Music Features

Well, it certainly feels like December out there as Old Man Winter (whoever they are) showed up this week to be too cool for words. I suppose we can call it a good thing to remind us the winter holiday season is upon us and with it a slew of extra music in both quantity […]

Hey there, all you happy readers of Now Playing and Illinois Times, I’d like to say thank you, just for you being right here, right now, as part of our community. This week is Thanksgiving, of course, so I’m considering it a wonderful time and an excellent opportunity to say such things. We should also […]

The audience assembled this past Friday, Nov. 8, for “Paris Impressions,” the second concert in the Illinois Symphony Orchestra’s new season, was treated to an audacious and vibrant time capsule of early 20th century Paris. Guest conductor Alastair Willis, who served as music director of ISO from 2012-2015, presented an engaging and thrilling evening of […]

No matter what season we are in, there’s always something and almost anything, plus nearly everything you need while never amounting to nothing week after week. So let’s go see what’s in the works out there. Thursdays are resurging, starting with the Thursday Night Live showcase at Motorheads, still going strong after several years. This […]

Here we go full bore into our November transition stage, from the usual outdoor spaces so popular in Springfield to indoor entertainment areas of the cooler season. Let’s see what’s up for this upcoming weekend in the here and now of the who and where. Many thanks to all who attended the Best of Springfield […]

Entering our last full weekend of October, we’re finishing up some beer/music garden events for the season and finding plenty of alternative happenings. Let’s pound the pavement in search of whatever it is you’re looking for. First, we have sad news at the passing of two lifelong musicians in the area. Bassist and arranger Rob […]

After two seasons of flux following the departure of longtime music director and conductor Ken Lam, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra began a triumphant new era with the “Festive Fanfare” concert at the UIS Performing Arts Center on Friday, Oct. 18. Maestro Taichi Fukumura made his debut as new music director with excitement and aplomb, presenting […]

Come on in, my fellow travelers and let’s take a peek at some goings on within the wide and wonderful (mostly) world of the Springfield (Illinois) music scene for this week. We’ve been plugging the Thursdays pretty hard lately, and I hope you’ve made it out to see some of these available, pre-weekend shows. This […]

It’s nearly mid-October in central Illinois, a time when the squirrels get busy, the festivals wind down and the seasonal changes in our live music locations are noticeable. What doesn’t change is the quantity and quality of our entertainment options, so let’s go jump in a proverbial pile of leaves to see what rolls around. […]

More than a few folks I know appreciate the autumn season as a favorite time of year. We can definitely notice the difference in the air and in the types of live music events happening as the cooler temps bring on a slowing of outdoor activities. But for now, we’re still on a roll with […]