Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, March 22,2012

Metal, math, mandalas and Mini O’Beirne

I couldn’t quite settle on one act this week, so look out. As the calls came in, the list grew until several shows reached the Now Playing field. Let’s take them in headline order.Chris Hu

Band Spotlight | Thursday, March 22,2012

Lady Carole & Her Knights

By Tom Irwin

On March 26, 2010, when Bruce Clark, proprietor of Bourbon Street, hosted Lady Carole & Her Knights, the official band began. But the seeds were sown years before when Carole sang and played keybo

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, March 15,2012

Under the Irish influence

By Tom Irwin

In Springfield our Celtic heritage runs deep, with St. Patrick’s Day as one of our most anticipated holidays, celebrated with the long-running marching band parade on the nearest Saturday to Mar

Band Spotlight | Thursday, March 15,2012

Jason & the Haymakers

By Tom Irwin

Now a Nashville recording artist, Jason Bertrand originally came from a small, rural town in Illinois and attended Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. There he spent time working on a cover cou

Band Spotlight | Thursday, March 8,2012

The Rockin’ Johnny Band

By Tom Irwin

Originally from South Carolina, a young John Burgin went to the Windy City to study at the prestigious University of Chicago in the early 90s and ending up learning at the equally important reality sc

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, March 8,2012

Blues news

By Tom Irwin

Who knows how these things happen – and frankly, my dear, who cares – but this weekend, the blues make an impressive showing in Springfield. For those of you who just returned from a time

Band Spotlight | Thursday, March 1,2012

Guitar Town

By Tom Irwin

The first Guitar Town event held in 2008 featured 13 of central Illinois’ favorite guitar players playing, songs they liked for fellow guitarists. With a backline of Mark LeVault on bass and Bob

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, March 1,2012

Skibbereen mixes in the green

By Tom Irwin

In Springfield, our recent Celtic legacy has a vibrant history, including bands The Emerald Underground, Exorna and Fake McCoys, groups like St. Andrew’s Society and Ogilvy Studio, plus events s

Band Spotlight | Thursday, February 23,2012

The Aspect: Beatle Band

By Tom Irwin

Originally conceived as a way to bring several styles of popular music under one umbrella, Bill McKenzie’s concept group, The Aspect, continues the tradition by again taking on the Beatles as su

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, February 23,2012

End-of-February fun

By Tom Irwin

My, oh my, looks like we’re in for a jam-packed weekend of music goodies. Here we go with a whoop and a holler.First up is my quick report on recent adventures that took me through Kansas, Texas