Blues music artist Jaik Willis entertains the crowd with a song on Thursday, Aug. 17, during the opening night of the annual Alternating Currents festival in downtown Davenport. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
The Alternating Currents festival kicked off on Thursday, Aug. 17, with music and art. And there’s a lot more to come as the festival runs through Sunday, Aug. 20. The opening day had folk rock music by artist Lissie at Schwiebert Riverfront Park in Rock Island, blues music by Jaik Willis at the Freight House […]
The Alternating Currents festival kicked off on Thursday, Aug. 17, with music and art. And there’s a lot more to come as the festival runs through Sunday, Aug. 20.The opening day had folk rock music by artist Lissie at Schwiebert Riverfront Park in Rock Island, blues music by Jaik Willis at the Freight House in Davenport and a mural artwork being created in downtown Davenport.
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Artist Heidi Sallows looks over some of the paint on Thursday, Aug. 17, that will be used to create new mural art in downtown Davenport as part of the Alternating Currents festival this weekend. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Here is where the murals will be created in downtown Davenport by local artists. The project is part of this weekend’s Alternating Currents events and activities. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Blues music artist Jaik Willis gets ready to play for the Alternating Currents crowd at the Front Street Brewery & Taproom at 421 W. River Drive, Davenport. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
The crowd enjoys the music on Thursday.
Blues music artist Jaik Willis entertains the crowd with a song on Thursday, Aug. 17, during the opening night of the annual Alternating Currents festival in downtown Davenport. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
The four-day Quad Cities festival will feature more than 100 acts across 30-plus venues in the Quad Cities area. Some of those acts will include music, film, comedy, visual arts and even pro wrestling.“It’s a completely unique event showcasing both national and local creative talent and highlighting all of our best downtown spaces and local businesses,” said Kyle Carter, executive director of the Downtown Davenport Partnership (DDP), an affiliate of the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce. “We want this event to be the calling card for the Quad Cities,” he said. “It’s a vehicle for more people to discover what we have to offer as a region.”Part of that “calling card for the Quad Cities” was being created late Thursday on garage doors in downtown Davenport in the Emerson Alley near East River Drive and behind Front Street Pub & Eatery and Stompbox Brewery. Several artists started the work of creating five murals on those doors as part of the Alternating Currents festival activities.“We want to build a community of mural artists. … Everybody comes to the table with their own styles and skills,” said artist Heidi Sallows, one of the artists creating the murals.In July, DDP put out a call for artists to assist in the project. At about 6 p.m. Thursday, Ms. Sallows was busy getting the mural site ready for the other artists helping create the new murals. She was busy setting up tables, chairs and getting the paint ready for the artists. Those paints are hues with names like yellow ochre, magenta, ulta blue and burnt amber.She said the mural project, being presented by TBK Bank, is a great opportunity for area artists to showcase their talents for the community. Several artists were on the scene late into Thursday night creating the murals. (See photos of that opening night work here.)In addition to Ms. Sallows, the mural is also being created by these artists: Kt Sides, Erica Danner, Tony Cavallo, Atlanta Dawn, Mya Diabira and Ashley VanDeCasteele, according to Alternating Currents.In addition to the mural art, Thursday’s opening night of the festival featured music. For instance, Mr. Willis was his own one-man band as he played several instruments and played the blues in front of the Front Street Brewery & Taproom. Several dozen people enjoyed the music – and several beers – as they sat outside the brewery during a mostly sunny late afternoon and evening. (Mr. Willis also is scheduled to perform today, Aug. 18, at 5:30 p.m. at Bootleg Hill Honey Meads, 321 E. Second St., Davenport, and at 11:30 p.m. at Mississippi River Distilling Co. Downtown Lounge, 318 E. Second St., Davenport.)For a full schedule of festival events, go here.Mr. Carter said the many events of Alternating Currents will have a great impact on local businesses and create partners in the region.“Alternating Currents is positioned to become the Quad Cities’ most impactful festival annually with a high ceiling to grow regionally and dozens of local partners already on board,” he added.Here are some of the Alternating Currents (AC) events scheduled this weekend:
Live music
Chicago pop-punk legends the Smoking Popes return to AC for the first time since 2017 as part of their journey to “melt America, one face at a time.”
Nominated as the 2023 Emerging Act of the Year at the Americana Music Honors & Awards, Adeem the Artist will perform their roots & country music at AC.
The Midwest Country Music Organization’s reigning Entertainer of the Year, Muscatine, Iowa-based Monica Austin will belt out her country tunes during AC.
Quad Cities musician CJ Parker, who was named “a rising star” by MTV in 2022, will make an appearance with his full band.
At the Quad City Arts Silent Disco, attendees will bust a move to a variety of music as they use their headphones to switch from one DJ to the next at the Davenport Skybridge.
Art Highlights
Made Market QC, a handmade and vintage maker’s market will showcase 100+ vendors covering two blocks on East Second Street.
Beaux Arts Fair will celebrate its 70th Anniversary bringing artisan booths and one-of-a-kind artwork to AC on the Figge Art Museum’s Bechtel Plaza.
Alternating Currents 2023 Art Partner, TBK Bank will provide artists an opportunity to create a community mural in downtown Davenport during the festival.
Comedy Events
Comedy veteran and underground hero Richard Reese will dish out some big laughs during his standup performance.
Recently voted The Kansas City Pitch’s “Best Local Comic,” comedian Brittany Tilander will deliver her radical sense of honesty to the AC comedy stage.
Standup comedian Tyler Walsh has emerged as a unique Midwestern comedic voice, and he will be transforming his experiences into relatable laughs for the AC crowd.
Film Festival
The Alternating Currents Film Festival returns with more than 30 film screenings in four categories: narrative, experimental, documentary and student. Cash and trophy prizes are given to the top films in their category.
More fun
The Rumble in Rocktown returns to Wake Brewing in downtown Rock Island with an action-packed lineup of SCW professional wrestling talent.
The Idea Factory returns to the AC lineup with panel discussions and interactive forums on engaging topics.
Live music in downtown Davenport will kick off River Action’s Floatzilla, as paddle enthusiasts attempt to break the world record of 3,150 kayaks and canoes in the water at once.
