“Merry Christmas ya filthy animals!” Families are reuniting from all over the globe. Kids are begging for the latest Fortnite, Minecraft, InstaPrint Cameras, etc. etc. and finding out if they are on the naughty or nice list. It’s the time of year where food comas are in high self-diagnosis, and the only cure is to get outside from the in-laws and enjoy live music!
Ranked 11th in the nation for “Highest Concentration of Musicians in a Metropolitan Area”, beating Nashville, Las Vegas, New York, Syracuse, Appleton, and others. In 2022, the Quad Cities employed 48.3 musicians & singers per 100,000 jobs, excluding traveling artists. That is a big feat and something to be proud of for our community!
Tis’ the season to come together and celebrate with those we love! So here at The Echo we’ve added sugar and spice & baked up our Top 10 Picks for Festive Christmas Concerts in the Quad Cities. Best served with family, friends, and holiday spirits Tickets are selling fest, so start that family group chat and show off how hip you are! We’re looking at you Gram Gram!!!
Performance Dates: Dec. 8th, & 9th starting at 7pm | Dec. 10th starting at 2pm. Click here to learn more & purchase tickets.
Ebeneezer Scrooge and his ghostly encounters come to life in this lavish and thrilling Broadway adaptation.
Broadway heavy hitters, Alan Menken (Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Little Shop of Horrors) and Lynn Ahrens (Ragtime, Seussical, Once on This Island), breathe fantastic new life into the classic tale of A Christmas Carol.
Ebenezer Scrooge is a prosperous curmudgeon who believes that personal wealth is far more valuable than the happiness and comfort of others. With an infuriated “Bah! Humbug!” Scrooge summates his feelings of Christmas tidings and charitable giving, but he’s forced to face his selfish ways when three ghosts on Christmas Eve lead him through his Past, Present and Future. Thanks to their guidance, Scrooge recognizes his faults and greets Christmas morning with a cheerful “Happy Christmas” before spending the day reconnecting and sharing love with those that mean the most to him.
Performance Dates: Dec. 16th, starting at 4pm & 7pm | Dec. 17th starting at 4pm & 7pm. Click here to learn more & purchase tickets.
All Sweat Productions in partnership with Music to Move a City is proud to present “A Swinging Christmas Spectacular”!
All Sweat’s Swinging Christmas Spectacular will be a night of traditional Christmas music including the music of Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Brett Eldridge, the Ronettes, Taylor Swift and much, much more. With a sixteen-piece orchestra including rhythm, brass and strings, along with twelve of the most talented performers in the Quad Cities, the music will take you back to the golden years of Christmas music and present the new Christmas hits of today. The staging, sound and lighting will create the perfect atmosphere for friends and family to experience the joy of Christmas.
Performance Dates: Dec. 22nd, 8pm – 12am. | Click here to learn more.
The Identity Crisis Christmas Show featuring a few of your favorite Christmas tunes mixed into their amazing Live music Lineup. Identity Crisis is a 10 piece classic rock band featuring a horn section and male and female singers. This is a special event you don’t wanna miss. $5 Cover
Performance Date: Dec. 20th, Doors open at 5pm, Show starts at 6pm. | Click here to learn more.
BEST DRESSED CONTEST
Ugly Sweater
Christmas PJ’s
Inappropriate ChristmasAngela Meyer is a country music artist who calls the Quad Cities “home”. Her live show explores many genres of music through acoustic covers as well as her own country/western originals. She has played professionally around the QC area for over 10 years and has traveled far beyond to play shows anywhere from New Mexico to New York. Along the way she’s graced stages of all sizes including the National Finals Rodeo events in Las Vegas, NV. For fans of Kacey Musgraves, Johnny Cash, The Eagles, Lizzo, Bob Seger and more! Hear her on YouTube at www.youtube.com/angelacmeyer.
Performance Dates: Dec. 9th, starting at 2pm & 7pm | Dec. 10th starting at 2pm. Click here to learn more.
Ballet Quad Cities’ The Nutcracker has been a hallmark of the holiday season in the Quad Cities for generations.
Music by Orchestra Iowa.
The magic never ends! We pull out all the stops for this dazzling full-stage production: a cast of 60, live music, falling snow, colorful sets, and our sparkling Sugar Plum Fairy. Come see why audiences agree that BQC’s Nutcracker deserves a standing ovation!
Performance Date: Dec. 21st, from 6:30pm – 9:30pm. Click here to learn more.
Join us for this very special event Thursday December 21 for The QC Soul Singers Christmas special.
This group consists of members that have been seen with Soulful Sounds of Motown, Black Nativity, and other productions over the years. This is a free show, so come out for dinner and a show and lets all get into the holiday spirit. Keys will be provided by Kellen Myers
Performance Date: Dec. 18th, starting at 7pm | Click here to learn more.
Multi-Platinum, Grammy Award winning singer / songwriter Michael W. Smith is excited to be back on tour this Christmas season where he and his very special guest and friend, Michael Tait of The Newsboys, will bring you a night of his biggest Christmas hits and traditional favorites.
We hope you’ll join us for a Christmas celebration that you will never forget.
Performance Dates: Dec. 8th, & 9th starting at 7pm | Dec. 10th starting at 2pm. Click here to learn more.
Friday is Date Night at the GL! Grab your honey or a friend and have some fun with the guys, playing jazz standards:
Derek Reid on saxophone, Joey Hodgett on drums, Ian Farmer on bass, Zack Johnson on keyboard
Reservations encouraged, $5 per person, 21 and older.
Performance Date: Dec. 8th, & 9th starting at 7pm | Dec. 10th starting at 2pm. Click here to learn more.
Come on down and spend Friday evening with Bret & Steve – Christmas in the air and your favorite mead to celebrate the season!
Bootleg Hill Honey Meads supports a variety of local music acts, and features an open mic nights every Thursday at 8pm. Their local sourced and homegrown meadery offers an assortment of flavors in and classy & eclectic environment.
Performance Dates: Dec. 8th, & 9th starting at 7pm | Dec. 10th starting at 2pm. Click here to learn more.
Last bash before Christmas, and a Pre-pre birthday gala for me! (Bazooka Jon). Just ProjectX all night 9pm – 1am at Harley Corins. Dishing up the old school metal! Gonna be the antithesis of a silent night! No cover, No excuses! Lets rock!
Plugging you into the heart of the Quad Cities music scenes!
Know go start that family group chat Gram Gram and invite the whole fam damily!
