18 Jul Arts & Entertainment Lineup Set for Alternating Currents Aug. 15-18 in Downtown Rock Island

For the fourth consecutive year, Rock Island is hosting Alternating Currents in the Quad Cities with a diverse mix of free, all-ages events Thursday, Aug. 15, through Sunday, Aug. 18, at some of downtown’s most unique public spaces and entertainment venues.

The Thursday night kickoff sponsored by the Quad Cities Cultural Trust begins with a celebration of the new murals in Arts Alley, featuring live music by Virginia-based artist Justin Golden; interactive family-friendly activities; and a food and beverage pop-up by downtown favorites. Chicago-based headliner Elizabeth Moen and her band will follow the Arts Alley event with a performance at Schwiebert Riverfront Park that will also serve as the launch to the City of Rock Island Parks & Recreation Department’s 2024 Thursday Night Groove Series.

“This year’s full slate of Alternating Currents events in downtown Rock Island goes beyond amazing live music and should give people a great opportunity to discover what our unique pocket of the Quad Cities has to offer,” said Jack Cullen, Executive Director of the Rock Island Downtown Alliance. “From a rooftop silent disco and create-your-own art stations to a block party-style car show and professional wrestling at a brewery, there’s something for everyone, all within a walkable/bikeable distance.”

Below is the full schedule of festival events organized by the Rock Island Downtown Alliance:

• Parking is free and available Thursday (and all weekend) in the City-leased lot at 101 17^th Street between the riverfront and Arts Alley. Bicycle taxis known as pedicabs will be on site offering free rides to attendees between downtown businesses and participating venues Thursday and Sunday.

5-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15 | Arts Alley, 1719 2^nd Avenue, Rock Island

• 5-5:30 p.m. | Celebration of the new murals and other improvements to the outdoor pedestrian space
• 5-8 p.m. | Family-friendly activities provided by Quad Cities Cultural Trust and partners Common Chord, Figge Art Museum, Putnam Museum & Science Center, Quad City Arts, Quad City Botanical Center and Quad City Symphony Orchestra
  • Programming includes live community painting of a OneSound piano provided by Common Chord; Plant Discovery Bus and facepainting provided by Quad City Botanical Center; and Instrument Petting Zoo provided by Quad City Symphony Orchestra
• 5-8 p.m. | Food and beverages available for purchase at pop-up by Icons Martini and Huckleberry’s Pizza & Calzones
• 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Live performance by Virginia-based artist Justin Golden (Country Blues/Folk/Americana)
• 6-8 p.m. | Gallery Opening at Quad City Arts featuring the works of artists Cathie Crawford and Whitney Sage

7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15 | Schwiebert Riverfront Park, 101 17^th St., Rock Island

• Live performance by Chicago-based artist Elizabeth Moen and band (Indie Rock) in partnership with Rock Island Parks & Recreation
• Food and beverages available for purchase from Rock Island Parks & Recreation and Bent River Brewing Company

8:30-10:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15 | The Urban Reserve, 1711 2^nd Ave., Rock Island

• Silent Disco featuring DJs Shane Brown (Top 40); The Pseudoreality (Techno); Sean Tripp of The Tripp Brothers (Funk) sponsored by Quad City Arts (18+)
• Beverages available for purchase from The Urban Reserve rooftop bar

9-10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15 | Theo’s Java Café, 213 17^th St., Rock Island

• 9-10 p.m. | After-party set by Virginia-based artist Justin Golden (Country Blues/Folk/Americana)
• Food and beverages available for purchase from Theo’s Java Café

12-1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16 | Huckleberry’s Pizza & Calzones, 223 18^th St., Rock Island

• Lunch-hour set by Virginia-based artist Justin Golden (Country Blues/Folk/Americana)
  • Daytrotter had its original recording studio above Huckleberry’s, and the restaurant hosted many memorable Daytrotter shows, including one by Vampire Weekend in 2007
• Food and beverages available for purchase from Huckleberry’s

7-9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17 | Wake Brewing, 2529 5^th Ave., Rock Island

• Rumble in Rocktown Professional Wrestling sponsored by Wake Brewing in partnership with SCW Pro
• Food and beverages available for purchase from food trucks and Wake Brewing

12-4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18 | Skeleton Key Art & Antiques, 520 18^th St., Rock Island

• START Drop-In Creation Station, a pop-up space featuring multiple stations for attendees to express their creativity in a variety of artforms, including music, chalk art, painting, dance and more

12-5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18 | Steve’s Old Time Tap & The Stern Center, 3^rd Avenue and 17^th Street

• 12^th Annual Cancer Can Kiss My A** Car, Bike & Jeep Show, which donates all proceeds to the University of Iowa Gynecologic Oncology Research Lab
• 2-4 p.m. Live performance by Iowa City-based band HomeBrewed (Blues, Gospel, Rockabilly, Country)
• Food and beverages available for purchase from Steve’s Old Time Tap and other surrounding businesses

2-4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18 | Wake Brewing, 2529 5^th Avenue, Rock Island

• Rumble in Rocktown Professional Wrestling sponsored by Wake Brewing in partnership with SCW Pro
• Food and beverages available for purchase from food trucks and Wake Brewing

For more information visit alternatingcurrentsqc.com 

The AC APP:

Want to customize your AC weekend and decide what you want to see and where? The Alternating Currents app is your go-to resource for discovering everything that the festival has to offer. The app will be continuously updated as artists are announced. Users can discover the acts that interest them and customize their personal festival schedule, enabling the creation of their own unique Alternating Currents experience. To download the free app, visit alternatingcurrentsqc.com/acapp

ABOUT ALTERNATING CURRENTS

Alternating Currents festival was founded in 2017 by the Downtown Davenport Partnership (DDP), a division of the Quad Cities Chamber. Now the event is powered by DDP and has expanded to include host downtowns Downtown Bettendorf Organization and Rock Island Downtown Alliance. The event is successful because of the many creative partners and businesses who come together to create an amazing experience for all. This year, AC’s major contributors include Presenting Sponsors, Regional Development Authority (RDA) and Rhythm City Casino Resort and Major Partner, Rubberstamps.net. Programming support is provided by investments from Music Partner, GreenState Credit Union and Arts Partner, TBK Bank. Feature Stage Sponsors include Estes Construction, Nature’s Treatment of Illinois, Palmer College of Chiropractic and Quad Cities Cultural Trust. Supporting sponsors include Express Employment Professionals, MidAmerican Energy and Metronet. Hive Event Consulting is a producing partner in the event. Media Partners include KWQC, Quad-City Times & Dispatch/Argus, Townsquare Media and Planet 93.9.