No, the Little Theatre on the Square isn’t little. In fact, it’s quite big, and in its heyday it had quite a few big names in show biz performing there. That includes both Broadway and Hollywood stars: Eve Arden, Alan Alda, Leonard Nimoy, Dennis Weaver, Betty Grable, Kitty Carlisle, and Mickey Rooney all worked the […]
Tom Irwin
Tom Irwin, a sixth-generation Sangamon County resident, has played his songs and music for nearly 40 years in the central Illinois area with occasional forays across the country. He's contributed to Illinois Times since 2000 by writing Now Playing, a weekly music column, as well as features stories and other articles. He resides on the Irwin family farm in rural Pleasant Plains.
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Hot fun in the summer time
Things can get steamy in the summer around here–it helps the corn grow–so chill out with some cool live music. You’ll hear it from the rooftops to the Grandstand, in the streets and the parks, and in all your favorite nightclubs. Hardee’s Jam Fest kicks off the scene. The second annual benefit for Friends of […]
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Now Playing 5-29-03
Listen my children and you shall hear of bands a-playing and bottles of beer. Music galore and good times a-plenty but you must be at least one and twenty. Hey here’s one place you can go for music and not be the magical 21: Hardee’s Jam Fest, on Saturday, May 31. The third annual music […]
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Hometown boy does good
Near the bottom of Illinois, not far from Paducah, Kentucky, the small town of Metropolis snuggles up to the Ohio River, a few miles from Fort Massac State Park. When Robert Westerfield moved there in the early 70s, no one had thought of the place as the home of comic-book character and film star, Superman. […]
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Celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music
Once the distant cousin of Springfield’s Lincolnfest (remember Lincolnfest?), the Decatur Celebration has become the largest free family street fair in the Midwest. Under the guiding hand of promoter Fred Puglia and the caring city fathers of Decatur, this celebration is an award-winning wonder of organization and entertainment. The “Party on the Prairie” will feature […]
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Now Playing 5-22-03
Come on in. Sit a spell. Or conjure up a night of music and merriment, compliments of the Springfield nightlife. If blues are your bag, rest easy, my friend–for now. You’ll need your strength to catch all the shows in town this week. On Friday the Underground City Tavern kicks off the unofficial blues bonanza […]
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Now Playing 5-15-03
It’s the middle of May, and we’re flying high, heading for the edge of summer. Hang on–let’s go. The Blazers have been compared to Los Lobos time and again–and rightfully so. Both bands can roots-rock it or strum through traditional Mexican tunes with ease. The Blazers began in 1971 when high school buddies Ruben Guaderrama […]
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Now Playing 2-13-03
Two holidays in one week, yahoo! Now how does this affect you, the bar-going music lover? Read on to find out. It’s the sweetheart of deals on Friday when St. Valentine bestows his blessing upon lovers of all kinds. Take your honey dancing at the Eagles Club on E. Ash, where you can swing to […]
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Now Playing 2-27-03
Here we are again, diehard champions of the nightlife: Fighting the elements to find a place to raise some spirits and enjoy live music. Start off this week with a Thursday night visit to Floyd’s Thirst Parlor, soon to be celebrating one year as a downtown Springfield watering hole. The orange neon reflects off the […]
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Now Playing 2-20-03
Old man winter has been having a regular party lately, with us as his uninvited guests. Not deterred were some patrons of the arts and partakers of the spirits. A few shows were cancelled last weekend, but the Robbie Fulks concert at the Underground City Tavern was not thwarted by the inclement weather. And just […]
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Now Playing 3-6-03
As the winter weather hangs on, and those warm rays elude your paling skin, you might want to try the next best thing to sunshine–artificial lighting in a smoky bar. You can watch the weather on TV and down a libation while waiting for the live music to crank up. If that doesn’t work–well, you […]
Posted inMusic
Now Playing 3-13-03
It’s the Ides of March. It’s St. Patrick’s Day. It’s the Roman-Irish connection all over again. Where’s my Book of Kells? Who saved Western Civilization and why? Who created it and what for? Oh it’s all just too much sometimes. Let’s hear some music and drown our searching. Friday marks the return of the Screamin’ […]
