• Lovers of bluegrass music should be clogging in their bibs right
now, excited as they can be about shows headed for Mr. Lincoln’s hometown. On
Nov. 12, Drew Emmitt of alt-bluegrass band Leftover Salmon (now on hiatus) picks
his way to the Hoogland Center for the Arts (217-523-2787). The Greater Downstate
Indoor Bluegrass Music Festival and Guitar Trade Show comes to the Crowne Plaza
Hotel Nov. 12-14. This is one of the largest indoor fests in the Midwest and
it’s loaded up with some of the biggest names in the field, including Rhonda
Vincent, the Dry Branch Fire Squad, Doyle Lawson, and J.D. Crowe. Find out more
at 217-243-3159 or log on to www.bluegrassmidwest.com.
• The Underground City Tavern, 700 E. Adams St., serves up yet
another fine singer/songwriter tonight (Thursday, Oct. 28), this one just beginning
to make his mark in the highly cultivated field of guitar players who write
songs and sing them. Adam Hood of Auburn, Ala., plays alone almost exclusively
and walks the path worn by the likes of Steve Earle and John Hiatt. Local stellar
singing guitar player and jovial open-mic host Josh Reilly opens the show at
9 p.m.
• Pull a good trick and treat yourself to a Bob Dylan concert
on Halloween as he continues trying to get to heaven before they close the door.
Observe the master at work in DeKalb at Northern Illinois University’s Convocation
Center. Go to bobdylan.com and check out the “On Tour” section for ticket info.
• After nearly 25 years in show biz, can it be that Captain Rat
and the Blind Rivets are still knocking out the goofiest, most fun versions
of 1950s and ’60s tunes on the planet? Yes, dear readers, it’s true. The crazy
galoots will be at the Highdive (217-359-4444) in downtown Champaign at 8 p.m.
Saturday. These fellas take their comedy seriously and their rock & roll
tongue in cheek — as should you.
This article appears in Oct 28 – Nov 3, 2004.
