• On Wednesday, Dec. 22, celebrate the Winter Solstice and the fifth anniversary
of Trout Lily Café — Illinois Times readers’ “Best of Springfield” pick
for coffee. Proprietor Kate Hawkes says the business (218 S. Sixth St., 391-0101)
is open all day as usual, but will add evening hours from 5 until 8 p.m. for
the festivities. Look for door prizes, refreshment specials, and music by Bill
Furry. (Uh, Bill, you’re good, but don’t quit your day job.)
• Speaking of anniversaries, come celebrate one more year of F 5, another
Illinois Times “Best of Springfield” winner. The Top 40 pop-rock-cover
group has had a few personnel changes during its eight-year run, but nothing
seems to dim the band’s popularity. Join the hoopla at Marly’s Pub (9 W. Old
State Capitol Plaza, 522-2280), beginning at 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17, until 1
a.m.
• Here’s a tip to help organize your holiday music listening schedule:
The Good Brothers of Pleasant Plains appear at The Cellar below Andiamo! (204
S. Sixth St., 523-3262), next Thursday, Dec. 23 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The concert
sponsored by our good friends at M.I.C.E., features the under-20 siblings knocking
out some tasteful jazz music and donating the proceeds to our local Salvation
Army. ‘Tis the season.
• Spillway Lanes has become one of Springfield’s finest venues for weekend
live entertainment. The lounge is a nice sounding room and hey, if your partner
likes to bowl and you like live music, what a deal! On Saturday, Dec. 18, from
8:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m., check out a new blues-rock group from the area,
filled with local music scene veterans. The Low Down features Lorrie Eden on
lead vocals, with Fast Eddy Eden, Tom Lewis, Greg Jacaway, and Roger Latham,
making up rest of the band. This Sunday don’t forget it’s that time of the month
when 17 (count ’em) jazz musicians get together for an evening of swing. Yes,
it’s the Bowling Alley Big Band from 6 to 9 p.m. performing your favorite hits
of old with a few holiday classics tossed in for those desiring to hear Christmas
classics done in big band style.
This article appears in Dec 16-22, 2004.
