Get a grip, guys and gals, and hang on for dear life. It’s a bouncy, busy ride this week in Springfield’s music world. But you wouldn’t have it any other way, now would you?
In case you haven’t noticed yet, the Illinois State Fair is in full swing with bands and beer guzzlers, sheep shearers and gun slingers, tractor pullers and wine tasters, all rubbing elbows with each other, happy as can be. What makes us poor souls trudge all day in the hot sun with thousands of other fellow humans just to become part of the daily thrill of the fair? Who cares? There’s still plenty to see and do through Sunday’s finale, so get on it.
It’s an official Now Playing-designated “Mike Burnett Music Weekend,” folks. First, he resurrects the Suns of Circumstance at the Alamo on Friday from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. for a 25th reunion of Springfield High graduates. Then on Saturday at noon, he leads his latest band, the Prairie Pranksters, onstage at the fair’s Miller Lite beer tent. After a cool-down period in the evening, Burnett strikes up the band again at Floyd’s Thirst Parlor for another late-night-after-the-fair gig. Lord a’mighty Mike, dontcha ever get tired?
On Saturday the Hangout, Unwind, and Dance Saloon on the corner of 11th and Ridgley celebrates five years in the unpredictable bar business. Mad House plays from 4 to 8, then Out of Hand grabs the musical baton from 9 to 1. There will also be a bikini contest, a 50/50 drawing, a Poker Run, and other assorted fun stuff squeezed in around the music to aid in the anniversary rejoicing. Congratulations to the Huddlestons and long live HUDS.
In other Northend late-night excitement, Knuckleheads on Peoria Road has booked Kit and the Mighty Mudbugs, the best blues rock band around, Friday from 10 to 2. Then on Saturday the Billy Mac Jack Band, purveyors of finely distilled country and country-rock classics, help Joe and the crew wing their way through the last big bar night of the 2003 Illinois State Fair. (In other words, it’s time to party.)
Next Wednesday the Dan Rivero Trio rolls into the Grandstand (Sports Bar, that is) on Sangamon for a 7 to 10 run in the beer garden. It would be a good time to listen to some easy listening, good sounding music, while catching up on the barmaids’ and bartenders’ tales of fair time fun and frolic.
Oh, what a simple world it will be, when our fair city disappears until 2004.
This article appears in Aug 14-20, 2003.
