Well that one just flew by, as February comes to its final weekend for 2023. I do hope you enjoyed your Fat Tuesday and are working your way through the week afterward and onward toward the end of Lent. Let’s see what we can hear out there.
Before moving on to the happenings, we report the sad and tragic passing of Eric Welch this past weekend from natural causes. Eric, perhaps best known as the guy behind the SOHO Music Festival and getting the privately run downtown music fest thing going, also hosted several important open mics, played in many bands and managed to give a lot of love (and great hugs) during his time here on earth. He sure liked being in the middle of it all and usually was. Eric will be missed on lots of levels, and our heartfelt condolences go out to the many who knew and loved him. According to his family’s wishes, plans are to have a celebration of life with live music in a party style that Eric would appreciate and approve of later in the year.
On Friday night, along with familiar local acts playing, we have a few out-of-towners to welcome back to our club scene. Denise La Grassa, a bluesy singing and songwriting keyboardist from up Chicago way brings her full rockin’ blues band to the Friday Night Jazz at Boones. She’s doing mostly, if not all, original songs, while keeping busy in the Windy City and that says a lot about her quality of music. The Friday night series sponsored by our Springfield Area Arts Council now regularly includes blues bands with the jazz groups to keep the music flowing fine.
Out at the Curve Inn, please welcome Wreckless Whiskey, a Decatur-based, cool country, acoustic duo featuring Blake Harned and Josh Davis. These guys know how to put on a show and have shared stages with plenty of well-known acts while keeping themselves busy making music all over the place.
Carl Bopp makes his way here fairly regularly from his home base near Peoria and hence is known to many music fans in Springfield. The lifelong musician and entertainer (and wonderful photographer as well) drops into Lime Street Cafe this weekend for a Friday and Saturday night run.
How about we try a couple of events going on this weekend outside of the bars for a change? Presented by the Soular SiStars, there’s the Last Friday Black Love Open Mic happening at the Hoogland’s intimate Club Room on Friday ($15 cover, 7-11 p.m.) with vendors and a food and cash bar, plus an onsite photographer there to make the night just right.
Saturday in New Berlin from 6 to 11 p.m. at the Sangamon County Fairgrounds, UNCHAiNED gets loose for the fifth annual Sangamon County Pre-Fair Party. Your cover price ($5 or free with a canned food donation) benefits the Island Grove and Loami food pantries, plus, along with the killer live music, you can purchase food, hit the cash bar and participate in a silent auction while getting exclusive discounts on 2023 county fair season and carnival ride passes.
On Sunday, I spy a benefit for Kevin Walsh at Mowie’s Cue from 2 to 8 p.m. Kevin, an employee of Mowie’s, recently underwent a kidney transplant and could use some help while recovering. Featuring live music by Joel Honey and BuK, the fundraiser includes a silent auction and other ways of raising the dough for a good cause, along with a heart full of grateful thanks from Kevin.
Please check the listings for other wild and wonderful things going on in our music world this week..
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