As a few larger venues are able to open up as we experience an orderly lessening of the pandemic protocols around the state, a return to a music scene as we know it is in our foreseeable future. While we’re waiting, how about checking out what we were doing a few years ago at this […]
Music Features
Posted inMusic
Music charges
Welcome to our world as we are into the second issue of 2021 with a slight thaw in the live music freeze about to happen. Here come our first live gigs of the year with the promise and hope of more to come as the COVID vaccinations continue, our infection rates drop and, most importantly, […]
Posted inMusic
New year news
Welcome to the year of 2021. While we progress through the pandemic knowing that nothing will ever be the same, simultaneously admitting that nothing ever is, let’s keep the faith believing that things will open up again in the not-too-distant future. Soon, bands will beat the beats in bars, downtown Springfield will be flush with […]
Posted inMusic
Hello 2021, goodbye 2020
Welcome to our annual Remembering issue as we wrap up one year and move on to the next. Perhaps the old adage that proclaims if you can’t say anything nice about someone – or in this case, some year – don’t say anything at all, should apply to 2020. But there are some good things […]
Posted inMusic
Two Christmas songs
Happy holidays to everyone, and here’s to having a very Merry Christmas, too. Since there’s not much going on in the live music world, nor in the virtual one either, how about a ramble on two popular Christmas songs that just happen to be favorites of mine? I’ve always appreciated the song Happy Xmas (War […]
Posted inMusic
Hollows, ships and streams
Since the now playing aspect of this Now Playing column generally revolves around live music, and as our in-person live music is on hold for a time, how about we continue to pursue our never-ending quest for the good stuff in the forms now available at this time in our current world situation. In other […]
Posted inMusic
Not much playing now
As we head into mid-December, the live music scene is officially kaput for now as we are in the throes of a global pandemic, putting some events in central Illinois (as well as many other places) on hold for public safety reasons. Please be as patient, vigilant and considerate as possible as we move through […]
Posted inMusic
Onto online again
As we waltz into arguably (try to argue that it isn’t!) the most peculiar holiday season of our lifetimes, let’s be sure to stay aware of those in need and make needed changes to regular routines to help us all stay safe and sound. Even though many of the familiar events we all look forward […]
Posted inMusic
Giving thanks for what we got
Can we be at that Thanksgiving milestone already in 2020? I hear folks say this year everything seems to be moving so fast, yet crawling by at the same time, and I can report feeling that same sense of strange times gone astray. Be that as it may, here we are and here we go, […]
Posted inMusic
Alternatives playing now
Hello, and welcome to the wonderful, and sometimes woeful, world of live music during a global pandemic. While there are a few live shows still happening – all listed in what’s left of our listings for you to peruse, pursue and possibly patronize – please check out the online Facebook Live performances available for your […]
Posted inMusic
Settling in for now
Howdy folks, and welcome to mid-November of 2020, the year of things you never ever would believe could happen, happen every day in spades. Seems like we’re just settling into a world so full of surprises, that said surprises aren’t even surprising anymore. So let’s go see what’s left out there as our Now Playing […]
Posted inMusic
Music in fall flux
Welcome to the first full weekend in November, and what a weekend it might or might not be. By the time this makes it into print, our tumultuous and touchy national Election Day will be passed with the results possibly in turmoil. The State of Illinois COVID-19 mitigation rules for bars and restaurants, the main […]
