As we drop into our first full weekend of June for 2024, the stage is set for a righteous run of wonderful live music experiences in the good old summertime. Let's get right to it and take a gander at what's in store for the next several days on the local scene.
First, we're jumping to next week on Friday, June 14, when JD Simo, a renowned guitarist of the American roots and blues variety and also one cool cat who did the guitar work for the 2022 blockbuster biopic, Elvis, plays an all-ages show at Casey's Pub inside the Knights of Columbus Hall. I'll have more on this next week, but for now know that JD is a great guy and performer. Plus, the presenting ZRH Foundation is an extraordinary organization, and this is your heads up.
The big news on the festival scene this weekend is the annual Legacy of Giving Music Festival held around the Old State Capitol on Fifth and Washington streets. Popularly known as LoG (a continuation of the long-running SOHO festival created by the late Eric Welch), all the proceeds from this event go to local charities ($4,500 raised in 2023) and bands donate their talent and time to play for this caring cause.
LoG happens on five stages with 60-some music acts across wide-ranging genres. It includes many local performers along with groups from outside our music community as well. There will be vendors selling drinks and food plus craft-based and artisan booths. The big show begins at 5 p.m. on Friday and noon Saturday with bands playing until midnight both days. The music is nonstop with smaller stages set next to the two larger ones, so when one band is done, the other kicks right in. The acoustic stage area is on the south side of the Old State Capitol, away from the electrified bands, and ends around 9 p.m. each evening. Come on out and support this worthy cause, plus have a whole bunch of fun and get a good overall look at a large portion of the Springfield music scene while you're at it.
This Sunday, June 9, marks the return of the Paris-Belle House Concerts in Williamsville with a show by nationally known guitarist, songwriter and singer David Singley, who was born and raised in rural central Illinois. Singley has played with many of the top names in popular music. Visit the Paris-Belle Concerts Facebook page and/or send an email to [email protected] for reservations and details. If you've never been to a house concert, you're in for a treat. As the name implies, it's a concert in a house, and there's usually some refreshments involved along with the intimate setting. With no interruptions or distractions, the music is on center stage in the corner of a room and you're right there to enjoy it all.
My friend and yours, Johnny Burgin, brings his take on the blues to the Alamo this Monday for the Illinois Central Blues Club's weekly show. Johnny keeps on rockin' by playing almost every day (in the nighttime, actually) all over the U.S., Europe and Japan. He's showing up with a new CD in hand, Ramblin' from Coast to Coast, released on Straightshooter Records just last April. It's a continuation of his journey based on real Chicago-style blues with a refreshing, updated sound that's always on the move, but always grounded in the deep roots of authentic blues.
Be sure to check our listings for all the other happenings going on around town, until we meet up again next week.
