CONCERT | Elvis tribute
More than 1,500 Elvis fans from all over Illinois are expected to attend the 13th annual Midwest Tribute to the King Competition. The two-day show, presented by
COOL Radio 101.9, features Elvis impersonators competing to take home the king’s crown. Most of the performers involved tour the country on a regular basis
impersonating Elvis and performing his music. This year Perfect Impressions, a
Springfield-based entertainment agency, had more than three dozen applications,
but narrowed them down to only 17 entries. Each tribute musician will compete
for a cash prize of $3,200. The event also features exhibitors providing Elvis
Presley costumes, memorabilia, records and more. The competition also includes
a performance by Philip Bauer the world’s #1 Johnny Cash tribute artist and, of course, KAVAN, the world’s #1 Rock n’ Roll Elvis.
13th annual
Midwest Tribute to
the King Competition
Fri & Sat Jan 16 & 17
Hilton Hotel
700 East Adams
217-793-3733
www.pietalent.com
$15-$45
EVENT | King’s breakfast
Dr. Martin Luther King had a dream. And for 34 years the Springfield community
has come together to commemorate the dream at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King
Breakfast. The Frontier’s International Springfield Club, an organization based on advancement through
service, hosts the annual event. This year, the keynote speaker is Dr. Lawrence
Thomas Guyot, author and civil rights activist. Guyot was one of the original
members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, directed the Freedom
Summer in Hattiesburg, Miss., and remains active in politics and civil rights.
He co-authored the book Putting the Movement Back into Civil Rights, a resource guide for elementary and high school students, and has been
featured in several documentaries.
34th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Breakfast
Monday Jan 19
Hilton Hotel
700 East Adams
217-787-8373
7:30 a.m.
$20 at the door
ART | The Lincolns in art
In honor of the Bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln the Prairie Art Alliance is
dedicating its first exhibition of the year to the life of the president. Remembering Mr. Lincoln — Looking Through an Artist’s Viewfinder, is a collection of artwork by local artists Ron Ackerman, Bob Dixon and Emily
Thompson. Through photography and ceramics, each artist creates a different
portrayal of Lincoln’s life, intellect, the places he lived and his psyche. In addition to meeting
the artists, guests can also mingle with Mrs. Lincoln. Jane Lawder and Kathy
Pauley will be dressed in authentic period costumes answering questions about
the life the couple shared. The opening reception of the exhibition also
includes wine and hors d’oeuvres.
Opening reception
Remembering Mr. Lincoln — Looking Through
an Artist’s Viewfinder
Jan 17, Saturday
Prairie Art Alliance
Hoogland Center for the Arts
420 S. Sixth St.
217-787-2467
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Free
BAND SPOTLIGHT | The Pleasure Chest Blues Band Last August during the Old Capitol Blues & BBQs downtown music festival, the Illinois Central Blues Club hosted the ICBC
Blues Challenge. Ten bands played for a panel of judges vying for the honor of
representing the ICBC at the International Blues Challenge contest in Memphis,
Tenn., Feb. 4-7, 2009. The Pleasure Chest Blues Band, featuring Rich Hohmann,
Steve Suter, Shane Denney, Keith Altevogt and Robert Sampson earned the right to attend this glorious event known as the
largest gathering of blues acts in the world and compete for a prestigious spot
in the finals. This Saturday the band invites one and all to a “Road to Memphis Good Luck Party.” Come on down and wish the talented group of veteran musicians good fortune on
their Memphis adventures.
The Pleasure Chest Blues Band
Saturday Jan. 17
Pizza Machine
in the Vinegar Hill Mall
8pm-12am
www.icbluesclub.org/pleasurechest
This article appears in Jan 8-14, 2009.
