Summertime is always a boon to live music performances, predominantly of the
outdoor sort, but on some of those infamously hot and humid Illinois days, it’s a blessing to experience the modern convenience of air conditioning while
checking out some music. Nevertheless, from outdoor theaters to city sidewalks,
town squares to park plazas, personal patios to public grandstands, burgoos to
barbeques, the majority of our summer entertainment excitement takes place in
the great expanse of the open air.
One of my favorite warm weather shows, the long-running Artist on the Plaza
series, happens every Tuesday and Thursday at noon from May through September
on the south side of the Old State Capitol Plaza. Various musicians and
entertainers representing a wide range of central Illinois talent, including
Muni casts, singer-songwriters, ethnic groups and bands of assorted shapes and
sizes, perform an hour’s worth of music for the downtown lunch crowd. The Springfield Area Arts Council
— especially coordinator Penny Wollen-Kriel who nurtured the project through
budget cuts and community sponsors — deserve a great big thank you from all the entertainers and the listening
public for making this happen year after year.
First up on the local festival circuit is the Hill Prairie Winery’s Wine and Music Festival out in Oakford this weekend, with bluegrass picking on
Sunday and country tunes on Monday. The Debbie Ross Band at Washington Park on
Sunday makes for the first 2009 Music in the Park concert, with local bands
scheduled monthly on Sundays throughout the summer at various city parks.
On May 30, in one of those inside entertainment experiences, the City of
Springfield and the Prairie Capital Convention Center partner with local
sponsors to present the Earth Awareness Fair and Greenfest. The daylong event
(10 a.m. to midnight) features green vendors and information on environmental
topics with the added bonus of live, local music on stage throughout the day
and night. Proceeds from the evening concert, called a Party for the Park,
benefit the new Southwind Park scheduled to open in the fall of 2009.
This summer downtown Springfield plays host to several outside music events
beginning on the first weekend in June with the SoHo Music Festival, featuring
the area’s finest alternative, original rock bands. The Washington Street Jazz & Blues Festival, happening since 1986 as a benefit for the Community Arts Access
grant program, goes all day and into the evening on June 13 with local jazz and
blues acts. For 2009 the highly successful American Music Stage, held in
conjunction with the Taste of Downtown, moves to July 3 and 4. This means the
also highly successful Capital City Celebration, already in service downtown at
the same time, combines with the Taste to make a great, big party to
commemorate Mr. Lincoln’s birthday bicentennial. The Old Capitol Blues & BBQ concert, scheduled for August 29 brings the summer downtown party to a
raucous and tasty close.
It seems like every area burg hosts a homecoming, festival, shindig,
something-days, or call-it-what-you-will sometime during the summer with many
attractions, including almost always, live music as the main event. Along with
the town parties, don’t forget the quaint county fairs and our enchanting Illinois State Fair, with
beer tent bands and grandstand shows galore.
Now we’ve covered the central Illinois area, you’re on your own checking out the events all across the great everywhere,
including shows all over St. Louis and the famed lakefront festivals in
Chicago, plus the big ticket price and big name events already happening around
the country.
’Tis the season to get outside and catch some live music.
Contact Tom Irwin at tirwin@illinoistimes.com.
This article appears in May 14-20, 2009.
