Welcome to week number six of downtime, sheltering and stay-in-place doings as we pay attention to the experts and curb the curve on this COVID-19 pandemic that has sent our world and the world at large into a tailspin. I’d like to express a special thanks to those working in direct contact with this stuff […]
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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On Prine and more
Here we go for week number five (I’m losing count) of downtime due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, as we stay in private and out of public places as much as possible. Since this column is based mainly on talking about live music performances, we’ve had to adjust to other subjects, including live streaming shows. […]
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A really virtual reality
Greetings all, to week number four (I think) of our quarantined, social-distancing world of the present situation. First, before getting into any music talk, let’s send solace to the grieving who have lost loved ones and our respects to those lost souls taken by this virus and all others who’ve recently departed this plane for […]
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On playing online
Here we are in week number three of Now Not Playing with at least another several weeks ahead of closed venues, social distancing and no way to see live music like the way we used to within the parameters established by those in the know. So with the lack of music made by those in […]
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More playing now than before
Last week sure seems like a lot longer ago than just last week, but time is relative and it’s been in a relatively strange and peculiar mode as of late. I have no desire to dwell upon the recent changes that each of us has experienced in some form or another, but there’s no way […]
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Not playing now
I know it’s not the time to be flippant, but perhaps it’s okay to make a joke and say that my Now Playing column could be retitled “Not Playing Now” or something else involving silly, somewhat clever wordplay. But in all seriousness, it’s a brand-new world for at least a few weeks, no matter how […]
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Get your green on
Yes, my friends, it’s that time of year where many of us become beguiled with all things related to the annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration centered around our local parade which starts on Saturday “promptly at noon” on the streets of lovely downtown Springfield. There’s plenty of local Celtic music going on, but first let’s […]
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The Emerald Underground
For nearly two decades, this group of kilt-wearing cohorts has combined forces to be the hardest-working band during the High Holy Days of the Celtic party centered around St. Patrick’s Day and Springfield’s long-running downtown parade. Members come and go, and come back and go again, but The Emerald Underground, and its immediate predecessor, Stone […]
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March music making
Here we go into the first full weekend of March and with some nicer weather happening, you can almost feel the outdoor venues popping up to prepare for a summer of fun. In the meantime, let’s see what marches on in the music scene for now. Thursdays continue to shine and this week we have […]
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Kurt Crandall
Considered a master of the blues harp, this bluesman does devilish duty on the chromatic harp, as well as the more commonly played diatonic harmonica. With credentials earned from decades of tours through Europe and America, relocations with dedication to blues hotbeds around the country and stellar songwriting, arranging and performing, Kurt Crandall in his […]
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Tim Neuman
A central Illinois farm boy, born and raised, this singer-songwriter-performer takes those well-engrained country roots and adds an “eclectic mix of rock and pop” to create his signature sound. Now based in the Indianapolis area, in the last decade Tim played over there with several bands before recently launching his own Tim Neuman Band. He […]
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Leap into the music
Welcome to the end of February, and with this being 2020 – which is a Leap Year – welcome to Leap Day Weekend. To me, and by extension, hopefully to you, it’s an extra special February 29 because said day falls on a Saturday. That is good for getting out to see live music since […]
