If there ever was a time of contrast in weather and circumstances, the last two weekends make for a good study. From power outages and high heat to lovely temps and a return to normalcy, we had it all. I daresay, what’s in store for this week? Let’s take a moment to look ahead for several weekends and the big shows in store.
First off, as I was looking in our IT calendar listings to review upcoming music festivals, I landed at Events with Tickets under the calendar section. Maybe I should get out more, because there are some rather amazing things happening outside of the bars and clubs we generally visit here in this column. So may I first recommend your regular perusal of that section since those ticketed events are best to plan ahead for, and unlike heading to a nearby watering hole for some free, live, local sounds made by musicians jamming away, these are in theaters and outdoor facilities (some in the bars) and, as the section suggests, you need to purchase tickets before attending. Most of the time you can buy your entrance at the door, but Springfield people are known among promoters (trust me on this) for waiting until the last minute on the day of whatever show to purchase tickets. So you might want to do yourself and the folks putting on these performances a favor and get your seats in advance.
Now, in a particular order of time sequence, here are some upcoming major music items featuring quite a few local acts you might be interested in going to see and experience. I’ll spend more time on these as we get closer to the dates, but this gives you all a good head start in planning for the rest of the summer.
Starting next weekend, July 20-22, check out the Rumble Down festival happening out near Mechanicsburg at The Kampground. You can camp all weekend while digging live music, gazing at art and craft vendors and doing what you will.
The weekend after (July 28-29) brings us the annual and always-popular Downhome Music Festival held on two big stages between Adams and Washington streets on Seventh Street and featuring all-original music bands with connections to central Illinois and Springfield.
For the first weekend in August (4, 5, and 6), please allow me to spread the news of the return of our Sangamon Songs: A Musical Play to the Salem on Seventh Theater in Petersburg. After 2023 shows in St. Louis and Carbondale, we’re heading back to where it all began in 2019.
Then from Aug.10-20, and don’t you know it, it’s the Illinois State Fair with live music everywhere including grandstand concerts, several stages throughout the grounds, wine and acoustic music in the Artisans Building, plus beer and bands in the blessed tents, along with the always entertaining groups at the Village of Cultures (formerly known as Ethnic Village) gazebo.
Next up, Aug. 25-26, we have the Old Capitol Blues & BBQ, consistently voted as the best fest in our annual Best of Springfield reader’s poll, with nationally-known blues-based bands teaming up with local groups accompanied by bunches of barbecue.
Then, it’s Labor Day weekend, complete with all the familiar festivities including the always popular Edinburg Labor Day Picnic. After that, it’s sad to say, the time commonly noted as the end of the summer fun is upon us
With pardons asked of all the other music happening this week (check the listings, please), that’s what’s incoming and upcoming. Until next week…
This article appears in Revitalizing Robin Roberts Stadium.
