As we fall into the autumn season (couldn’t help myself), the weather continues with not particularly fall-like conditions, but most excellent temps for our remaining outdoor activities. Come on along as we experience the wide and wonderful world of our live music community.
First, it’s the second Thursday of the month so that means Thursday Night Live happens at Motorheads and this time the long-running showcase of local musicians features the talents of Johnny Gee, Lacey Minnis, Roger Wainwright, Allison Jones, Jeff Boston, Robert Davis, Craig Beavers, James Kimbrough, Rico Williams, Stephen Dudley and Carrie Donovan in whatever configurations this assortment of music-makers designs.
Next on the cool kids’ calendar, the inimitable and impeccable Johnnie Owens, backed by his band, pays tribute to the amazing Stevie Wonder downtown at the monthly Pharmacy music performance.
Other shows include Keith Dunlap singing and playing an incredible assortment of popular songs at Sangamo Brewing in Chatham, Rogers & Nienhaus, direct from their 4&20 (CSN&Y) tribute show last Sunday, back at the Curve Inn and Robert Sampson going deep blues as the Lefty Preacher at Mother Road Diner, while Me, Myself & Schy (Jeff Berendt and Schy Willmore) do up the Americana anthems at Boone’s outdoor area.
It appears to me that Friday is band night out with a variety of various local groups hitting the bars and clubs. It’s always a particularly prodigious party when Jeff Young and the Bad Grandpas pop into VFW Post 755, and look out for crazy good times when Los Injectors circle wagons with Go! Tsunami at George Rank’s to rock the round bar. Angel Brown’s Smooth N’ Blue Band sends its sweet sounds into Boone’s and The Meerkats play it cool and classic at The Tipsy Toad, while The Cocktails set ‘em up at Mowie’s Cue and Positively 4th Street does Dylan, Petty and more at The Bird Tavern. Over at Main Gate, Scratching the Surface arises as the only punk-ish band coming to “save humanity” that just might do it, as Dance Monkey gets its monkeys dancing at the Curve Inn and Mississippi Leghound gets down and dirty at Sky Lounge.
Yeah, I’m always worn out by the time Saturday rolls around, but we’ve got plenty more of the same thing only different when Broken Stone crashes into Weebles, Soul Experience serves it up at the Curve Inn, Al’maculate Conception, Artificial Light and Dark Surface make metal music at Whiskey Jack’s and Decade of Decadence does the deed at Motorheads. All the while Not Petty does Petty and more at The Range Bourbon & Brew in Chatham and Sunshine Daydream goes gratefully on the Dead in the Crows Mill Pub outdoor space, while Ethan Taylor Stephenson (1-4 p.m.) and OAT (6-9 p.m.) steam into The Railyard, Grounded lifts off at Goodfellas and 2Flights Down covers the covers from the ‘60s through the ‘90s at DH Brown’s.
It’s time for the Fall Harvest Festival at Lincoln Memorial Garden with a live music lineup featuring several of the top original folk and Americana artists in the area playing all day long on Saturday and Sunday. So head out to the beautiful, bucolic stage area and grab a straw bale seat for the utmost in entertainment at this classic event.
Sunday gives us lots of regulars in the usual places with the spectacular addition of the Jazz Society of Greater Springfield hosting composer and jazz guitarist Sam Crain (the one and only) joined by Jaro House, Ben Taylor and Frank Parker for an evening of jazz (5-7 p.m.) with an hour-long jam to follow, downtown at the Pharmacy Gallery and Art Space.
That’s all folks. See you next week.
This article appears in October 9-15, 2025.
