Band Spotlight | Thursday, September 8,2011

Deke Dickerson and the Ecco-fonics

Hailing from nearby Columbia, Mo., Deke Dickerson has toured the world as an entertaining guitarist and developed an international career as a journalist/historian in the arena of American roots music

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, September 8,2011

September stuff

By Tom Irwin

Whew, what a summer of goings on it was. I’m all worn out from the excitement of fairs and festivals, and I’m supposing you are as well. Now things slow down a bit, but plenty of upcoming

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, September 1,2011

Jason Sturgeon perseveres with luck

By Tom Irwin

Willie Nelson – and he should know – got quoted saying to be successful in the music business takes perseverance, perseverance, perseverance and luck. Actually that particular Willie-ism f

Band Spotlight | Thursday, September 1,2011

Fallen Angel

By Tom Irwin

When these four experienced musicians (nearly 100 years of combined playing time in area bands like Affliktion, Xavier, Passion, Kancelled, Destiny, Ariel, Blue Racer Rockhouse, Poetic Justice and fan

Band Spotlight | Thursday, August 25,2011

The Blues Expressions

By Tom Irwin

Four years ago Adrian Muex knew he wanted to start a blues band. His previous live music experience entailed mostly church performances as a choir director and gospel singer influenced and inspired by

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, August 25,2011

Growing jazz in Greater Springfield

By Tom Irwin

Jazz music, considered an original American art form by most scholars of the arts, has a strong and vibrant history within our music scene. More than a few capital city natives made good in the genre

Band Spotlight | Thursday, August 18,2011

The Graduate

By Tom Irwin

After six years as an up and coming band on the national music scene, The Graduate is done. The 20-something band, featuring Corey Warning (vocals), Matt Kennedy (guitar, keyboard, vocals), Max Sauer

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, August 18,2011

The Don Smith Band, a State Fair tradition

By Tom Irwin

Here’s a fairly interesting fair fact. During every Illinois State Fair for the last 31 years, some version of a Don Smith group played somewhere on the fairgrounds. The really cool thing is thi

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, August 11,2011

The State Fair and beyond

By Tom Irwin

Here comes the Illinois State Fair. From parking cars on our lawns to finding two-way streets going only one way, from bars open late to an increase in the fly population (there’s a barfly joke

Band Spotlight | Thursday, August 11,2011

Screamin’ Vatos

By Tom Irwin

Originally conceived by Billy Bacon in 1993 as a Latin percussion-oriented group focusing mainly on material from Carlos Santana with a few cool covers by the band War, the Screamin’ Vatos have