Guides
LeClaire Park Gets The Blues Again, As Blues Fest Returns To Davenport
You’ll be happy to get the blues this weekend, as Mississippi Valley Blues Fest 2023 will be held Friday and Saturday, September 15-16, at the historic LeClaire Park in Davenport, Iowa. Gates are open 3:30 to 11:30 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 11:30 p.m. As always,...
Alternating Currents Plugs Into Quad-Cities Aug. 17-20
Alternating Currents is recharged and ready to electrify local music fans Aug. 17-20 with over 100 acts across 30 venues throughout the Quad-Cities. Featuring an eclectic and vibrant mix of music, comedy, film and visual arts strewn across two states and multiple...
Dress Like A Rockstar: Hidden Gems In The QC To Elevate Your Fashion Game
With Alternating Currents in one week, it’s time to lock down what awesome looks you’re going to wear! And what better opportunity is there than a major local festival featuring the Quad Cities’ finest to go find the best hidden gem thrift and boutique shops in the QC...
QC Summer Concert Series Guide!
With Memorial Day weekend just passed, it’s officially summer in the Quad-Cities! Of course, that means the start of the outdoor concert season in and around the area, and, as usual, there’s a full slate of live tunes in all music genres on the menu for the sunny...
What The Hell Is An EPK, And Why Every Artist Needs One.
I was at a show the other day and overheard a conversation, to which one person said, "What the hell is an EPK?". The Quad Cities is ranked 11th in the nation for the highest concentration of musicians. Upon hearing this, I knew I needed to write this article for our...
Summer Concert Series Guide
Summer is just around the corner which means warmer temps, patio hangs and free outdoor live music! Luckily we live in the Quad Cities where there is no shortage of any of those things. Grab your friends and family (and your lawn chairs) because we have an exclusive...
Five Bands You Should Know From Dr. Manisha Virdi
Dr. Manisha Virdi is a friendly dentist by day and an avid showgoer by night. At least once a week you can find her at a concert in the Quad Cities and on extra special nights she even opens her home to touring artists passing through. Her dedication to the QC music...
Five Bands You Should Know from Jaawan Arrington
Jaawan Arrington is a QC Native that uses his skills outside of the newsroom to promote positivity. Through the 100 Series lifestyle brand, Jaawan has encouraged thousands of Quad Citizens to keep it 100 and share their stories. In his own words, here are a handful of...
Your Musical Guide to St. Patricks Day in the Quad Cities
The Midwest adopts a Texan identity when it comes to holidays, especially St. Patricks Day. If you didn’t already know our Bi-State St. Patricks Day Parade is one of the largest bi-state parades in the country. While we could dive into how hilarious and kind of...
The Best (musical) Date Nights in the Quad Cities
Romantic holidays come with their fair share of challenges. What do we do? How can I make it different than a regular date? I don’t have a romantic partner, so do I just sit at home and wallow? Luckily, there are plenty of great little pockets in the Quad Cities where...
Quad Cities Halloween Shows – Everything You Need To Know
What’s scarier than not having a costume for Halloween? Not having plans! The Echo has curated a rundown of shows all over the Quad Cities to ensure Halloweekend is a graveyard smash!Looking to get psychedelic for Halloween? Check out Howl-O-Ween Trip Out! At the...
Everything You Need To Know About Open Mic And Jams
Open mics (OM) and jams (OJ) have been a long-standing tradition for generations in the music world and are a crucial grassroots method of building a healthy music scene. It is a ground-level entrance to any music scene for any experience level. They offer so many...
How to Get Started on Your Vinyl Journey
Starting your vinyl collection is full of excitement! What records do you buy first? How do you organize them? What piece of furniture will you use to store them? There are so many questions right from the jump. I’m Jon (also known as Centaur Noir) from Ragged Records...
Concert Promoting 101
Marketing your show or concert in the Quad Cities has never been easier. Utilize our marketing checklist provided by Zach Gatton.
A Guide to the QC’s FREE Summer Concert Series
The weather is warm, school is out, the gnats are everywhere…it’s time for some live music! We can once again enjoy one of life's greatest gifts….concerts. You remember those things right? Live entertainment. In-person events. Well, we have a list of things to do,...
What to Expect from the Echo…
We believe in the art being created in the Quad Cities. We believe in the artists, the promoters, the producers, and the creatives working to build and support said art. We believe in it so much, that we’re putting our money where our mouth is. We’re dedicating time...