As we dig out from the record snowfall of last weekend while dealing with “adding insult to injury” cold temperatures, those insistent makers of music will continue to plow through all kinds of weather to bring you joy-filled and jolly times here in this first weekend of December. Unfortunately, meteorological conditions mess with our scheduled performances, so please check ahead before you venture out, but for now we are good to go for live music adventures.
Those Thursdays we so covet as the extra day of the weekend evaporated in December for this week, with only regularly scheduled open mics and karaoke nights in the listings for now. I do predict by next week a few more gigs will pop up, but don’t expect any more Thursday overloads as we’ve seen recently until things warm up in the spring.
With the usual ubiquitous holiday happenings as our eventful events of the season, we can certainly expect extra musical performances to be all around us as much as Christmas carols, decorations, greetings and sales. I see that Ben Bedford is playing at the Dana-Thomas House for the Festive Fridays (5-6:30 p.m.) the next three weeks and Historic Marbold Homestead near Greenview hosts Wildwood Strings for its Christmas at Elmwood event this Sunday afternoon. Don’t forget the Old Capitol Holiday Walks on Wednesdays with live music scattered around here and there in various locations downtown including Elvis Himselvis (I will be helping out) at Abe’s Old Hat next Wednesday.
This weekend the Illinois Product Holiday Market runs Friday through Sunday and has been moved indoors to Union Station across from the ALPLM with live music scheduled every day. The Brinkerhoff Mansion and Becker Library presents music as well on Saturday for its Christmas Market and Church of the Brethren gifts us music performances while you shop ‘til you drop during their Holiday Fair on Saturday and Sunday. Be sure to check our listings for more upcoming seasonal shows to make the most of your holiday times.
Now let’s get back to the bars and clubs and see what Friday offers. Looks like somebody has a birthday, and George Rank’s is hosting the party when Jay Larson brings the band (Kimberly and Nick) along with special guest Clyde to celebrate another Jay-trip around the sun.
Buzz Bomb welcomes Dylan Doyle, an acclaimed NYC-based singer-songwriter guitarist and New York Blues Hall of Fame member as he makes a swing through the Midwest, while Fluid Lounge delivers an R&B showcase with live vocals from Katae & cuspofarrows and the Butternut Hut gets it on with “an evening of house beats, DJs and good energy” for its monthly First Friday experience.
If by Saturday a road trip might be in order, you can go to Petersburg to see Cal & Jan at Cafe Amulet, keep on Illinois Route 97 to Oakford for Jeff Young and the Bad Grandpas at Wallace’s Trading Post, then keep on keeping on all the way to Havana for Branded at VFW Post 6408.
Sunday is still our funday and we have (on your way back from the road trip maybe) the Guilty Boys ‘fessing up at Hill Prairie Winery near Oakford, Al and Kathy Kitchen cooking it at Buckhart Tavern and Kruisin’ Marrs spacing out at Trails End in Curran for the small town tour, while Micah Walk runs into It’s All About Wine, Mandy Rose does brunch at Pease’s at BUNN Gourmet and Carol Bopp and Ed Smith bring it home to Mother Road Diner for the nightcap.
Stay warm, be cool and enjoy the season.
This article appears in December 4-10, 2025.
