Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, November 18,2010

RIP Raoul

My best buddy and music mate left this world at about 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 12, 2010. Raoul took the great gig in the sky where the whiskey never stops flowing and smoking bans don’t exist, in that

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, November 11,2010

Rhonda Vincent, bluegrass queen

By Tom Irwin

In 2010 the Greater Downstate Indoor Bluegrass Festival hosted by Terry and Jan Lease celebrates 24 years of bringing the finest bluegrass music to central Illinois. After the success of their first i

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, November 4,2010

A November for live music lovers

By Tom Irwin

Now with Halloween and October safely behind us, we look forward to the upcoming holiday season with all the entertainment entities ahead. It’s never too early to brush up on your bridge lyrics

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, October 28,2010

Halloween happening here

By Tom Irwin

Knock knock.Who’s there? Boo!! Boo!! Who?Don’t start crying, Halloween is here. The most glorious, ridiculous, fabulous, guilt-free, inspiring, creative, fun holiday we offer in modern Ame

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, October 21,2010

Third Floor opens doors

By Tom Irwin

As the Hoogland Center for the Arts continues to be a major force in area arts events and a blessing upon our collective artistic sensibilities, a certain element of the local scene remains out of the

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, October 14,2010

Anne, Bucky and Mother Jones

By Tom Irwin

Lots of happening things are going on this weekend like the Damwell Betters christening the reopening of Charlie’s Club under Andiamo, Russel Brazzel playing a cool classical guitar concert, Dan

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, October 7,2010

Too much to do to get done

By Tom Irwin

What do a fifties doo-wop group, a world-class female jazz vocalist from Chicago, a thing called Girl-a-Thon, folksingers from Portland, Ore., and Sparta, Ill., a fourth of the Doors, along with a gro

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, September 30,2010

October falls into place

By Tom Irwin

I find early October wonderful for many reasons, including but not exclusive to the crisp and awakening air, jackets and boots, communicating owls, red sassafras leaves as seen without my glasses on,

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, September 23,2010

Remnants from the Roots saga

By Tom Irwin

Along with the privilege of writing this week’s IT cover story on Sean and Jamie Burns’ legacy with the Sangamon Valley Roots Revival came many personal recollections unable to fit into th

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, September 23,2010

Sangamon Valley Roots Revival turns 10

How Sean and Jamie Burns brought ‘roots’ music home

By Tom Irwin

The first wise guy in this old world to see the truth in the saw, “if you want something done, do it yourself” latched on to a key precept in human endeavors. Another seriously silly sayin