Well, they sure turned up the heat this week, and not just literally with the weather, as gigs popped up all over the place like dandelions in the yard. We’re not yet totally into the outdoor performance time that so defines our local scene, but the feeling is there, as the beer gardens, wine patios and all such fun venues begin holding regular events again.
First, let’s make an announcement about a wonderful program set to aid in the comeback of our entertainment and arts community. As a predominantly full-time, working musician, and with many friends and partners in the business, I can tell you firsthand, the post-pandemic world of live music is quite different from pre-2020. Even though things might feel like they’re getting back to normal, this normal is something else from what it was before. So it’s with real excitement I share this information directly from our Springfield Area Arts Council to help spread the word about this statewide funding opportunity to help in the recovery of our arts world.
Here goes: A $50 million Illinois Creative Recovery grant or Back 2 Business Arts grant is available now to artists, businesses and nonprofit organizations that were registered in Illinois prior to March 2020, and, if able to provide 2019 tax returns, that suffered COVID-19 related income loss of at least $5,000. Grant amounts ranging from $5,000-$250,000 will be awarded to all eligible applicants who provide proper documentation, regardless of application time through May 10. Apply for the grant here:
https://ilgrant.communitydevelopmentfund.org/submit.
Also stated in the informational email is an urgent request to at least apply to find out if you, your business or organization is eligible for this grant. There’s plenty of important information at the Arts Alliance Illinois website that will help along the way, and you can also contact our SAAC office and Ayla McDonald, the outreach coordinator for this program. Here’s hoping that all who were hit hard by the shutdown can recover some of the losses from this momentous time in our history and we come back stronger than ever.
Thursday night brings us to the one-year anniversary of Thursday Night Live at Motorheads (6-9 p.m.). Hosted and organized by Kevin Roberts, the event brings together all kinds of area musicians to showcase their talents, from playing in usual configurations to stretching out in different combinations. It’s fun and you should be there.
Friday night gives us a bunch of our regulars playing all over town, plus the opening of the outdoor space at the Blue Grouch with Kolten Taylor and the Trucktoppers. Kolten and crew do the Red Dirt/Southern Rock country sounds with popular covers and a few originals too. Give ’em some love if you can.
You may have noticed that two of our hottest venues right now are also pool hall parlors as well. Mowie’s Cue and Starship Billiards both have live music quite regularly, and this Saturday night is no exception. Mowie’s plays host to a mini-fest of three bands with The Down Homies (a tribute and more to the music of the late John Brillhart), Blue Country Revue (a Tom Beverly-led group) and Murder of Crowes (this is their 2023 debut). Starship brings in an amalgamation of sorts called Trasch, featuring several well-known area players coming together in their debut show, presented by A Family Affair.
Sunday is shaping up to be a force again as the outdoor venues come alive. Choose among several cool shows happening, including our good friends Antone and Wick at Hill Prairie Winery near Oakford.
Until next week…
This article appears in Spring Home & Garden 2023.
