As we continue on this wild ride in our live music scene, hang on for dear life while the music-making hits its stride this weekend, as merrily we roll along through the merry month of May toward full-scale summer happenings. Walk this way and let’s see what’s out there.
Thursdays keep coming on strong with our old friends Rogers and Nienhaus hitting at the Curve Inn at 6 p.m. Expect great harmonies and guitar musicianship on originals and rock classics done duo-style while sounding like much more than two musicians on a stage.
Out at The Shed on the Illinois State Fairgrounds, Not Petty gets it going on with originals and Tom Petty tunes at the Illinois Products Farmers Market, a sure sign the spring season is upon us. This week, Casey’s Pub dishes up Kerry Lee on the patio with local performers playing there every Thursday all summer long. This is the third Thursday of the month, so Casey Cantrall hosts his open mic downtown at the Wakery, Ricarda Rosalina plays it up at El Arriero and Manny Lee sings his songs at Casa Real. Top it all off with the weekly open mic jam at The Blue Grouch with Kortney and Friends, and we’ve had ourselves a heckuva Thursday night within our music community.
I’m very happy to announce another original music happening as Josie Lowder’s Here to Love was officially released on May 10. The album (on CD, mp3 and WAV formats) is only available online at josielowder.com along with some cool merch, so you won’t find it on the regular digital platforms. Catch her playing live this Saturday with Rock & Roll Sisters at Pridefest (2-4 p.m.) and as the Josie Lowder Band on Sunday at the Old Capitol Art Fair (2:30-4 p.m.) for your chance to peruse and purchase physical CDs and merch.
Two years in the making, Josie worked with her family on this project, including recording with her father, Jaigh Lowder (her old bedroom as a kid, she said, was their converted studio space) and having her mother, Peggy, singing on a Josie song. Quite a labor of love, she brought out tunes written in her younger days and used mostly acoustic instruments to produce a brilliant and beautiful recording of truly heartfelt and family inspired music. Congrats, Josie.
Recently, Brian Steinhauer retooled his long-playing band, Square of the Roots, to add Zach Eymann on lap steel, harmonicas and vocal harmonies, plus the ubiquitous and righteous Bruce Williams on bass guitar. Brian continues on lead vocals as well as playing guitar and stomp drums. Experience the exciting new sounds of SOTR at the Slauterhouse Brewery in Auburn on Saturday night.
On Saturday, I’m doing a short set starting at 6 p.m. at The Blue Grouch for the celebration of life for David Hawkes, who was a friend to our music scene for decades. David passed away last February, so friends and family are gathering for the evening to share the love and a DH story or three. Jay Larson Band and Birds of a Feather play from 7 on through the night doing songs that David would most certainly appreciate, as he was big on the sounds of the Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan and their extensive influence on popular music.
Don’t forget that downtown lights up with music during the daytime on Saturday with Pridefest and on Saturday and Sunday at the Old Capitol Art Fair as both events bring on the musical acts in glorious gobs and beautiful bunches.
There’s much more May music in our listings, so please take a look.
This article appears in Growing old gay.
