It seems some folks were determined to wade into the yuletide before the ebb and flow of Thanksgiving or even Halloween had gone out, but the time is definitely here now. In our business of reporting on live music stuff (multiplying like Santas this time of year) let's harness up the flying reindeer and see if we can go "slay" a few shows, shall we?
First, we should make a stop downtown for the ever-popular Old Capitol Holiday Walks sponsored by DSI (Downtown Springfield, Inc.) on Saturdays and Wednesdays through Dec. 23. Some spots are hosting live music, including Abe's Old Hat, where Mike and Trudy Naylor get local talent to sing in the front window during the Holiday Walk times. Ad Astra Wine Bar, The Wakery and The Pharmacy Gallery are also among downtown businesses showcasing live and local musicians this month (and all year long, for that matter) and there are many others. One that won't be this year, for the first time in decades I must sadly say, is Recycled Records, as the venerable business closed earlier this year. The DSI website contains a schedule of goings on and, of course, your very own Illinois Times has the most comprehensive source of listings on the holiday hoopla, if you ask me.
This weekend, the Illinois Products Holiday Market is on the table, setting up shop on the Y block north of the Governor's Mansion where the stage for those cool Levitt AMP concerts sits during the summer months. There's lots to do, eat and drink with all Illinois products offered (including wine, of course) all the time. There's a bonus of live music as well, including The Tangents (5 p.m.) and Robert Sampson (7 p.m.) on Friday, Jason McKenzie (12 p.m.), a Robert Sampson encore (2 p.m.) and yours truly (4 p.m.) on Saturday, with a Riverton High School group singing on Sunday (2 p.m.).
In other music-related activities, First Presbyterian Church presents its annual Brown Bag Concert Series on Wednesdays (12:15-12:45 p.m.) through Dec. 27 and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum joins in during the bi-weekly Holiday Walks with, among other things, the Copper Coin Ballet Company performing selections from "The Nutcracker'' in the museum's Union Theater. At the Hoogland Center for the Arts, enjoy an evening of Christmas music presented by the Land of Lincoln Chorus, along with local barbershop quartets, called "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" on Dec.1 and 2, just to give you an idea of the wide range of seasonal happenings in our fair city.
In a very "Cool Yule" event, Brian and Melissa Reilly of Cured Catering present their first Country Chapel Christmas in Buffalo at the Bullard Country Chapel this Sunday, Dec. 3, at 1 p.m. The Reillys purchased the historic church building in 2022, and after doing restoration work are ready to host live music along with catered events. I'm honored to join fellow singer-songwriters and good friends, Joshua Reilly and Patrick Hagerman, both central Illinois natives now plying their musical trade in central Florida, in a round-robin-style concert at the lovely, intimate chapel space. Tickets are available on the Facebook event page and at the Cured Catering website. Brian has long been a supporter of live music in the area from his days of running the Underground City Tavern to helping host many concerts around town. We're looking forward to seeing some major acts come to the chapel stage.
Enjoy the holiday season and be sure to check our lT calendar for lots more exciting events out there during this busy time of live music. Ho, ho, ho.
