As our month of May heats up (barely) we’re digging into those outdoor gigs (as weather permits) and looking toward what’s ahead this week in our community music scene.
We have some interesting Thursday action happening including the famous 70s Scottish rock band Nazareth – with founding members still on board, plus the addition of the British hit band The Babys – playing a full-scale concert at the historic Lincoln Square Theater in Decatur.
Also, Not Petty kicks off the Illinois Product Farmers Market season in style on the Lincoln Stage near the Shed on the Illinois State Fairgrounds. So mark your calendars for local live music on the grounds every Thursday evening into October (except during the State Fair when all kinds of things will be going on) along with plenty of Illinois products and produce available for your perusal and purchase.
Friday comes in hard and heavy with some 25 music shows for your listening pleasure. Many of our regular, well-established venues lead the way, like Weebles on the northend hosting those killer classic country cats in White Lightnin’ while Silas Tockey takes on Harvest Market Farmhouse Brews all by his lonesome. For something different, I see the Trading Post is bringing back live music to the long-running, near west end club with Positively 4th Street delivering Dylan songs and more. Plus, The Tipsy Toad on Dirksen gets hoppin’ with Rezzin8 on the patio and VFW Post 755 on Old Jack marches on with the seven-piece, Bloomington-based, rock cover band 2FlightsDown, while The Grainery in Pleasant Plains begins hosting regular live music with Triple Threat goin’ funky with their country.
Let’s take a pause for a good cause and talk about the Liturgical Arts Festival of Springfield for a moment. This is the 16th biennial fest and 2026 hosts several events. As we close in on the final days, there are three music shows celebrating the festival theme of Sacred Rhythm, Sacred Pattern. On Thursday evening, Union Baptist Church hosts Moving in Divine Order with “liturgical dance, music, poetry and artistic expressions from diverse faith traditions” plus a unity dance as well. Then, on Friday night, check out Blest Be the Lord: A Celebration of Contemporary Catholic Music for Worship with the Steve Rotello Ensemble at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Chatham. For the final music moment in this LAF, on Saturday evening, Springfield native Dr. Mark McKnight takes the lead on drums and engages his ensemble of professor Ronald Bridgewater on saxophone, Jim Pryor on piano and Troy Robertson on bass to perform their Rediscovering the Patterns of Coltrane: A Love Supreme at the Abundant Life Christian Center. Open yourself up to feel the “transcendent musical experience” as promised from the marvelous and mystical music of John Coltrane interpreted by these incredibly talented musicians for the culmination of this uplifting and inspiring, citywide “interfaith celebration of the arts” festival.
Saturday clocks in at over 40 events, so a gander at our listings shows a bevy of goings on. Start with the Springfield Uketopians at Stella Coffee & Tea (noon to 2 p.m.), move on to Micah Walk at West of Wise Winery near Petersburg (1-4 p.m.) and go for Afternoon Delight at Buckhart Tavern (3-6 p.m.). Then keep chuggin’ all the way through to UNCHAiNED and Sonic Sunday at The Library Pizza and Sports Bar (old Crows Mill) and Dysfunctional Family and Enamel at The Stadium (Peoria Road) in the evening hours.
We didn’t get to Sunday, but enjoy your Funday on Mother’s Day with mom and music if you can. You know where to look for the who, what and when. So long for now.
