des Moines, Iowa. He helped start the Comedy Kickback, Des Moines’ first all-black stand-up comedy show. He has performed improv with Chowdown, Kitten Bomb, Alien Head Emoji and 2 drink minimum. His comedic style has been described as weird and unexpected and he addresses everything from Scooby-Doo to the Flat Earth Society. He believes in ghosts and Yeezus. As a recovering conspiracy theorist, he uses comedy to tell his truth.
- Erica Nicole Clark – Has toured with Godfrey, Hannibal Buress and Deon Cole. She was the winner of the Grand Slam Just For Laughs New Faces.
- James Draper – Is from the Quad Cities and his stand-up style is described as “good time comedy.” He has been featured and opened for Bob & Tom Favorites, Donnie Baker, Larry Reeb, Willie Griswold and others. Mr. Draper has headlined comedy clubs, bars and private venues from Mississippi to Madison, Nashville to Des Moines, and is always a crowd favorite with his timeless jokes, funny stories, and clever songs.
- Dana Ehrmann – Is a stand-up comic out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her self-deprecating, dry humor has charmed audiences across the country, including at Milwaukee, Floodwater and Flyover Comedy Festivals. She’s opened for Joe Pera, Bobcat Goldthwait, Jackie Kashian and Charlie Berens. “She’s also sorry she hasn’t watched that TV show you recommended, but she just has, like, a lot going on right now.”
- Zach Peterson – Was called “one the funniest performers around” by Minneapolis’ CityPages. He has worked with Tom Papa, Bobcat Goldthwait, Annie Lederman, Doug Benson and more. His first album “Midwestern Jokes for the Americas” debuted in the top five on the Itunes Comedy Charts in 2018. It can be heard on Sirius XM radio. In 2023, he recorded his first special with Four by Three productions. It will be released digitally by Burn This Records. He runs the popular Omaha chapter of Don’t Tell Comedy and other shows around town.
- Brent Terhune – One of Variety’s 10 Comics to Watch for 2020, Mr. Terhune boasts more than 65 million views across his social media channels with his satirical MAGA character. His not-so-obvious delivery has been described as a “blue-collar Colbert Report.” He has been writing daily jokes and news breakdowns for the Bob & Tom Show for more than 10 years. He had two comedy albums debut at No. 1 on iTunes. His work is streamed heavily on SiriusXM.
Learn more about AC
In all, the Alternating Current’s festival will feature more than 200 musical performances, comedy sets, film screenings and local art displays. The AC festival was founded in 2017 by the Downtown Davenport Partnership (DDP), an affiliaten of the Quad Cities Chamber, and the downtown place management agency.
Today’s AC is powered by DDP and has expanded to include the Downtown Bettendorf Organization and the Rock Island Downtown Alliance. =For more information about the Comedy lineup at AC visit alternatingcurrentsqc.com
Attendees also are urged to download the free app alternatingcurrentsqc.com/acapp to custom their AC weekend.
This year, AC’s major contributors include: Presenting Sponsors, Regional Development Authority (RDA) and Rhythm City Casino Resort and Major Partner, Rubberstamps.net. Programming support is provided by investments from Music Partner, GreenState Credit Union and Arts Partner, TBK Bank. Feature Stage Sponsors include Estes Construction, Nature’s Treatment of Illinois, and Palmer College of Chiropractic. Supporting sponsors include MidAmerican Energy and Metronet. Hive Event Consulting is a producing partner in the event. Media Partners include KWQC, Quad-City Times & Dispatch/Argus, Townsquare Media and Planet 93.9.
