Five Cities, Two States, One Ukulele Community In Quad City  

Most ukulele clubs allow enthusiasts to get to know other enthusiasts in their local area – that is, the confines of their city or town. Spending an hour or two with like-minded uke players is a great way to better understand your local ukulele community, but when it comes to meeting more than just half a dozen uke-loving people like you, most enthusiasts have to venture further afield.  

In Iowa and and Illinois, the uke community is made up of five different cities in one shared area: Quad City.  

Made up of northwest Illinois and southeastern Iowa, the Quad City region includes Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa, and Rock Island, Moline and East Moline in Illinois. The Quad City Ukulele Club services all five cities.  

The Quad City (or, QC for short) Ukulele Club is a group for anyone interested in the diminutive instrument. Meetings take place on the first and third Saturdays of each month at West Music, 4305 44th Avenue in Moline, Illinois at 1:00pm, but the group is no stranger to venturing outside for performances, too. Since launching in 2012, the QC Ukulele Club has performed at various locations and even celebrated their one-year anniversary with a Uke-A-Pa-Looza concert at the River Music Experience in Davenport. Any events the group participates in are often posted on the QC Ukulele Club’s website, but beginner players and newcomers shouldn’t worry – experience is not required to join QC, only enthusiasm.  

Those looking for a little practice before joining can find hundreds of songs on the group’s website, called Philnominal Ukulele, to download, which come complete with lyrics, chords and chord diagrams. In addition to tunes, the group also posts tips and playing techniques to help members advance your playing. Anyone who has missed a meeting or didn’t master the techniques can also use the website to catch up on past songs and topics.

With love for the ukulele spreading across five cities, two states and one uke community, the Quad City Ukulele Club is a true testament to how the mighty little instrument can bring people together.