Band Spotlight

This wife-and-husband music duo of Cole Michael Porter and Kendra Porter hails from Springfield, Missouri, with a startup history that reads like a country music fairy tale. The two met a decade ago at a bar and struck up a match made in heaven while touring as the Cole Porter Band. Since the Porters became […]

This Saturday, ZXO comes strolling over from Champaign to the lower level Radon Lounge (contact info at radonlounge@gmail.com) with several other fine music acts from around the area. Bandmates Ryan Brewer, Garrick Nelson, Gabe Gerhardt and Teddy Lerch in ZXO call their music a “psychedelic slow jam,” placing it in the genre of “cosmic molasses,” […]

Hailing from towns in central Illinois, friends and bandmates Jamie Merideth (vocals, keys), Phil Cooper (rhythm guitar), Dave Primeaux (lead guitar), Aaron Kaufmann (bass) and Jake McNamara (drums), along with contributions on recordings from Jeremy Bobbitt (bass), Jared Headrick (percussion/ programming), Stan Croenne (percussion) and Matt McMillan (percussion), used experiences from playing in other bands […]

This Peoria native is making a splash in the folk-indie-Americana mold by breaking the mold and simply playing good, original music in a sensible and poetic way. Not much on hype and hyperbole, Grabb gets you where it counts (right in the artistic solar plexus) and describes his take on things as “an indie/punk interpretation […]

This Louisiana native headed for Nashville with a dream in mind, and he’s chasing it, reaching it, and becoming a major force in the country music business. Dylan spent his early days hanging around with his dad, a professional backup guitarist to national touring acts, and recently scored a number one hit on Billboard’s Country […]

Known for his easygoing blues music and hopped-up reggae beats, this young, singing guitarist brings on the music with a style and confidence that belies his age and experience. With Devin playing slide on his trusty acoustic guitar while fronting vocals, he’s joined by bandmates Casey Cantrall (guitar, vocals), Chuck Combs (bass), Justin Schmidt (drums) […]

Known the world over (well, practically) as the “Ambassador of the Blues,” Springfield is proud to claim James Armstrong as a resident. With a jazz guitarist for a father and a blues singer for a mother, James was practically born to play music and started his first band in seventh grade. He took off with […]

When the pumped up, high-rockin, rockabilly trio The Meerkat Mobsters, featuring Springfield resident Mark Mills (guitar, vocals), Ray Biagioni (drums) from Oglesby and Rick Topolski (stand-up bassist) from Streator, hits town for a show in support of Toys for Tots, expect a wild ride from this blistering rock ‘n’ roll band. Mark released an excellent […]

Based out of Chicago, this quartet of possible punks (the musical kind) formed in 1998 using “’90s alternative and ’80s punk with a dash of midwestern roots-rock” to create a modern, American rock band worthy of the title. Dave Lysien, who cut his teeth with infamous punk band Not Rebecca, fronts the band, and the […]

This West Virginia native now resides in Nashville, Tennessee, and uses the Music City for a home base to bring his particular style of Americana music to the masses. Lopez recorded his debut album, Onward, with famed producer Dave Cobb of Jason Isbell and Sturgill Simpson success in 2015. His recent offering, Red Arrow, on […]

Part of the burgeoning, modern, underground, outlaw, country music field, Craig Gerdes is makin’ tracks and on the move. His latest release, Smokin’, Drinkin’ & Gamblin’ (Sol records), is quickly gathering attention for a real honky-tonk, old-school, classic-country sound that embraces the heart and soul of contemporary outlaw country. Gerdes hails from rural central Illinois, […]

Originally from another Springfield, specifically that one in Missouri, this talented guitarist, singer and songwriter has lived in Nashville, Tennessee, since 2009. He studied at Belmont University in the Music City and dedicated himself to full-time music making in February of 2016 which got him out on the road. In his travels he kicks it […]