Break Up Art will open the show at 9 p.m. Saturday, July 2, doors open at 8 p.m. and cover is $10. The Redstone Room is inside the River Music Experience, 129 N. Main St., Davenport. For more information, visit redstoneroom.com or bronzeradioreturn.com.

HE SAID WHAT?: Country singer Jake Owen, on how a concert is more than just performing songs:

"Anybody can go out there and sing their songs. It's another task to go out there and put a show on with it."

FOR THE FAMILY: The whole family can spend the night on the green at Family Friday Nights at the Red Hawk Golf Course, 6364 Northwest Blvd., Davenport.

The evening features unlimited play on a par-3 short course, putting on the green and hitting a bucket of balls on the practice range. The golf begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 1. The cost is $10 for a family of four and $2 for each additional person. Pizza and lemonade will be provided.

For more information, contact Brianne Pumphrey at bpumphrey@ci.davenport.ia.us or (563) 326-7812.

FOR TEENS: Tomorrow is the final day to register for the sixth annual Teen Battle of the Bands.

The contest will be held Saturday, July 9, and the top three finishers will receive a cash prize and three paid gigs throughout the summer. Soloists and groups are welcome to participate. There is a $20 registration fee.

Registration forms are available at Davenport Public Library branches and online at davenportlibrary.com.

For more information, call (563) 326-7832.

David Burke contributed to this story.

The event will feature the grand opening of the village jail, and volunteers in period dress will demonstrate blacksmithing, basket weaving, broommaking, quilting, pioneer cooking, candle-dipping and weaving. The saloon and soda fountain will be open and food will be available for purchase.

The event runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for children 5-12 years old and free for children younger than 5.

Walnut Grove was a crossroads settlement and a stagecoach stop in the 1860s. The village features 18 historic buildings, but it does have modern restroom facilities.

For more information, visit www.scottcountyiowa.com/

conservation/walnut_heritagedays.

FOR TEENS: The Bettendorf Public Library will host video game free play at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, June 2.

Teens can play games on the Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360 gaming systems using the library's collection of video games.

The free event will be held in the Junior League Program Room. The library is at 2950 Learning Campus Drive.

For more information, call John Gillette at (563) 344-4188 or visit bettendorflibrary.org.

HE SAID WHAT?: Singer Josh Groban, who grew up involved in theater, said his long-term goal would be to perform on Broadway, specifically as artist Georges Seurat in the Stephen Sondheim musical "Sunday in the Park with George."

"I love that role. I was that 10-year-old on the playground singing ‘Finishing the Hat' (a song from the show). I was kind of a weirdo," he said. "When ‘Glee' came out, I said, ‘Hey, they are more like me!' "

SHOW TO SEE: Birth Control Productions will celebrate its fifth anniversary of promoting shows and records in the Quad-Cities with a Saturday, May 28 show featuring 14 bands and artists on two stages.

Performers include Reelfoot Rift, Plagued By Saints, Sinjo Thraw Mash, Lethal By Default, TBOPRRIOF, Six to the Chest, Mija, X+X, Catastrophic Solutions, Unbecoming, Emplyfi, The Afterparty, The Pimps and Human Aftertaste.

The show begins at 2 p.m. and runs to 2 a.m. at Racers Edge, 936 15th Ave., East Moline. Cover is $10.

- David Burke contributed to this story.

The band's self-titled 2010 release features folk music with a hard edge. It's filled with lyrics about everything from getting by to worker migration to cold beer.

Bob Wayne will open the show at 9 p.m. Saturday, April 30. Cover is $10. For more information, visit ribco.com or whiteymorgan.com.

FOR THE FAMILY: Children can create their own superhero at a new class offered through Black Hawk College.

Students in kindergarten through sixth grade can develop their own hero, complete with his or her origin story, super-power and costume.

The Super Heroes class is 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays, May 3-24, at the Center for Living Arts, 2008 4th Ave., Rock Island. The cost is $40. To register, call (309) 796-8223.

HE SAID WHAT?: Uncle Kracker on his hometown's reputation:

"Detroit doesn't sound like a big country anything, mainly because it's not. But it's a bigger country market than people think."

GO&VIEW: Go&Do correspondent Kellie Rech shares more about Daytrotter's Barnstormer Tour from The Original Huckleberry's Great Pizza & Calzones.

Dogs will get a gift bag, compete in a Dog Easter Bonnet contest and bob for hot dogs. Humans will get a Humane Society T-shirt. Registration begins at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 23, at Lindsay Park in the Village of East Davenport. The hunt begins at 1 p.m. The cost is $10 or $15 for a VIP (Very Important Pooch). The Dog Easter Bonnet contest costs an additional $1 to enter. All proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Scott County.

For more information or to register in advance, go to hssc.us or call (563) 388-6655.

SHOW TO SEE: Quad-City rockers Head Held High will perform Saturday, April 23, at RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave.

Head Held High released its latest album, "I Know I'm Wrong," last summer. The record features a simplified version of the band's alternative style and adds a few pop elements.

Satellite Heart and The Blushing Gun will open the show at 9 p.m. Cover is $5. For more information, visit ribco.com or headheldhigh.net.

FOR TEENS: Get help on your next cosplay costume at the Davenport Public Library's Teen Cosplay Workshop.

The workshop is for all skill levels and is held at 5:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Fairmount Street branch, 3000 N. Fairmount. Teens can sew, glue, craft and design costumes and accessories for anime cons and events.

For more information, visit blogs.davenportlibrary.com/teens.

SHE SAID WHAT?: Janiva Magness on her fellow blues singer and inspiration, Bonnie Raitt:

"She does absolutely marvelous work. She stretches the boundaries while continuing to pay homage and respect to where she came from musically. That's what I hope to do, too."

David Burke contributed to this blog.

The Australians are known best for their 1980s hits "Lost in Love," "All Out of Love," "Lost Love," "The One That You Love" and "Now and Forever." In 2010, Air Supply released its 17th album, "Mumbo Jumbo."

The duo will perform at the Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center, 1777 Isle Parkway, Bettendorf, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 7. Tickets are $20 in advance or $30 at the door.

For more information or to purchase tickets, go to bettendorf.isleofcapricasinos.com.

FOR THE FAMILY: The Dan Nagle Walnut Grove Pioneer Village will open for the season Friday, April 1.

Walnut Grove was a crossroads settlement and stagecoach stop in the 1860s. The Pioneer Village features 18 historic buildings that have been restored, including a barber shop, saloon, firehouse, soda fountain shop and school. Modern restrooms are available.

Pioneer Village is open daily, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., through October. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. For more information, visit www.scottcountyiowa.com/conservation/walnut.php.

FOR TEENS: The popular Anime Club will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, at the Davenport Public Library- Fairmount Street, 3000 N. Fairmount.

The group explores all things anime, including drawing, Japanese language and culture, and the latest films, television shows and graphic novels from the genre.

It is free to attend the group's meetings. For more information, visit blogs.davenportlibrary.com/

teens.

SHE SAID WHAT?: Kate Benson, the entertainment director of the River Music Experience, on negotiating with acts to play the Redstone Room:

"There are those acts who are coming across (the area) who are right on the brink. They could sell 500 tickets, but would they want to cut off a little bit when they come through town? I try to convince them that we're worth the stop."

David Burke contributed to this blog.

The band also incorporates several traditional string instruments, including the soku, a Malian horsehair fiddle, and African percussion with contemporary instruments.

Rubblebucket will open the show at 9 p.m. Cover is $15.50, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Instruments for Africa. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to ribco.com.

FOR THE FAMILY: ComedySportz will host a Paws For Laughs fundraising event to benefit Q.C. PAWS, the nonprofit organization that supports Rock Island County Animal Care and Control.

A portion of the admission prices, actors' wages and the contents of a donations bucket that will be passed at the Saturday, March 26, show will be donated to Q.C. PAWS. ComedySportz improv shows are rated "E for everyone."

Admission is $10 with a reservation or $12 at the door. To order tickets, call (309) 786-1111 or go online to establishmenttheatre.com. The show begins at 7 p.m. The Establishment Theatre is at 220 19th St., Rock Island.

HE SAID WHAT?: The Moline Public Library will host a free gaming day 2-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 30.

Teens and tweens can bring their own games or chose from the library’s collection of board, card, video and strategy games.

For more information, call (309) 524-2440 or go online to molinelibrary.com. The library is at 3210 41st St., Moline.

HE SAID WHAT?: Folk singer John McCutcheon says his boyhood was spent listening to and enjoying sounds of many different instruments:

“That’s the reason I grew up playing so many instruments — and the fact that Ritalin hadn’t been invented yet.”

- David Burke contributed to this blog.

Formed in 2008, the band released its debut album, "Ascension," in 2009. The band has opened for Chevelle, Buckcherry and Puddle of Mudd when those national acts performed in the Quad-Cities.

Midwest bands Verdict and Beyond Words will open the show at 9 p.m. Cover is $8. For more information, visit www.ribco.com or www.threeyearshollow.com.

FOR THE FAMILY: If you haven't seen ComedySportz in its new location, make a reservation to check it out Friday or Saturday at The Establishment Theatre, 220 19th St., Rock Island.

ComedySportz features two teams of improvisational actors competing for points and laughs. The content is kept clean, so it is appropriate for the entire family.

Doors open at 6 p.m., seating begins at 6:15 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 with a reservation, or $12 at the door.

For more information or to make a reservation, go to www.establishmenttheatre.com.

HE SAID WHAT?: Blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa, who first gained national attention playing for B.B. King at the tender age of 12 years, says it took awhile for the industry to recognize his maturation:

"I'm no longer the young kid who shows up at the blues jam."

FOR TEENS: Next week is Teen Tech Week, and the Rock Island Public Library is celebrating with robots.

That's right, robots. Teens can build and take home their very own robot at the Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road. The free program begins at 6 p.m.

For more information and a calendar of other events for teens, visit www.rockislandlibrary.org/content/teen-events.

The winner from this week's show will go on to perform in the finals Friday, Feb. 25. The second-place finisher will perform again Friday, Feb. 18, in a wild-card semi-final for one more chance to make it to the championship round.

Cover is $3. For more information, visit www.ribco.com.

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: Adam Hartig of Daylight Savings Account will perform a free solo show at Mojo's Cafe, inside the River Music Experience, downtown Davenport, at 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 11.

The guitarist and vocalist from the Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based band is performing the solo show as a way to scout the Quad-Cities and see whether the area would be receptive to his band's music.

FOR TEENS: The Ninjas, also known as the group of teen volunteers who help organize activities for other young adults and pick books and other items to add to the teen collection at the Davenport Public Library, will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15, at the Eastern Avenue branch, 6000 Eastern Ave.

For more information about the Teen Ninja program, call (563) 326-7832 or go online to blogs.davenportlibrary.com/teens.

HE SAID WHAT?: Lovin' Spoonful bassist Steve Boone says he's a technogeek who foresees an ideal way to combine his hobby and work:

"My ideal recording session is still in the future, but it would be virtual holographic images in the studio with none of us present but all of us at our home base, basically on a Skype-type device and recording or rehearsing that way."

David Burke contributed to this blog.

The winner of this round will advance to the finals Feb. 25, and the second-place finisher will perform in the wild-card round Feb. 18. The music begins at 9 p.m., and cover is $3.

For more information, visit ribco.com.

HE SAID WHAT?: Comedian Marshall Brandon knows there is a lot of confusion between his name and that of Brandon Marshall, a wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League.

"People always get my name mixed up. Everything was cool until this guy got into the league. You can Google me and find me, but sometimes if you Google ‘Marshall Brandon,' his name pops up. He's better if you want to be a professional stalker."

FOR THE FAMILY: Making a mess is OK during Messy Monday Craft and Story Time at the Rock Island Public Library.

Children in kindergarten through third grade can make a craft and hear a story with a messy theme at 5:30 p.m. at the downtown branch, 401 19th St.

For more information on the free event, call (309) 732-7360 or send an e-mail to dennis.ranell@rigov.org.

FOR TEENS: The teen writers group will meet on the second Monday of the month to learn new skills, get feedback and share their writing at the Moline Public Library, 3210 41st St.

The free workshop begins at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Jan LaRoche at jlaroche@molinelibrary.org or (309) 524-2478.

David Burke contributed to this blog.

The band is having a send-off show and raffle fundraiser to pay for travel expenses Friday, Jan. 28, at Rascals, 1414 15th St., Moline. The music begins at 9 p.m. and cover is $3.

HE SAID WHAT?: Original Four Tops member Abdul "Duke" Fakir says competition between his group and The Temptations often took a backseat to the battles between their fans:

"Out there in audience-land, there are true Four Tops fans and true Temptations fans. There are Motown fans who just like to see us go at each other. But the audience helps us compete. They're talking, ‘My Tops are gonna kill your Temps' and vice versa."

FOR THE FAMILY: Learn paper-folding techniques to create a paper airplane and see how your design stacks up against others at the Family Museum on Saturday,

Jan. 29.

There will be two paper-airplane flying competitions from 10 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m. The competition is free with museum admission, which is $6 for those 2-59 years old, $4 for those 60 years and older, and free for children younger than 2 years.

FOR TEENS: The teen Anime Club is back at the Davenport Public Library.

The popular group will meet at 5:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at the Fairmount Street branch, 3000 N. Fairmount. The Anime Club will offer cosplay activities, drawing workshops, exploration of the Japanese culture, and monthly showings and discussions of the latest anime films and graphic novels.

For more information, visit www.davenportlibrary.com.

David Burke contributed to this blog.

Organizers put together an extended lineup of local bands and encouraged folks to bring canned foods or nonperishable dry goods in lieu of a cover charge so they could be donated to a local food pantry.

Mixtapes closed the venue side of its operation earlier this year, but the Xmess Fest will continue for its third year at the River Music Experience, or RME, Performance Hall, 129 N. Main St., Davenport.

This year's lineup includes Sobou Shuu, Sinjo Thraw Mash, X+X, Æxiom 216, Eyes, Aural Resuscitation Unit, FluiD, Mija and IEATMYFRIENDS. The music starts at 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 23, with the doors opening at 3 p.m.

Two or more cans of food or dry goods, or $5, will get you in the door. Food donations will go to a Davenport food pantry, and cash donations will benefit music programs at the RME.

For more information, visit www.rivermusicexperience.org.

For the family: Kids can test their folding skills during Paper Airplane Day at the Family Museum this weekend.

Museum staff will show children how to make several identifiable flying objects from paper between 10 a.m. and noon Saturday, Dec. 18.

The program is free with museum admission, which is $6 for those 2-59 years old, $4 for those 60 years and older and free for children younger than 2 years. The museum is at 2900 Learning Campus Drive, Bettendorf.

For more information, call (563) 344-4106.

For teens: The Moline Public Library will host a showing of "Night of the Living Dead," a classic horror movie by George Romero, the grandfather of the modern zombie film, during the Zombie Survival Club meeting at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18.

Romero has been a fixture in the horror genre, but he is known best for his work on the "Dead" series that also includes "Dawn of the Dead" and "Day of the Dead."

The showing is free, and snacks will be provided. The library is at 3210 41st St., Moline. For more information, call Jan LaRoche at (309) 524-2478.

He said what?: Vin Rock, founding member of Naughty by Nature on quantifying success:

"I guess a lot people would say, ‘You're only as good as your last record,' and we would say, ‘You're only as good as your last show.' Or ‘You're only as good as your last fan,' because that one fan can make enough noise to get you 100,000 fans and that 100,000 fans will get you a million."

Kellie Rech contributed to this blog.

Among those opening this weekend in the Quad-City region are:

- Terror at Skellington Manor, 420 18th St., Rock Island. From the creators of Terror in the Woods, the haunted house opens Friday, Oct. 1, and continues through Sunday, Oct. 31. Hours are 7-10 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays and 7 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays. The cost is $12. For more information, call (563) 344-9187 or visit www.skellingtonmanor.com.

- Feargrounds Haunted Grandstands, 2815 W. Locust St., Davenport. This event has transformed the grandstand at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds into a spooky adventure. Feargrounds opens Friday, Oct. 1, and continues through Sunday, Oct. 31. Hours are 7 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays and 7-10 p.m. Sundays. The cost is $12. Call (563) 370-5805 for more information.

- Torment at Twelve Hundred, 5030 N. 1200th Ave., Orion, Ill. This haunted house is a theatrical production complete with characters and a storyline. Torment at Twelve Hundred opens Friday, Oct. 1, and continues through Sunday, Oct. 31. Hours are 7 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays and 7-10 p.m. Sundays. The cost is $12. For more information call, (309) 945-5237 or visit www.tormentwelve.com.

For teens - The Davenport Public Library's new series of teen programs continues with "Yeah Write." The program is for teens who enjoy all styles of writing, from poetry to journaling to love notes.

The group will meet 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 4, at the Eastern Avenue branch library, 6000 Eastern.

For more information, call (563) 326-7893 or visit blogs.davenportlibrary.com/teens.

Show to see - Red Wanting Blue will make a return trip to the Quad-Cities on Thursday, Oct. 7.

After more than a decade of touring and eight full-length albums, the Columbus, Ohio-based band has signed with Fanatic Records and re-released "These Magnificent Miles," its most successful album to date.

Kevin Carton of the Quad-City band Minus Six will open the show at 10 p.m. Cover is $4. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/redwantingblue or www.ribco.com.

He said what? - Lord Green guitarist Tom Parkinson, on the generosity of music fans while the band is on the road:

"Just by being good, solid dudes, people are always going to want to help you out."

David Burke contributed to this blog.

The show begins at 8:30 p.m. with doors opening at 7:30 p.m. Cover is $8. The Redstone Room is inside the River Music Experience, 129 N. Main St., Davenport. For more information, visit www.redstoneroom.com or www.euforquestra.com.

For teens: Teens interested in anime can learn how to make costumes for their favorite characters at the Davenport Public Library's Cosplay Workshop. The free program begins Monday, Sept. 20, and will meet at 5:30 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at the library's Eastern Avenue branch, 6000 Eastern Ave.

For more information, visit blogs.davenportlibrary.com/teens or call (563) 326-7832.

For the family: Per Mar Security is hosting the KlassKids Print-A-Thon, which offers free fingerprinting, photographs and a DNA collection kit for children 3 months to 12 years old from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Per Mar Centre, 1910 E. Kimberly Road, Davenport.

There also will be bounce houses, clowns, an appearance by Mo Mallard, and free Lunchables, beverages and popcorn for children. For more information, call (563) 441-7496.

He said what?: Gaelic Storm lead singer/guitarist Steve Twigger said he and band members kept track of the sales of last month's release, "Cabbage," on the iTunes charts via their smartphones, seeing it climb as high as No. 9:

"We climbed past Justin Bieber and all those guys. It was a fleeting No. 9, but we got there."

- David Burke contributed to this blog.

Saturday will be a night filled with local original music at RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island.

Quad-City rock bands Three Years Hollow, Drama Major and Head Held High all are on the bill. The music begins at 9 p.m. and cover is $6. Tickets can be bought online at www.ribco.com or at the door.

For more information on the web, visit www.threeyearshollow.com, www.facebook.com/headheldhighmusic or www.myspace.com/dramamajor.

For teens

Teens can learn new writing skills, get feedback on their work and share their writing with others in the Teen Writers Group at the Moline Public Library, 3210 41st St.

This free group meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of the month. For more information, visit molinelibrary.com, or contact Jan LaRoche at jlaroche@molinelibrary.org or (309) 524-2470.

For the family

Today is the final day to register for a youth theater class at the Rock Island Fitness and Activity Center, 4303 24th St.

The six-week class is for children 5-7 years old and will meet at 9 a.m. Saturdays. It will introduce children to theater through games and activities that inspire the imagination and improve concentration. The cost is $35. Call (309) 732-7275 to register.

He said what?

Ernie Peniston was a part of the Minneapolis music scene of the late 1970s and early ‘80s that included Prince Rogers Nelson, best known simply as Prince. Minds boggle at the thought of the 6-foot-5 Peniston standing next to the 5-foot-2 Prince:

"I won't tell you what I used to call him. But he had his name for me, too," Peniston said.

David Burke contributed to this blog.

In the wake of its successful summer reading program, the Davenport Public Library is rolling out a new series of programs for teens with activities every Monday and Tuesday in September.

The first event is the Teen Volunteer Council, which will meet on the second Tuesday of each month to plan young adult programming at the library. Other programs will include book clubs, anime nights, cosplay writing workshops and other opportunities for teens to express themselves with words and art.

The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Fairmount Street branch library, 3000 N. Fairmount. Visit http://blogs.davenportlibrary.com/teens for more information.

He said what?

Christian pop-rock band MercyMe is in the middle of a summer tour during which it's playing nine different state fairs, including those in Iowa and Illinois.

Guitarist Mike Scheuzcher said he's been able to sample lots of fair food, but he eschewed the latest trend, chocolate-covered bacon, in favor of deep-fried fare:

"You get some of the weirdest food," he said. "If you know anybody at a fair, (tell them) deep-fried s'mores. That'd be awesome."

Show to see

Sun Green, a Neil Young and Crazy Horse tribute band based in Dubuque, Iowa, will perform Friday night at RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island. The band plays Young's well-known hits, as well as lesser-known B-sides from throughout the singer-songwriter's career.

The show begins at 9 p.m. Sept. 3. Cover is $5. For more information, visit www.ribco.com or www.myspace.com/arcweld on the web.

For the family

Parents can bring their 3- to 5-year-old children to the Moline Public Library for Preschool Story Time. The event features stories, finger plays and other activities for the age group.

The free program begins at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, in the Children's Program Room. The library is at 3210 41st St., Moline. For more information, visit www.molinelibrary.com or call (309) 524-2440.

David Burke contributed to this blog.

William Elliott Whitmore will return to the Quad-Cities for a Friday, August 27, performance at RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island.

An Iowa native, Whitmore lives on the same Lee County farm he grew up on when he's not on tour. Whitmore's latest release, "Animals in the Dark," is a departure from his Southern trilogy and takes on the world of politics.

Old Scratch Revival Singers, Centaur Noir and Nathaniel Rateliff will open the show at 9 p.m. Cover is $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at www.ribco.com.

For teens

The Bettendorf Public Library is hosting it's weekly Anime Club meeting.

At the gathering, the first episodes of the month's featured Japanese animation DVD will be played. In the past the group has watched "Gunslinger Girl," "Solty Rei" and "Black Cat."

The program begins at 3:30 p.m. in the Junior League Room at the library, 2950 Learning Campus Drive. For more information visit www.bettendorflibrary.com.

For the family

The Monarch Workshop is back at the Putnam Museum and IMAX Theatre, 1717 W. 12th St., Davenport. The workshop teaches participants how to care for caterpillars as they transform to butterflies and features a workshop on Monarch tagging.

Workshops are at 10:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 28. The cost is $3 per person and $3 per caterpillar. Space is limited to 25 participants. Register online at www.putnam.org/monarchs or on the phone at (563) 324-1054 ext. 266.

She said what?

Blues singer Candye Kane, on the therapeutic effect of both recording and listening to her music:

"My songs are designed to keep me off the therapist's couch, and hopefully I can bring along a lot of other people with me."

So, for my final Out and About blog, I thought it would be fun to recount my top five memories of my 21/2 years as an entertainment reporter for the Times. In reverse order, here they are:

5) Meeting Walt Willey, not once but three times. For those unfamiliar with daytime soaps, Willey has played Jackson Montgomery, the most recognizable of Erica Kane's love interests on "All My Children."

4) Alice Cooper at the Mississippi Valley Fair. I was not excited about reviewing Alice at the fair last summer, thinking he was more my dad's style. But I was blown away by his live show, the best I've seen.

3) The Quad-City Symphony Orchestra's performance of Joseph Schwantner's "New Morning for the World." While I've seen and heard the QCSO perform many wonderful pieces, this is the only one that moved me to tears - a sure sign of good music - during two seasons of reviewing its concerts.

2) The Daytrotter Presents Spoon concert at the Capitol Theatre. This had one of the best light shows I've ever seen, including Kanye West at the i wireless Center. This concert opened my eyes to indie rock.

1) Telling the stories of creative people in the Quad-Cities trying to make a difference through their art.

"Up!" is this week's feature film and part of the Movies in the Park series sponsored by the IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union.

Movie-goers are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs.

For future movie dates and locations, visit www.ihmvcu.org/ma or www.facebook.com/myihmvcu.

Show to see - The Goddamn Gallows will bring its punk rock/bluegrass fusion to the Quad-Cities this weekend.

The band will headline Friday, Aug. 20, at RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island. Area bands The Afterdarks and Krank Daddies will open the show at 9 p.m. Cover is $5.

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/thegallowspdx or www.ribco.com on the web.

For teens - The Rock Island Public Library is kicking off a new series called Teen Nights at the Library with a party Tuesday, Aug. 24.

The series is for children 12-18 years old and will feature social, learning and entertainment activities.

The party begins at 6 p.m. at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th St.

For more information, visit www.rockislandlibrary.org/content/teen-events.

She said what? - Grace Potter, the frontwoman for Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, on the band's new self-titled album:

"There's definitely a little more backbone, a little more badonkadonk to the whole thing. There's a rhythm and an up-tempo attitude over the whole record, and we were really shooting for more hooks and more sing-along capability here."

"Now I realize the impact is great. People think music is free and it's not," Peiffer said, adding that while he can make money from his shows, all his record company has is sales to keep it afloat.

"People pay a lot of money to put out a production, and it's hard to get paid for it these days."

O.A.R., whose songs are heard regularly on the radio, owes its success to Napster and the confusion among many that the band's name is "Oar," like a boat paddle, to illegal downloads. Originally, the young musicians were thrilled that people were listening to their songs, even if they weren't paying for them, because it helped spread their music throughout the country before they even toured.

"But we recognize that the same platform was taking away from bands," said Benj Gershman of O.A.R. "We recognize that there was this sort of dichotomy of how it affected bands."

One of the ways illegal downloads, and the ease with which new material can be recorded in today's digital world, affects country singer Eric Church is that he will not play new material live until it's out on a record, and he relies on his own instincts to write instead of editing songs based on crowd reactions during road tests.

"I would do it more, but in this day and time, with YouTube and the Internet, if you road-test too many of them, there's not a song on your record that people haven't heard when you put the record out," he said. "That frightens me."

But the reactions of musicians to illegal downloading are mixed. Chandra Watson, one-half of The Watson Twins, says that buying or downloading music from legitimate sources by which the artist and record company are paid is part of the circle of life in the music business. As record companies receive less money due to illegal downloads, there isn't as much leftover to fund tours, which means your favorite artist might not come to your town anymore.

Her sister, Leigh Watson, has different thoughts on the subject.

"If somebody rips my CD, yeah, it's kind of a bummer because my label doesn't see that I'm selling X amount of CDs and whatever repercussions that might have," she said. "But ultimately, if they love 'Talking To You, Talking To Me,' (the sisters' latest record) and their favorite song is "Harpeth River," and they can't stop listening to it and it brings them joy, I'm with that 100 percent."

Taylor Locke of Rooney said this is a critical time for music fans to support their favorite bands by paying for music.

"Everyone is stealing music, and contestant-oriented shows and reality shows like ‘American Idol,' that's where all the big promo money is going," Locke said. "Real artists who write their own songs and produce their own record and work with other artistic people to make videos that have their own look and their own style and play great live and have honed their chops playing live for years are fewer and far between now.

"To the causal people out there that are just into ‘American Idol' or getting music for free, take a good look around, think for a minute about what you're doing. If you're passionate about music, this is a really pivotal time in music history to stand behind the music you love, reignite the flame and develop the audience-artist relationship."

Based in Bloomington, Ind., the band has opened for JJ Grey and Mofro, as well as Karl Densen, both of which have also toured in the Quad-Cities. The show begins at 10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 19. RIBCO is at 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island. Cover is $4.

For more, visit www.ribco.com or www.shaggywonda.com.

For teens - The Role Playing Group will meet in the Junior League Room at the Bettendorf Public Library, 2950 Learning Campus Drive, at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 14. The group mostly plays Dungeons and Dragons or BattleTech.

Newcomers can join a game already in progress or bring a group of friends to begin a new one. For more information, visit www.bettendorflibrary.com.

For the family - The entire family, including canine members, can have fun for a good cause during the fifth annual Doggie Dip at the Fejervary Family Aquatic Center, 1800 W. 12th St., Davenport.

Dogs are invited to take a swim 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 13. The cost is $3 per dog, and proceeds go to the Humane Society of Scott County. For more information, visit www.hssc.us.

He said what? - Reggae musician Pato Banton sings about spirituality and often invites the crowd to join him in a prayer circle after shows, but he doesn't subscribe to any one religion:

"I have the same religion as the angels. ... My philosophy would be that we're all God's children, brothers and sisters, and when we recognize that, we have a responsibility to serve God and to serve each other."

Eric Church put on a show that was three parts rock ‘n’ roll, one part metal and just a touch of country. While he played an acoustic guitar throughout the 75-minute set and the band featured a banjo, both were rarely heard over the thumping drums and wailing electric guitar.

He even had the rock star attitude down, hosing the crowd down at one point during the concert and flipping them the bird with both hands while singing the line “The tax man and the devil share the same address,” in “Before She Does.”

It took a little getting used to, hearing bright country vowels with such heavy accompaniment, but the combination is one that grows on you. While I’m all for artists pushing boundaries, Church does need to dial back the decibel level a little because the shredding guitar often got in the way of his lyrics, making them sound muddled at times.

When his vocals did ring out over the band, he showed some impressive skills on “Carolina” and “Love Your Love The Most.” I was also impressed that he played the guitar throughout the entire show, something you don’t see that often at his level, but I could have done without his King Kong-like chest thumping and two fist pumps during pivotal points in songs.

Church, who is either a vampire, perfectionist or prima donna — take your pick — delayed the start of the show by 40 minutes so the sun would set before he took the stage and the crowd of more than 16,000 could enjoy the full effect of his light show. Quad-City favorites the Dani Lynn Howe Band were called in to fill half of that time with covers and one original, “What Would You Do?”

Granted, the lights and occasional plumes of smoke choreographed to music were cool and added to the rock feel of the show. But they weren’t spectacular, and I’ve seen better from previous Mississippi Valley Fair performers who started before dark and on time.

The country star seemed to feed off the vibe of the largest grandstand crowd so far this week, constantly interacting with the fans with a smile on his face. There was the expected altering of lyrics to fit the town and venue, but he also joked about the human pyramids forming in the audience, saying somebody should get a shirt for one man who definitely shops in the big-and-tall department and somehow defied gravity by being hoisted on the shoulders of several guys. Another time, he declared one pyramid with a woman in a white tank top to be the winner of all totem poles for the night.

“I have a thing for little white tank tops, what can I say?” Bentley said with an up-to-no-good smirk. He honored the ladies again, playing “What Was I Thinking” as an encore.

The crowd loved Bentley and as he performed his hits including “Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go),” “Lot of Leavin’ Left To Do,” “Settle for a Slowdown,” “So So Long” and “My Last Name,” which he performed on an acoustic guitar with lead guitar player Bryan Layson providing a beautiful harmony on strings and vocals.

One of the highlights of the show was when Bentley covered George Straight’s “All My Ex’s Live in Texas,” explaining that he and the guys on the bus recently listened to 40 of the country legend’s songs in a row and then led into one of Bentley’s many famous songs about ex’s, “How Am I Doin.’ ”

Bentley opened the show with “Up on the Ridge,” the title track to his new album, and performed a few others off the new album including “Draw Me A Map,” which takes a turn toward a bluegrass sound. The darker sounds laced with a bass drum, banjo and fiddle sound at home with Bentley’s deep vocals.

The only sour note of the concert came during the chorus of “Sideways,” when Bentley just couldn’t seem to get the word the song is named for out on key. But the crowd didn’t seem to mind; they just kept right on singing and dancing along.

At one point Bentley, clearly excited by the crowd’s reaction to him, compared the experience to Bonnaroo and asked: “Where’s the big after party tonight? I think we should just go there. ... I don’t remember it being this crazy the last time around. But I like crazy.”

The psychedelic musical stylings will begin with Nocando at 9:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 6, at Racers Edge, 936 15th Ave., East Moline. Cover is $5. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/freemoralagents or ww.myspace.com/racers_edge2007.

For teens - Teen rockers FireSale will perform Friday, Aug. 6, at the River Music Experience, 129 N. Main St., Davenport. The free performance begins at 5 p.m. and is part of a live music series offered by the nonprofit organization dedicated to music education.

For more information, visit rivermusicexperience.org or www.myspace.com/firesalerocks.

For the family - The flamingos from the "Flamingo Follies" exhibit at the Quad-City Botanical Center will be auctioned during the Flamingo Fling at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 6.

Area band The Fry Daddies will provide the musical entertainment. The cost to attend is $10 for children and $15 for adults. The center is at 2525 4th Ave., Rock Island. For more information, visit www.qcgardens.com.

He said what? - Taylor Locke, Rooney's guitar player, on why the band filled in with solo shows on the dates when it's not opening for the Hanson tour.

"I hate to ruin the glamour of it, but oftentimes a day off is a parking lot of a hotel and a Walmart, and if there's a chain diner and a movie theater, you're actually really lucky. I would just as soon play a show than putter around Walmart and buy new socks or something."

Like other area libraries, Bettendorf has had students as young as sixth grade attending events geared toward teenagers. But Tami Finley, the youth services manager at the library, said some parents are uncomfortable about having their middle school children at events with older teens who are in high school.

Then, when close to 400 10- to 12-year-olds signed up for a newly created summer reading program for tweens, Finley decided it was time to create programming specifically for that age group.

"We need to bump this up. We need to do something for these kids if we have this much interest in our summer reading program," she said. "We should be doing some programming for them."

The answer is B'Tweens, a series of free programs just for 10- to 12-year-olds that will be held at 4 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month at the library. At the first event next week, Aug. 10, teens will compete to see who can make the best smoothie. Other programs will feature crafts, book discussions and video game challenges.

Finley hopes the tweens who attend B'Tweens will become active in the teen advisory board once they are old enough to volunteer and will help plan the new teen center now in development at the library.

"We're hoping these kids will just move along with us and then be the group that spearheads that," she said.

Since then, some of the more prominent music publications, including Pitchfork, have taken notice of Cults' sound, which has been compared with ‘50s and ‘80s pop.

Cults will perform Sunday night at The Circa 21 Speakeasy, the former ComedySportz location, 1818 3rd Ave., Rock Island. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 1. Cover is $7. Hollows will open the show.

For more information, visit www.daytrotter.com or www.cults.bandcamp.com.

For teens - The teen club Energy will host a beach bash from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday, July 31, complete with sand and foam. Swimsuits will be allowed in a deviation from the normal dress code for this special event.

In August, the club will return to its regular operations, when it will be open to teens 14-19 years old 7-11 p.m. every Saturday.

Energy is at 5401 Elmore Ave., Davenport. Cover is $10. For more information, visit www.energypartyspot.com.

She said what? - Singer Kellie Pickler, who placed sixth on "American Idol" in 2006, admits she doesn't keep up on the show:

"Who's all leaving? I don't watch television."

After being told of the changes in judges:

"So Paula's (Abdul) gone forever and Simon's (Cowell) gone forever now? Is she afraid people will still ask about ‘Idol' when she's 80? People will, but it won't affect anything because I don't know anything about it."

For the family - ComedySportz will be lending its improv talents to a Longfellow Elementary School fundraiser at 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, July 30-31, at Wallenberg Hall, Augustana College, 3520 7th Ave., Rock Island.

The troupe features content that is appropriate for the whole family and based on skits suggested by the audience.

The suggested donation for the event is $10. For more information, visit www.comedysportzqc.com.

David Burke contributed to this story.