It’s time for the Illinois State Fair, and that means it’s fairly crazy in Springfield for about 10 days. I promise no puns every year, but that just wouldn’t be fair, would it? And I couldn’t be fairly reporting the music news if I only did the fair without relating some of the other fantastic […]
Music
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NCR
This band lineup of Jessica Dooley (vocals, guitar), Chris Harris (bass, vocals), Allan Harris (guitar, vocals), Josh Hutchison (guitar, vocals) and Tim Lynn (drums) is tearing up the place wherever they go with years of stage experience and heartfelt emotion driving the good stuff home. You can tell when the musicians in a band are […]
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August-ing music
Heeeere’s August and the last blast of summer time fun before the world moves on toward the autumn season and, dare I say, wintertime. The good news for this week comes in the form of fine weather for this time of year, welcomed by musicians who play in the outdoor conditions and audiences who endure […]
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Johnny Burgin
Our blues friend, Johnny Burgin (he recently dropped the Rockin’), stops by for a one-night only local show on Friday, and we point that out because in the past, the artist formerly known as Rockin’ Johnny would hang around central Illinois for nearly two weeks at a time, playing gigs all over the place. Burgin […]
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Downhome plus
As we spend the last weekend of July cooling off from the recent heat wave (go figure), the Downhome Music Festival looms ahead with bits and pieces of other hip and dyn-a-mite goings on flitting about. Let’s go see what we can see, shall we? First, let’s really cool down with a thought toward New […]
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Live Wire
Originally formed by band mates Denny Lucas (guitars, keys, vocals) and Mike “Mouse” Bearup (guitars, vocals) in 1992 with Brian Smith, the latest members of the group, Bill Ward (bass, vocals), Mandy Rose (vocals) and Kevin Klickna (drums, percussion) join in to play a range of popular hits with a full light and sound system […]
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Abe, corn and more
This weekend you will be forced to make choices, simply because there are so many things to do. And yes, it’s wonderful to have such entertainment issues in our community. Thursday, the Levitt AMP music series continues on the Y-block stage with Liz Cooper (not that Liz Cooper, Morris) and the Stampede, known for “combining […]
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Ross Sermons
A native of North Carolina, this rock-solid, deep-roots musician of the finest degree travels far and wide to make his music matter. Ross spent time in Nashville touring and recording with some well-known and respected country business names for years. He soon migrated up to Sparta, Illinois, on a regular basis, playing on several recordings […]
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Cool music for hot times
Ye olde music scene is heating up in more ways than one and it all leads to fun, just not always in the sun, or you’ll be cooked until you’re done. And that’s no good. How about a hip-hip-hooray for the amazing crowd that managed to find a way to make the Y-block work just […]
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John Clifton Blues Band
Where does one start to list the accomplishments of John Clifton in the world of blues music? During a career spanning 40 years of making music his life’s work, the vocalist, harmonica player, songwriter and musician has nearly done it all and continues doing more. Steady on the road for some 150 dates a year, […]
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Extra July 3 music
Hello July. How’s it going? I feel the same way, but here we are anyway. Now give us the goods as we get the summer on with live music galore and then go find some more. Since the paper comes out a day early this week with the Fourth being on our normal distribution day […]
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Emily Hope
A true believer in the healing power of music, singer-songwriter Emily Hope feels her musical mission is to “inspire, encourage and enact change.” Armed with a ukulele and Martin guitar, as well as a transcendental voice that delivers her message clearly and with passion, Emily sings her own tune as she “strives to write songs […]
