Join me in saying so long to anxious and unusual April and hello to the very, merry month of May. We’re certainly hoping and expecting more consistency as the weather turns toward the summer season, but as we know – who knows? So let’s go take a walk down music lane and see what we see.
First, we can announce some recent creative works by local musicians in the hope that you’ll take the time to check out the pieces and partake in the offerings. Dennis Maberry, longtime local and well-studied percussionist, released his latest instructional and inspirational book in his Hands-On Rhythm Practice series, titled Practice Makes Perfect: Clave and Bell Pattern Exercises for intermediate and advanced percussionists or those aspiring to be. Visit Dennis’ website at rhythmspirit.com for more information on all his books, instructional videos and backing tracks.
The Pleiades, a Springfield-based band of Carter Kelso, Eli Trimpe, Josh Schuler, Koke Rutter and Jack Kelso, released their latest album, Second of Silence, last February on digital platforms. Watch as the band hits the ground running this summer with their first show at DH Brown’s this Saturday night.
Next up comes Grant Barnett, a currently local, singer-songwriter with a powerfully stark, self-produced version of Woody’s This Land is Your Land coming out on the platforms May 8.
Now it’s Mark Bott, aka Big Guy, with a single called Kiss My Bad American Ass that hit No. 95 on the Cashbox Country Music charts last March. MB/BG followed that with several other original releases such as My Satan in Satin, Simple Plan and So Red White and Blue. The BGJ Music Group artist plans a late summer Midwest tour with his full band, Big Guy and the Mob.
And with that I’ll put out the call for anyone releasing music or music-related work to send me info and we can let the world know as best we can.
For some live Now Playing action, let’s go to Butternut Hut’s monthly First Friday event of an “evening of house beats, DJs and good energy” supplied by area music creators. On Saturday the Hutsters bring in the amazing, one-man traveling band, Jaik Willis. On Friday, the Railyard gives us Bugz Benson from Geneseo on his Rock ‘n’ Roll Maniac Tour doing a “One Man Band. Live Looping. Dance Rock” show, while Saturday delivers Hard Drive, a four-piece rocking band from Hillsboro that promises to “get you out of your seat and on your feet” on their Facebook page.
Saturday keeps the ball rolling with some 50 listings including Nickipalooza at Danenberger Family Vineyards, an annual charity show organized by Nicole Florence. The 2026 event benefits Mobile Crisis Response at Memorial Behavioral Health with Sunshine Daydream and Positively 4th Street as the live entertainment. So be kind and get yourself out there for a good time and a good cause.
Dumb Records has a busy weekend of live music ahead with an all-ages show of Totaled, Cause of Pain, Passion, KEEP, Petrikhor on Friday night and an ECHO Party on Saturday with Art Edmaiston, Chad Fowler, Alex Greene and Steve Hirsh, plus a bonus performance from Fowler, Adam Larison and Richard Gilman-Opalsky all as part of the UIS Get Free Music Series.
Sunday is the usual all-around Funday, including a special show by Al and Kathy Kitchen at the Backroom Lounge in Riverton featuring the songs and stories of Patsy Cline and Willie Nelson with a backing band of Max Harris, Allan Harris and Ann Bova.
So long until next week. Please visit our listings for many more May shows.
This article appears in April 30-May 6, 2026.
