Live music in Bettendorf, IA

Enjoy participatory folk dancing with live music at Bettendorf Presbyterian Church. Each dance is taught, walked through, and prompted, making it welcoming for newcomers as well as experienced dancers. The program includes circle, square, and longways formations, with contras as the primary style. No partner or prior experience is needed, and all ages are welcome. Good'un String Band provides the music. There is no fee to attend, and donations to the band are appreciated. Help spread the word to others.

Visiting from New Orleans, Big Al & The Heavyweights bring a high energy, family friendly performance to the Gypsy Highway stage. The group began in 1996 as the Unknown Blues Band with founders Al Lauri, Warren Haynes of the Allman Brothers Band and Gov't Mule, and pianist Rick Gergen of Sweethearts of the Rodeo. Big Al now leads a lineup featuring guitarist and vocalist Marcel Anton, bassist Dave Mendez from New Orleans, and Detroit harmonica player and singer Dangerous Dale Robinson. An $8 cover applies.

Crawford Brew Works welcomes Nashville singer songwriter Ryan Bizarri for an evening of acoustic country steeped in storytelling and heart. This free, public performance blends his own material with familiar favorites from the genre. Expect nods to artists such as Garth Brooks, Zac Brown, Toby Keith, and Brad Paisley. Bizarri also shares the stories behind his originals, including his co write for Rodney Atkins, “Eat Sleep Love You Repeat.” The kitchen pairs the music with a lineup of comfort food, from Asada Street Tacos and Valentina’s Brisket Tacos to classic and mushroom smash burgers with truffle aioli. Flatbreads range from brisket with barbecue flavors to a classic Margherita, and the 5pm Pancakes plate features hand breaded chicken with a hot honey glaze. In the taproom, choose from more than 15 beers on draft, including Get Off My Lawn IPA, Road Rash Raspberry Fruit Beer, and Butcher’s Blood Lager. Cocktails such as Bettendorf Mules and grown up root beer floats are available, along with wine, hard ciders, and non alcoholic options like Athletic N A beer and a variety of sodas. Settle in on the dog friendly patio or relax in the main bar for a night of live country music and good company.

Demi Clara and Aaron Kelly perform a live set of original songs to wrap up the summer season. Their performance showcases original material as they help bring the summer months to a close.

Part 4 of the Impostors Music Festival comes to Schwiebert Riverfront Park with the 2026 lineup newly unveiled. Early bird tickets are available.

Royal Pop returns to Corazon Latino Restaurant & Bar for another evening.

Common Chord hosts a jam and funk set from BURNTMCMELBATOAST, a grassroots push for live music from a band with a fresh sound shaped by jam band roots reaching back to 1990. Founders Matt Friesz, Rodney Shaw, and Kevin Moore emerged from the 90s jam scene, opened for Aquarium Rescue Unit, and earned a reputation for adventurous, original performances. The group now spans two generations with River Shaw on drums and Joe Friesz on keyboards and guitar, uniting family members to renew the focus on live, original music. Tickets are $18 in advance and $20 at the door.

Windy City Dueling Pianos returns with a high-energy, all-request showdown where two powerhouse players face off on matching grands and the crowd drives the setlist. The performers, based in Chicago and across the Midwest, bring years of experience from well known dueling piano venues, trading melodies and riffs in the classic style while tackling favorites across Top 40, classic rock, hip hop, country, pop, show tunes, and blues. Tickets are 12 dollars in advance and 15 dollars on the day of the show. Attendees must be 18 or older. Seating can be reserved through the event link or by calling 309-786-7733, ext. 2.

Enjoy a patio gathering featuring food, drinks, and music. Savor bites and beverages while the soundtrack plays in the open air.

The Mississippi Valley Blues Society and The Gypsy Highway present Rick Estrin & The Night Cats, honored as Blues Music Awards Band of the Year in 2018, 2021, and 2025, for a Sunday Funday performance. The concert is planned outdoors if the weather allows, with an indoor option if conditions change. Arriving early helps with seating, and lawn chairs are welcome for the grassy area near the stage. Admission is $15 at the door for Blues Society members and $20 for general admission. Fronted by harmonica player and vocalist Rick Estrin, the band draws on deep blues tradition with a modern spark. Estrin grew up in San Francisco, fell in love with the music after discovering Ray Charles and other greats, and was performing in city clubs by his late teens. Early experiences included jamming with Lowell Fulson and opening for Z.Z. Hill, followed by time in Chicago where he met Muddy Waters, who praised his sound. Back in the Bay Area he co-founded Little Charlie & The Nightcats, then launched Rick Estrin & The Nightcats with guitarist Kid Andersen after 2008. Influenced by Sonny Boy Williamson II, Little Walter, Percy Mayfield, and Baby Boy Warren, Estrin pairs inventive songwriting with sly, soulful vocals. Guitarist Kid Andersen, originally from Telemark, Norway, grew up devouring the work of Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, Junior Watson, and the three Kings. By 18 he was backing visiting American blues artists in Norway, then moved to California at 21. After releasing four solo albums, he joined Charlie Musselwhite’s band in 2004 and later became a Nightcat. A multi-instrumentalist, producer, and engineer, he runs the acclaimed Greaseland Studio, recipient of the 2017 Keeping The Blues Alive Award, with credits that include projects for Tommy Castro, Nick Moss, John Németh, Wee Willie Walker, Finis Tasby, and all of the band’s albums. Keyboardist Lorenzo Farrell started piano at age five, discovered jazz in high school, and added upright bass to his toolkit. He studied Philosophy at UC Berkeley and explored religion in Delhi before returning to the Bay Area, where he became known for his work on piano and organ. A Nightcat since 2003, he has also performed or recorded with Wee Willie Walker, Elvin Bishop, Finis Tasby, Jackie Payne, Andy Santana, Terry Hanck, and Little Charlie Baty’s Organ Grinder Swing. Drummer Derrick “D’Mar” Martin brings a global touring résumé that includes 17 years with Little Richard. His work spans performances, production, songwriting, education, and a music lecture series called Drums & More. He has collaborated with Dorothy Moore, Bobby Rush, Vasti Jackson, Ali Ollie Woodson, Big Jack Johnson, Carla Thomas, Billy Preston, Roy Gaines, Mitch Woods, Jackie Payne, Syl Johnson, Bob Margolin, and Tutu Jones, adding a dynamic pulse to The Nightcats.

JaCi & The Juice perform live at Runner’s Park as the last Sunday installment of East Moline’s Main Street concert series. The show marks the series finale.

Tim McNary appears in person alongside special guests. Raised in a strict religious household where he listened to secular music in secret, he crafts songs that trace a journey from isolation to connection. Based in Nashville, he draws on backpacking through the mountains, beaches, and deserts of South America and on touring throughout the United States, bringing layered songwriting and expressive vocals that bridge emotional and geographic distances.

Appearing in person, Hippie Death Cult performs with very special guests. The Portland, Oregon outfit channels psychedelic textures and thunderous, riff-forward rock, and has refined its lineup from a four-piece to a focused power trio with guitarist Eddie Brnabic, vocalist and bassist Laura Phillips, and drummer Harry Silvers. Their discography includes the 2019 release 111 on Cursed Tongue Records, followed by Circle of Days and the Doom Sessions Vol. 5 split on Heavy Psych Sounds Records in 2021. Both full-length albums earned international praise and debuted at number one on the Doom Charts. Onstage, the band is known for charged, heartfelt sets shaped by shows across the United States, Canada, and Europe.

The Gypsy Highway hosts a weekly open mic jam for bands and individual musicians. A full setup is provided, including PA and lights, a house drum kit, guitar and bass amps, and a keyboard. Participants bring their own instruments, plug in, and perform. It is also a chance to meet fellow players, collaborate, and build new musical connections.

Hippies & Cowboys appear live with very special guests, bringing a Nashville-rooted blend of rock and soul that channels the fire of classic Southern sounds with a modern twist. Their music rides a deep groove that draws from soul, blues, and rock and roll, with clear nods to influences like Aerosmith, The Allman Brothers, and Tedeschi Trucks. The band shaped its voice in storied rooms including FAME Studios, Muscle Shoals Sound, and East Avalon, tapping into a lineage of American music that fuels their approach on stage and in the studio. Their first live release captured the unfiltered spark of their shows and earned praise, while the follow-up EP pushed harder with songs that spotlight Southern roots, tight ensemble work, and fearless writing. A live double album and full concert film are planned.

A Wednesday night dinner and free concert series features local QC musician Levi Craft performing a blend of sing along favorites. There is no cover to attend.

Open Minds Open Mic at Ecdysiast Arts Museum welcomes every kind of performer. The stage is open to music, dance, vocals, comedy, and acting, and all creative expressions are encouraged. Sign-ups take place on site upon arrival.

Music Bingo at The Tangled Wood in Bettendorf brings bingo, name that tune challenges, and sing along moments together with Think & Drink Entertainment. Instead of numbers such as B15, the spaces match parts of songs. When you recognize the title, place a chip, and five in a row makes a winner. Phones, devices, and apps are not allowed. It is free to play, prizes include free drinks, and all ages can take part.