Welcome one and all to our live music roundup in the Springfield area. We've got happy times, sad news and plenty of stuff in between, so let's take a look at what's happening.
First off, we've got a singer-songwriter coming into his last days of a Kickstarter campaign as Stuart Smith is in the crowdfunding homestretch with the pledging deadline this Tuesday, June 20, at 3:59 p.m. Please hop onto the Kickstarter website and look for the Winchester resident's info to back the new album called Closer to Heaven. Produced by the amazing William Fitzsimmons and showcasing Stuart's turn of a phrase, grasp of melody and magical music-making abilities, this is the best yet of Smith's excellent recording run in the last few years.
Now onto the Thursday thing, which is going bonkers, including the Sangamon County Fair booking of Blackberry Smoke and Stoney LaRue along with the Levitt AMP music concert downtown featuring the Saint Boogie Brass Band and the Black Ensemble as big stage stuff. I see Dave Littrell plays Casey's Patio, Me, Myself & Schy does Boone's, James Bruner and Friends land at the Curve, Madman's Diary roars at Weebles and Buzz Bomb drops Woorms with Misery Garden for a bizarrely diverse set of live music performances this week.
Friday continues the extremely interesting musical roundup with Ocean State at Boone's for Friday Night Jazz & Blues sponsored by the Springfield Area Arts Council, Wayward Motel driving down with Owen and Dooley Present at the Blue Grouch, The Collective bopping up the Curve, The Rick Mari Band rick-rockin' the Koo Koo's Nest and Jeff Young and the Bad Grandpas looking good at Motorheads, plus more and more and more.
Saturday is just as wonderfully ridiculous in the amount and reach of live music happening so you just need to look it up. Then it's Father's Day on Sunday with the Groove Daddies (how fitting) at Danenberger Family Vineyards and Irwin & Sons (just had to) at Brookhills Golf Club, plus Mike Burnett at the Stadium, The Tangents at Hill Prairie Winery in Oakford and Curt Smith at It's All About Wine, to name a few dad day acts.
I've been holding off on this because I just hate to say it out loud, but Walnut Street Winery in Rochester is closing a week from Saturday on June 24. Loren Shanle turned his former insurance company building into one of the first local wineries back in 2009, learning how to make and bottle his own wine and selling it on site and in stores. Live music was always a big part of Loren's success at the WSW, and he's going out with a bang by hosting plenty of the stuff with Tim Duggan this Thursday and JD Wilson on Saturday. Then for next Friday's Final Farewell show, check out the Ivas John Band and special guest Ella Gibson with tickets available on Eventbrite. Yoshi plays on Saturday night, June 24, for the last live music performance at Walnut Street Winery. Thanks, Loren, for everything and good luck on your next adventure.
Another prominent and popular local winery venue plans to wind down soon, as Sheedy Shores WineGarden is in its last season of business. The beautiful space near Loami really supports live music and will be missed come 2024. This weekend it hosts the third annual (can that be possible?) Positively Summer Music Festival featuring Tom Irwin (yep), Rhodes & Battles Trio, Me, Myself & Schy and Positively Fourth Street on Saturday and Randy Charles, Joshua Reillv, The Down Homies and a P4S encore on Sunday.
That does it for this week. See you for the next one.
