Tom Irwin

Just as July flew by, August arrives in a hurry with a heap of heat on hand to make it all interesting, if not downright dangerous and definitely uncomfortable. Let’s power on through, staying as cool as cool can be. First off, we should stop to celebrate a few accomplishments from local music makers out […]

Believe it or not (and I prefer to not) we’ve reached the last full weekend of July for 2026. August peeks in with the Illinois State Fair just ahead and the end of our summer season not far away. So, I say, get out there while you can and take part in it all, in […]

We’re turning up the heat as we hit mid-July with the summer time going full on with fun-feeling, corn-tassling, music-making happenings everywhere you look, turn, walk, skip, hop and/or run. The decision is yours to participate, so make the right choice and get yourself out there to experience the live music and surrounding excitement. Thursdays […]

With summertime in full swing, the livin’ is, as expressed in song, easy. So let’s go have fun in the sun because we got it made in the shade with all the music being played in and around the area this upcoming week.  Our Thursday Now Playing adventures in the summer begin with a Y-Block […]

Join me in enjoying a jubilant journey, as we jump into the juke joints to jam and jive while juggling all kinds of music on this jewel of a juggernaut jubilee. There’s no justification for the j-sound jargon I’m generating so let’s not jinx it and just get joyful, jovial and generally jolly as we […]

Bring on the sunscreen and insect repellant, stay hydrated and say when, here comes some live music made for June and the sweet summertime. Let’s expect to get a decent break from watching the weather so all of us can go outside and play, listen and be a part of the many music events upcoming […]

Tree frogs croakin’, fireflies flittin’ and June bugs jivin’ are all sure signs that the natural world is headed toward the summer season. All signs in our live performance world also point in the same direction with outdoor gigs galore in store for you and all who choose to join in the seasonal fare. And […]

Let’s take a walk (don’t run) through our upcoming entertainment adventures for this week in the capital city. It’s time to stop and smell the roses as we enjoy all the enticing excitement available for partaking if you make the choice to participate. So off we go to see what’s out there. Thursdays are on […]

As the merry month of May comes to a close this weekend, we can look back on a fast-moving, extraordinary time of live music experiences. Heading into June and the summer season next week, our regular outdoor venues are in full swing while festivals, fairs, fish fries, homecomings, burgoos, farmers markets and various celebrations of […]

Mayday, mayday! Look out, folks, it’s already Memorial Day weekend with summer time fun just around the corner, over the hill and down the block, with a stop off at Aunt Martha’s house to see Cousin Fred first. However you slice or dice it, cut or shut it, it’s here so here we go. From […]

Hello and welcome to another edition of Now Playing, your weekly Illinois Times excursion into the music scene surrounding us. The month of May is definitely not a “maybe” this year, as we warm up in a big way to the summer season. Let’s take a walk in the garden and see what’s popping this […]