Heads up, people. There’s music all around you. Here are some highlighted events taking place this week in our pearl of the prairie.
Who’s not a sucker for a beer garden? Outside in the spring, sipping on a cool drink, listening to music, watching the world go by–sounds good to me. Alamo proprietor Barry Friedman hires a group each Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. for your out-of-doors listening pleasure. This Friday Moroccan Soul lends its Latin-influenced sound to the friendly confines of the Alamo beer garden. Over at the Grandstand, across from the State Fairgrounds on Sangamon, Mike Burnett and Jeff Kornfeld fill the outdoors with the sound of music on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. In an answer to a friend’s query: Other fine beer gardens can be found at Boone’s on College and Edwards, Babajee’s on Chatham Road, Phil’s on First at Carpenter and First, and Bootlegger’ s out on Toronto Road. Check around, there may be other legal establishments providing drinks in the great outdoors.
In a Trad Music Saturday (that’s short for traditional, Martha), folk music takes the cake. The Threshers play originals, bluegrass, and folk so well and rock so hard on acoustic instruments even WQLZ listeners would appreciate the intensity. Sponsored by the Prairie Grapevine’s Second Saturday Concert Series, the local pickers put on a show at 7:30 p.m. at the Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 745 Woodside Road. Not far away, BeauSoleil, a world-famous authentic Cajun group from the bowels of Louisiana, grace the stage of the sonically delightful Sangamon Auditorium at 8 p.m. If it’s a tavern atmosphere that wakes your baby, Antone sings and plays songs old and new at the Trails End Saloon in nearby Curran, west of town, straight out on Wabash Avenue.
Fans of Lil’ Higgy and the House Wreckers can catch the St. Louis group in Virden Saturday at Dick’s House of Blues. Once regulars at the now-demolished Second Street Pub (“Paved Paradise and Put Up a Parking Lot” could be the official city slogan), the blues-oriented trio is as crazy and fun-loving as it gets.
Leave ’em laughing they always say. The problem is getting them started, but if you think you’re ready, get crackin’–crackin’ them up, that is. Here’s your chance at the Funny Bone’s last comedy open mic until September. It starts at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Breaktime on West White Oaks Drive. Did you hear the one about . . . ?
As far as exciting Mother’s Day events–could you maybe convince her to take it easy on Sunday and go out Monday?–Nashville recording artist LaNise Kirk plays a peaceful and pleasant Monday evening solo show at the Underground City Tavern, sure to please the mother of all mothers, or at least your own mother. Or you could take her to the Alamo for some smooth blues from Johnnie Marshall. Up from Georgia to host the Illinois Central Blues Club Blue Monday Jam, Mr. Marshall is quite a singer and guitar player, plus a fine handsome man out making his mark in the world of the blues.
No, the sky’s not falling, Chicken Little. It’s only the sounds of what’s happening landing at your feet.
This article appears in May 8-14, 2003.
