Hailing from our neighboring city of Decatur, The Great Waltz calls its music “aggressive folk,” and began with Matt Skinner writing songs in his basement. The rest of the band, Josh Dimmick, Joe Gerard, Luke Alan and eventually, Kevin Gillman, came along to flush out arrangements and give Skinner’s songs life on stage. Soon they […]
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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Geoff Turner
Singer-songwriter Geoff Turner returns to his native Springfield from his current home base of Nashville, Tenn. on a mission to introduce fans, family and friends to his new EP CD. Winter Songs, Turner’s self-produced and independently released recording, “has been over a year in the making.” He credits much of the CD effort to encouragement […]
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Thanks for Thanksgiving Eve
As reported in this column for the past several years, for those of you who care, the night before Thanksgiving is known as the biggest party of the calendar year for the live music/bar scene. Even lacking a proper name like St. Patrick’s Day or New Year’s Eve – the other big participants in the […]
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Prairie troubadour
You’ve been warned, you won’t get far Life’s crooked as a scimitarCut the cord there ain’t no doubtThere’s one way in and one way out – John the Baptist So goes the refrain of John the Baptist, the opening song on Ben Bedford’s latest record, What We Lost, sentiments that ring true across the ways […]
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Chicago Farmer
After an upbringing among offerings of punk and grunge sounds in his hometown of Delavan, Ill. in southern Tazewell County, Chicago Farmer, aka Cody Diekhoff, saw the light upon hearing the songs of Hank Williams. Soon he discovered Woody Guthrie and John Prine, finding in the simple melodies and complex themes a sense of kinship […]
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Various November varieties
Every once in a while it’s fascinating to take a look at all the music out there in the big picture rather than focusing in on one subject. With all the happenings this weekend, plus the upcoming Thanksgiving feast of music next week, that once in a while is now. First, what’s up with all […]
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Hospital Job
A self-described “melodic indie/punk band,” Hospital Job also says to, “think Superdrag meets The Ramones trying to play Jesus and Mary Chain covers” as a good way to understand where they’re coming from musically. The quirky quartet consists of Luke McNeill (singer, songwriter, guitarist), Tim Reynolds (guitar, vocals), Cory VanMeter (bass) and Fred Malcom (drums). […]
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The Roys arrive
When thinking of bluegrass festivals nature and outdoor settings generally come to my mind, but one of the finest bluegrass fests in the country happens right here in Springfield at the Crowne Plaza. Called the Greater Downstate Indoor Bluegrass Festival, this weekend marks the 26th year of the three-day event that hosts some of the […]
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Venues make a comeback
Not long ago Springfield was sorely lacking in club venues capable of handling a few hundred folks to see national touring acts. Now within a few months, voila!, ask and ye shall receive, here you go, we have the spaces. Some months back Catch 22, located downtown, near the corner of Fifth and Adams began […]
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Randy Houser
His father worked as a professional musician and by age thirteen, Randy Houser was fronting his own band. From his native Miss., Randy took off for Nashville in 2002. One of his first cuts was a co-write of the Top Five hit, “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk.” With that song establishing him as viable country music maker, […]
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Ray Wylie Hubbard
Unfortunately many folks, not from the great state of Texas and not into the intense singer-songwriter-Americana scene that sustains and supports songwriting there as an art to be experienced and believed, don’t know of Ray Wylie Hubbard. It’s possible you have heard one of his songs from long ago, the classic, “Up Against the Wall […]
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Halloweening and how
Now, now my frantic friends, let this week bring out the inner Halloweener in you. But first, we have some sad and serious news to report in a joyous way. This Sunday, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Robbie’s (thanks Archie!), musicians, family and friends gather to celebrate the life of John Henry Johnson. Born […]
