After a spell of wonderful weather, we’re back to a few heated days, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying our outdoors shows coming up and those inside as well. Let’s go see what we can find.
Thursdays continue to deliver the goods including the monthly Thursday Night Live area music showcase at Motorheads this week, featuring musicians Jimmy Cloney, Scott Mundstock, Roger Wainwright, Jefferson Massie, Mark Scassiferro, Hat Trick (Barry Woodworth, Ralph Carbonel and Michael Heap) and the Colin Helton Band (Colin Helton, Hank Helton, Matt Mifflin and Jeff Tucka). Also, Robert Sampson takes on the Mother Road Diner, JackAsh does the duo at the Curve Inn and Keith Dunlap zips into Sangamo Brewing in Chatham.
Friday gives us the annual Virgo celebration at George Rank’s, with so many Virgos celebrating that three bands are needed to fulfill the fun, including Liz Fitz Band, Jay Larson Band and Spoonbenders. Joey Tenuto is back in town with three gigs already done and more coming at the Butternut Hut with a full band Friday, Pop’s Place in Decatur on Saturday and Buckhart Tavern on Sunday before scooting off back to Florida after his whirlwind, weeklong hometown tour. And Silas Tockey takes off at Harvest Market, while Michael Burnett tees off at Brookhills Golf Club, as Carl Bopp and Ed Smith, collectively known as Sound Decision, decide what sounds to play at Lime Street.
Saturday blows in with a bang as The Band Feel cruises into Boondocks on the second stop of the Into the Sun tour that continues next week through the Midwest before heading back south and ending in Jacksonville, Florida, on Oct. 11. Accompanied by opening act The Thing with Feathers, the fellows in Feel include two Springfield homeboys and founding band members, Tyler Armstrong (guitar) and T.J. Steinwart (drums), returning to play where it all began. The Band Feel in the last 12 months has clocked in some 100,000 listeners on Spotify (all organic, mind you), 70 million social media views and managed to produce an EP, plus fill plenty of mid-sized clubs, all through hard work and good playing. Support our very own if you can as these guys are getting it done and doing it right.
Moving on to Sunday we have a bunch of things for you including Sam Draper’s Celebration of Life at the Curve Inn (1-6 p.m.) called Love is the Answer and featuring music by Smooth Groove, Rock & Roll Sisters, For the Love of Lennon, Harmony Deep (with guests) and Sleeping Dogzz. Sam contributed a great deal by playing music in our community during his too-short lifetime, but it was in his friendly, caring ways and mentoring of younger musicians that really put him in a special place of respect for those who were touched by his presence.
More Sunday music comes a-rolling in when Penny Lane presents its 30th annual customer appreciation event, known as the Joe Utterback & Jerry Garcia Tribute Fest at Duncan Park (1-9 p.m.). Rhythmspirit Percussion, Joel Gragg & The Filaments, Capt. Trip and the Space Cadets, Silverweed, Not Petty and Sunshine Daydream provide the honors in a musical way on the bandshell stage.
As OAT (Owen, Amy and Tom), we land back at the Brewhaus Pub for the second week of live music resuming on Sundays with a special birthday celebration for Amy Battles on the agenda. Other Sunday Funday shows include Buckhart Road’s final 2025 gig coming to It’s All About Wine, The Tangents at Trails End in Curran, Micah Walk at Oak HIlls in Girard and Rod Grant at Brookhills.
Take good care and see you next week.
This article appears in September 11-17, 2025.
