As we fly on through October like autumn leaves in a fall breeze, the festivals are finished, but the fun of it all keeps on moving and grooving as we have gigs galore with plenty of upcoming excitement ahead. Let’s get to it.
First off we offer some very exciting and welcome news as the Curve Inn announced a music lineup starting the first weekend in November happening in what they now call their indoor Music Den with JackAsh on that Friday and Devin C. Williams on Saturday. Local live music continues on through the month and beyond as the very popular venue, restaurant and bar is back better than ever after the devastating fire last spring. Congratulations to owners Ami and Ray Merchant and to all the folks who helped to get it going again. See you there!
We’re headed straight for Friday night now with some 25 listed shows happening all over the area including several in the small towns around our bustling metropolis. We go from down south in Benld where Boots & Harmony kick it at Dud’s Bar and Grill over to Girard when Hippies of the Heartland get groovy at Oak Hills Country Club & Winery, then on up to Athens as Jameson Freeway drive on at Curveside Bar & Grill and Partners in Rhyme go iambic at The Filling Station in Rochester.
In the capital city proper, the enticing excitement endures when Daniel Cavanagh plays his Martin guitar sweetly at Pease’s at BUNN Gourmet and the Salty Bros. (that’s Brandon Santini and Joel Gragg together again, FYI) bring the brine to the blues at Harvest Market’s Farmhouse Brews, while the rock gets rocking when Satellite orbits The Blue Grouch, Rock Mafia hits at the Library Pizza and Sports Bar and Black Betty: Armed and Dangerous takes on the Tipsy Toad.
In our only twofer this weekend gigging both nights at the same joint, the inimitable Chris Camp plays the perfect plenipotentiary backed by his various, vital and invariably venerable Blues Ambassadors at Lime Street Cafe with special diplomatic music envoys Robert Sampson and Bill McKenzie on Friday and Hank Helton on Saturday.
Here comes a jewel of a Saturday night with over 30 shows in our calendar giving you several chances to catch live music in all its gloriously shining facets. Again, the small towns around surround us with opportunities to be enthralled and engaged as Downstate brings harmony and song to the Buckhart Tavern, while a few miles away as the crow flies, Rod Grant sings his way to Breckenridge’s Whiskey Ridge, then heading west of town Kortney Leatherwood parlays to play at the Patriot Pub in Waverly while Jason McKenzie waltzes straight into The Coyote Den over in Salisbury.
Now that we’re traveling west (near New Berlin to be approximate), there’s a big-deal, for-real concert happening when Danenberger Family Vineyard presents the Real Pretenders tribute band. Described as “four Chicago music scene veterans with a passion for… the music of the Pretenders,” we’re lucky to know one of the four quite well as Andon (some still call him Ted) Davis plays guitar in the rockin’ group. With rave reviews for the show all over Chicagoland and wherever they play, this ticketed event is one you’ll really want to catch.
Sunday comes a-knockin’ with plenty (almost 20) various ways to enlighten your life and occupy your time, including the 2nd annual Central Illinois Music Fair at the Marian Banquet Hall in Riverton with plenty of music merch plus a live performance by our old pal Joe Frew.
Next week there’s no Now Playing with the Best of Springfield issue out, so I’ll see you in November with a Happy Halloween in between.
This article appears in October 22-28, 2026.
