Oh the Places We Have Been - Live Music QC and Beyond

I spent my weekend in some very diverse worlds. I enjoyed folk music in a barn on Friday night, and punk and hardcore in a warehouse on Saturday. But I stopped by an air-conditioned bar and checked in with a local tribute band as well. Let me tell you about it...

Barnstorming at Codfish Hollow - a Special Edition

I’ve never been to the barn at Codfish Hollow. I’ve heard about it often – I’ve been a Daytrotter follower for a couple of years – I have just never been available whenever there was a concert. Barnstormer events are a bit random. Friday I found myself driving in the direction of Maquoketa for my first Barnstormer. John C. Reilly and Friends were expected to be gracing the Codfish Hollow Barn stage.

Summer Means Outdoor Concerts in the QC

The summer outdoor music season is in full swing. There are festivals and outdoor concerts every weekend, and even Thursday evenings are full of options. This week I took a swing by a couple of summer venues to see what they held, and discovered that a whole lot of people were enjoying the sunny afternoon and warm evening… and the live music!

Gumbo and Gems - Live Music in the QC

This week I stepped out on Thursday night and discovered a musical gem – or 5 of them. I also stopped by one of our traditional summer music festivals, and spent some time with friends. Make sure you read all the way to the bottom to get the low-down on where to be for live music this weekend!

A Birthday Bash of Blues and BBQ

Musically, there is just so much going on in the Quad Cities, I can’t possibly be everywhere at once. And this weekend was no exception. However, I had planned to spend my entire day Saturday at The Muddy Waters 3^rd Anniversary Blues and BBQ bash, so that’s what I did. Because I was expecting a long day, I didn’t hit any venues Friday night either.

Rainy Days and Quad City Music Venues

For a lot of years I spent my Memorial Day Weekend camping on the shores of the Cedar River.  Last year I gave up my trailer and sold all my camping equipment. My kids have grown, my friends all moved on to other activities, and I’ve been so wrapped up in the music scene that my summer weekends have been too full. I felt like I was wasting my money on the rented space that I hardly saw. The rainstorms this past weekend reminded me of that first Memorial Day on the Cedar, when we found ourselves floating out of our tent on Saturday morning. We spent the rest of the weekend camped out on the floor of my parents’ trailer – 4 adults and 4 kids in a 1977 Holiday Rambler. Rain on Memorial Day just seems like a tradition.

Rock in the District and a Story

Remember that break I’ve been talking about taking… for the last 2 months? Well, I set out this weekend to take it. You may have guessed already – that didn’t happen.

I did dial back a little though, so my blog today, though lengthy, is much more focused.  I think I like this. A slower pace allowed me to enjoy more music and visit with folks a little bit. That makes it easier to write the blog and still have time for other things.