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 […]
Band Spotlight
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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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Mary Jo Curry Band
What can be said about Mary Jo Curry (vocals) and her band of Michael Rapier (guitar), Rick Snow (drums) and Chris Rogers (bass) that you don’t already know by hearing them play? Well, how about that the new CD just released this weekend has guest spots by some top blues cats, namely, Albert Castiglia, Tom […]
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Tad Derek O’Brien
Try experiencing something different this week and take a live listen to a classical guitarist, arranger and composer instead of the usual offerings. A Springfield native, Tad Derek O’Brien started his musical journey at age 13 with lessons from the late guitarist Tom Lewis, who obviously instilled a lifelong love of learning music in young […]
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The Pleiades
A fairly new band in length of existence (they just got together a few months ago), this quartet comes complete with the attitude and ambition of a group that’s been around for awhile. Each of The Pleiades, Carter Kelso (lead vocals, guitar), Trey Tholen (lead guitar), Eli Trimpe (bass, vocals) and Jake McNamara (drums, percussion), […]
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After School Special
When it comes to doing the duo, this twosome of Aasne Daniels and Jerry Setnicky (both on acoustic guitar and vocals) dig into the popular music of the last several decades to do “acoustified” versions of rock and pop songs by artists such as Guns N Roses, Def Leppard, Smashing Pumpkins and Britney Spears. For […]
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John Paul Keith
Since this brilliantly blessed singer-songwriter-guitarist burst from the Memphis music scene in 2009, he continues to play for keeps, keeping it real and really playing music. John Paul Keith rocks a Fender Telecaster like nobody’s business and sings a true song with an R&B sensibility that screams let’s make Memphis in the meantime our motto […]
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Matt Hill
With an outstanding reputation as an energetic performer of the blues, Matt Hill is known for his off-the-wall stage antics, as well as his top-notch abilities on guitar and vocals. He started his musical adventures in North Carolina, forming a blues band with drummer Chuck Cotton that made it to the 2005 International Blues Challenge […]
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Mitch Faulkner
This singer and songwriter, guitarist and performer from Casey, Illinois (between Charleston and the Indiana border), takes his belief in the power of song quite seriously. His physical voice, deep and moving, fits his artistic voice as Mitch Faulkner sings his self-penned songs in a “alternative country rock” genre, concerning “the risks and rewards of […]
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Joe Stamm Band
Originally from somewhere in Central Illinois with black dirt baked and caked into his soles and soul, Joe Stamm takes country music into the deep places where real feelings and real playing go to hang out together. As a young adult, football was his thing, but when Joe was forced to change careers he discovered […]
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Mojo Universe
This band of brothers in style and substance hail from the St. Louis area and play regularly in the metro scene and surrounding towns. We welcome them for a New Year’s Eve show and hope they bring their groovy grooves and danceable sounds back to Central Illinois real soon. Mojo Universe expands into all kinds […]
