This Labor Day weekend, karts will again race the streets of downtown Rock Island. But for the first time ever, the 2024 Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix Presented by The Hemp Doctor will close out the weekend with a free downtown Rock the Blues Party.
The annual Grand Prix, which bills itself as the world’s largest and most prestigious karting street race, will provide racing action Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 31-Sept. 1.
But don’t leave early, the organization said in a news release because the Rock The Blues party on the Mississippi Riverfront in downtown Rock Island will immediately follow at Schwiebert Riverfront Park, 101 17th St.
The Rock the Blues Party is sponsored by The Hemp Doctor’s Southern High Seltzer. Music is provided by the Mississippi Valley Blues Society. Admission is free. Party-goers are urged to bring a blanket, lawn chair or “plan to dance the night away,” the release said.
That evening will kick off from 4-6:30 p.m., with the high energy Sean McKee Band out of Chicago. They will be followed by headliner Kilborn Alley Blues Band from 7-10 p.m.
The Rock Island Parks & Recreation Department will have grilled burgers, brats, pork and hot dogs for sale. Bent River Brewing Company will have the beer wagon cold and The Hemp Doctor will have its popular Southern High Seltzer and other products on sale, the release said.
Get groove on Thursday
Those coming to town for race weekend should plan to include Thursday night, Aug. 29, when the rockers Fair Warning will be on the Schwiebert Park stage as part of the Thursday Night Groove concert series. Rock Island Parks & Recreation hosts concerts all summer long. And music is a staple of the Grand Prix weekend, organizers say.
Concessions open at 6 p.m. and the Quad Cities’ own Fair Warning will command the stage from 7-9 p.m. The rockers will be presented by Rock Island Happy Joe’s Pizza. Fair Warning brings an authentic rock ‘n’ roll experience. The local band draws inspiration from Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, Guns ‘n’ Roses, and other legendary acts.
Rock The Blues concerts on Saturday night, Aug. 31, are sponsored by Southern High Seltzer. The Sean McKee band, Saturday night’s opening act, is a powerhouse in blues rock music. Begun in 2020, their electrifying fusion of blues, rock, jazz, funk and jam influences creates a dynamic sound that defines their identity, the release said.
Led by the soulful vocals and masterful guitar work of Sean McKee, with Drew D’Astice on guitar, Chris Pecoraro on bass and Danny Lorenzo on drums, the band delivers unforgettable performances, captivating audiences with a mix of grit, energy and improvisational prowess, the release said.
The Sean McKee Band is a high energy rock band. It mixes the styles of the Allman Brothers, B.B. King, Led Zeppelin and more into a medley that spans the sounds of low-down blues to blistering rock. They will be playing everything from classic and deep-cut covers to original material, the release said.
Support Blues Fest
While the Sunday night close-out concert is free, the Grand Prix is partnering with the Mississippi Valley Blues Society for this event. Its popular Mississippi Valley Blues Fest was hampered by weather the past two years, causing them to cancel this year’s show. Organizers are encouraging concert-goers to make a donation to the Blues Society for this great event, and help them fund the 40th annual Blues Fest in 2025.
The Blues Society has been honored as the Best Blues Society in the country three times. Its goal is to ensure the future of a uniquely American art form by fostering greater public appreciation through performance, education and preservation of Blues Heritage.
