RME hosts summer concerts for the family

By Stephanie De Pasquale | Thursday, June 19, 2008

The River Music Experience in downtown Davenport kicked off its Third Thursdays LIVE summer concert series Thursday night with the youth taking the stage for a performance geared toward families.

Local bands The Myers Brothers, Sons of Apollo and Firesale performed to a full courtyard and passersby outside the RME at the base of the skybridge.

In the past the RME hosted live concerts every Friday night in the courtyard, but has scaled down this year to four concerts on the third Thursday of each month through September, in an effort to bring in more unique bands that Quad-Citians can look forward to.

“You know, take it up a level and try to have a little variety, have something for the kids,” said Ellis Kell, director of programming and education for the RME. “(It’s) just something special every month, to give people a reason to stay downtown after work and have a good time.”

Kell said providing entertainment for a diverse crowd including kids and families is part of the RME’s mission.

“We want to provide quality live music performances for all ages, for all people, diverse entertainment and a variety of entertainment that anyone can come down here and enjoy,” Kell said. “We’re a music center for the whole community, not just a select group of people.”

In July, Public Property, a reggae band from Iowa City, will perform at Third Thursdays. In August boogie and blues group The Blue Band is on the bill and the series ends in September with Shannon Curfman, who Kell described as the female version of Grammy-winning blues guitarist Johnny Lang.

Kellen Myers, 11, the older of the two Myers brothers, said he hopes the music at Third Thursdays gets other children his age to start playing music and taking lessons at the RME, which is where he’s gotten his inspiration to play the blues.

“We want people to be excited about it,” Kellen said. “They are really good because we want to encourage a lot of younger kids to play music, because we think that’s really important.”

Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com.