Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, December 27,2012

New Year’s news

As I titled this end-of-the-year column I had no idea that the last two years I had come up with the same catchy words to name my final “Now Playing” of the year. I guess I started a tradi

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, December 20,2012

End of the world or end of the world ending?

By Tom Irwin

With nothing else worth discussing this week other than the much purported and often promulgated “end of the world” coming on Dec. 21, 2012, here we go. I reasoned that spending, as Bob Dy

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, December 13,2012

Hip-hop heroes

By Tom Irwin

I must admit to being rather ignorant of rap and hip-hop music styles. I’ve heard certain artists and felt the influence of the genre in contemporary music, but overall I’ve not listened d

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, December 6,2012

December blues

By Tom Irwin

For whatever reason, Springfield likes having the blues, at least when it comes to seeing bands that play the genre. And this month, just in time to thwart any possible pre-holiday, lowdown blue feeli

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, November 29,2012

UIS music at UIS

By Tom Irwin

Most of the live music shows held at the University of Illinois Springfield, our still growing, four-year institution of higher learning on the southern outskirts of Springfield’s civilized worl

Music - Tom Irwin | Wednesday, November 21,2012

Thanks for Thanksgiving Eve

By Tom Irwin

As reported in this column for the past several years, for those of you who care, the night before Thanksgiving is known as the biggest party of the calendar year for the live music/bar scene. Even la

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, November 15,2012

Various November varieties

By Tom Irwin

Every once in a while it’s fascinating to take a look at all the music out there in the big picture rather than focusing in on one subject. With all the happenings this weekend, plus the upcomin

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, November 15,2012

Prairie troubadour

The folk music of Ben Bedford

By Tom Irwin

You’ve been warned, you won’t get far Life’s crooked as a scimitarCut the cord there ain’t no doubtThere’s one way in and one way out – John the BaptistSo goes the

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, November 8,2012

The Roys arrive

By Tom Irwin

When thinking of bluegrass festivals nature and outdoor settings generally come to my mind, but one of the finest bluegrass fests in the country happens right here in Springfield at the Crowne Plaza.

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, November 1,2012

Venues make a comeback

By Tom Irwin

Not long ago Springfield was sorely lacking in club venues capable of handling a few hundred folks to see national touring acts. Now within a few months, voila!, ask and ye shall receive, here you go,