Good day to you, fellow followers of the Springfield-area music scene, and welcome to the official end of summer as Labor Day weekend is here. I don’t really go with official assessments usually, but it’s definitely a reminder that summer is behind us and fall is approaching before the upcoming you-know-what rears its cold, frosty head. Let’s enjoy it while we can.
First up, we all like to support our local original bands, especially when they’re doing things that could get them to another level. The Lovelorn are doing just such a thing right now in a contest called the Opening Act Competition. Basically, the winner of the whole deal gets to open for Audacy’s show, We Can Survive, a benefit concert for the American Society for Suicide Prevention at the Prudential Center in New York City later this year. The top prize includes $10,000 along with being the opening act for headliners One Republic, Kelly Clarkson and Maroon 5 at the concert.
Now this may sound far-fetched, out of reach and an unlikely goal, but The Lovelorn is already through several rounds and heading for the semi-finals. The results are based solely on votes, so if you want to help (and of course you do) use the link (https://theopenact.com/2023/the-lovelorn) to vote early and vote often, as folks around here like to say, and let’s see our band from Springfield make it to the big stage – this round ends Sept. 7.
For our second item, let’s see what live music can do to raise money for a good cause when Hipbone and the Joints play the Knights of Columbus Hall on Lake Springfield this Friday (6-9 p.m.) to benefit the Walk to End Alzheimer’s program. The band will donate its fee to the walk and the K of C hosts are dropping $1 for every drink sold into the tip bucket, too. Plus, you can add any amount you care to in the on-site donation containers. The actual walk for Greater Springfield happens Sept. 30 at Southwind Park and you can find all the info needed to participate in that event online at the walk’s website. Thanks to Hipbone and the J’s for giving their time to help this worthy cause. Here’s to music making good things get done one more time.
Friday, the final Springfield Area Arts Council-sponsored Artist on the Plaza performance for 2023 happens from noon to 1 p.m. on the south side of the Old State Capitol with Randy Erwin, or Cowboy Randy as he’s known to some, booked as the featured artist. I’m always amazed that so few folks in town seem to know of Randy’s stature as an artist on the national stage and how internationally recognized and respected he is out there. From his work yodeling in the Disney film Home on the Range (that ain’t Randy Quaid a-yodeling) to performances at Carnegie Hall, Schoenberg Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Library of Congress, Randy is an incredibly accomplished musician and singer.
Lately, he’s composed music used for an Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum exhibit (it’s available to stream on Randy’s website) where he works as the resident composer, musician and singer, as well as handling some acting duties. So if you can, wander downtown at noon Friday and listen to one of Springfield’s crown jewels performing free as the wind for an hour. I think you’ll be amazed.
Please check our listings for all the other delightful live music getting played in town this week. Happy Labor Day weekend to you.
This article appears in Renovation revelations.
