This five-piece group are darn good purveyors of country, folk and bluegrass tunes, combining choice covers by the likes of Dwight Yoakam, Johnny Cash and Garth Brooks with a handy bunch of well-suited original music to create a complete package of a heavenly, classic Americana band. Fronted by Randal Charles Hall (Randy Charles) on vocals, […]
Band Spotlight
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James Armstrong
Some people play the blues and some people listen to the blues, but James Armstrong just is the blues. From starting his first band in seventh grade to traveling the country playing major festivals and shows, Armstrong made music his life’s work and coincidently, Springfield his home. Born in Los Angeles, Calif., as a young […]
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Amy Benton
Blessed with a lovely voice, a sweet smile, a creative streak and enough gumption to take on the music business world, Taylorville native Amy Benton lives her dream. Between consistent shows in central Illinois (she’s booked next weekend at the Office and Boondocks), our enterprising singer-songwriter makes steady trips to Nashville, Tenn., pitching songs to […]
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In This Moment
From an introduction through friends, Maria Brink (lead vocals, piano) and Chris Howorth (lead guitar, vocals) got together in August of 2005 and immediately formed a common bond of music through songwriting. After starting a band called Dying Star with drummer Jeff Fabb, they soon changed musical direction and In This Moment became a reality […]
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Family Groove Company
This Chicago-based quartet keeps making the rounds and stirring the pot with festival appearances at the Midwest’s finest, including Summerfest, Summer Camp and 10,000 Lakes. Family Groove Company employs Adam Lewis (guitar), Janis Wallin (bass, vocals), Jordan Wilkow (Fender Rhodes, keyboards, lead vocals) and Mattias Blanck (drum, percussion, vocals) as the providers of the music, […]
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The Emerald Underground
Always a busy band during the St. Patrick’s Day celebration, The Emerald Underground goes for the pot o’ gold at the end of the Irish rainbow with three shows this weekend. Now into their second decade of performance, the group fluctuates from a TEU-lite on Friday to a full-blown eight members on Saturday. Now featuring […]
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Hillbilly Casino
Wild, wooly, raucous and racy, these guys come on with a bang and stay lit all night. Well-known up and down and all around, plus parts beyond for the music, the show, the attitude, the tattoos, the sound, the look and their do-it-yourself ways, Hillbilly Casino is a force to be reckoned with on the […]
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The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band
With a back story like a Hollywood movie, Josh, “The Reverend” Peyton was told he’d never play guitar again, met his wife and band mate “Washboard” Breezy while recovering from hand surgery and now plays around 250 shows annually. Toss in distant cousin Aaron “Cuz” Persinger on the drum kit (with a five-gallon plastic bucket […]
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Lionel Young Band
Raised in Rochester, N.Y. and trained as a classical violinist, Lionel Young is not your typical blues performer. The young Young found his way to the blues and using his “distinctive electric violin” forged a new sound to the old art form. Young, also a guitarist, songwriter and singer, is the only double winner at […]
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Hard Road Blues Band
When Bruce Baise (guitar, vocals), Dave Marr (guitar, vocals), Craig Wood (bass, vocals), Mark “Doc” Janis (drums), Steve Jackson (saxophone, clarinet, flute) and “Bad” Bill Robinson (harmonica, limericks) join together to create music, they bring decades of experience to the stage. Hot Property, Picture This, Wabash Run, Porkpie & The Northend Allstars, Rock of Ages, […]
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Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers
Son of the legendary accordion player and Zydeco master Rockin’ Dopsie, Sr., Dwayne “Dopsie” Rubin comes into his heritage honestly and avidly. Always a party when he comes to town with the New Orleans and swampy Louisiana sound, this Saturday’s show infuses the excitement of Carnival and the upcoming Mardi Gras celebrations to make for […]
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Deadstring Brothers
Hailing from Detroit, Mich., these guys are more like Motor City alt/country rockers, described by many critics as producing a sound reminiscent of the Exile on Main Street period Rolling Stones. Fronted by guitarist/vocalist and studio wizard Kurt Marschke, the rest of the Brothers include fellow Detroit native and longtime drummer Travis Harrett, and real […]
