Iron Orchard Claiming to come from a “downtrodden region of Illinois known as Forgottonia” that others might call Western Illinois (Macomb to be more specific), this hard-hitting quartet is out to set the woods on fire by taking inspiration from the land where they live and turning it into heartfelt, hell-bent, heads-up, countrified, rocking music. […]
Band Spotlight
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The Emerald Underground
The Emerald Underground Of all the Celtic-influenced bands now in the Springfield area, The Emerald Underground was the first on the scene way back in 2002. Then called Stone Ring Circle, the group debuted 14 years ago at Marly’s Pub during the St. Pat’s Day Marching Band Parade. This Saturday’s performance continues the tradition at […]
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Dexter O’Neal and Funk Yard
Dexter O’Neal and Funk Yard Currently based out of Peoria, singer-guitarist-performer Dexter O’Neal was born in Ferriday, La. His earliest musical memories are from that area, singing in one room churches with his grandmother. When Dexter was five, his family moved to Bloomington, Ill., where he sang in the Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church and spent […]
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The Tossers
The Tossers Boasting the largest population of Irish descendents in the Midwest, Chicago’s a good place to come from if your thing is playing Irish music. That’s exactly the case for The Tossers, a south side, Windy City, six-piece, punk-folk Celtic band featuring Tony “T.” Duggins (vocals, songwriting, mandolin), Rebecca Manthe (fiddle), Bones (drums), Peter […]
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RJ Mischo & His Red Hot Blues Band
RJ Mischo & His Red Hot Blues Band RJ Mischo is nothing short of a phenomenon. He’s traveled the globe for more than 20 years as a touring blues artist, released nine internationally distributed CDs and played on an additional 21 CDs as a guest or on compilations with the likes of Jimmie Vaughan, James […]
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DJ Hish
This may be the first (and possibly the last) time an official record-spinning, mix-making, beat-inducing DJ makes our band spotlight. But DJ Hish does something different than most mixers out there: he mashes to country music. Born into a music-loving household in Pennsylvania, Hish grew up listening to classic country and rock, plus everything in […]
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Kilborn Alley Blues Band
Kilborn Alley Blues Band The blues came to visit a young Andrew Duncanson, and he answered the call of the crossroads. In high school, the singing blues guitarist’s chance meeting with Josh Stimmel over a Jimi Hendrix T-shirt led to the gradual formation of Kilborn Alley. With Chris Breen on bass and veteran drummer Ed […]
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Tennessee Borderline
Playing a mixture of modern and classic country combined with Southern and classic rock, this area-based quintet fits the bill for a classic, central Illinois cover band. Moving from Miranda Lambert to Lady Antebellum to Maroon 5 to Stevie Ray Vaughn to Johnny Cash to Joe Walsh, they’ve got the bases covered, a necessity to […]
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Maurice John Vaughn
Once again the Illinois Central Blues Club delivers, sponsoring a show by one of Chicagoland’s most respected and versatile blues artists. Maurice John Vaughn started out playing the saxophone to join a band in the 70s. Not long after that, he moved to guitar to keep the gigs coming and added singing to extend his […]
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Big Smo
Call it “hick hop” or “country rap,” but whatever you aim to name this style of combining country lyric themes with rap production and attitudes, John Lee Smith, better known as Big Smo, does it like no other. Born in San Diego, Big Smo put out his first recordings in 2002. Not long after a […]
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Sleeping Dogzz
Sleeping Dogzz Longevity and loyalty aren’t words often associated with bands. Most groups come from members of other groups that disbanded and reformed then changed names and began again. That’s why it’s so nice to present Sleeping Dogzz celebrating 19 years together with three of the four original members still in the band and a […]
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John Nemeth
John Nemeth Start your New Year off with a winner, the winner of the 2014 Blues Music Award, Soul Blues Artist of the Year, that is. Also nominated for six other BMA’s, including BB King Artist of the Year, plus several others in years past, John Nemeth is on top of his game and going […]
