Once is not enough, it takes two to tango. I’m seeing double, but two is better than one. Bands are double dipping all over the place this weekend. Moroccan Soul camps out at Norb Andy’s for a weekend stay, Friday and Saturday, filling the intimate underground bar with smooth groove tunes backed by a Latin […]
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.
Posted inMusic
Now Playing 1-30-03
Hey it’s cold. Get used to it, get on with it, and get over it. And get out to see some music this week at one of our fine establishments serving the best in grooves, grub, and grain (fermented, that is). Reggae continues in the capital city unabated by the chilly temperatures. High atop the […]
Posted inMusic
Now Playing 6-5-03
Enter, if you dare, the often wonderful, somewhat terrifying, but usually satisfying world of Springfield nightlife. Austin’s Grand Champeen has truly experienced the exotic life of a traveling American band. The driven musicians willingly squeeze themselves–plus guitars, amps, drums, and other (ahem) necessities of rock ‘n’ roll–into an old conversion van and travel around the […]
Posted inNews
Little isn’t always small
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inMusic
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 […]
Posted inNews
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. […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inMusic
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 […]
Posted inMusic
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 […]
