As we wind up our last weekend in April for live music adventures, the weather looks good as outdoor events are on the rise. I also see several concerts happening of varying genres, plus a slew of regulars playing up a storm along with a variety of styles at various venues as the Springfield scene is wont to do, just as we want it to do. Let’s take a peek at the goings on.
Thursdays are too cool for words these days with open mics, karaoke, concerts and gigs all on board. Special mention for ticketed events goes to Verviers and Marble Teeth getting crazy cool (cinematic chamber folk?) at the Hoogland Club Room and Jason Eady keeping country cool at Twisted Tree in Jacksonville. After School Special, the way cool duo of Aasne Daniels and Jerry Setnicky, start their busy weekend run at Mother Road Diner, stop in Girard on Friday at the Oak HIlls Country Club, take a break on Saturday, then cruise to Palmyra Sunday to visit the Vixen Hill Winery.
Friday drips with all kinds of cool, too, from ticketed concerts by Jon Langston and Brian Fuller at Boondocks, James McMurtry with Betty Soo at the Castle in Bloomington and the Session R&B Jam Sneaker Ball at Danenberger Family Vineyward to our usual suspects in familiar places like Micah Walk hosting an open mic at Bar Bella, Tom & Geoff getting it at Butternut Hut and Timothy Duggan digging in at Boone’s.
Bands on the run include The Cocktails serving up the rock ‘n’ roll at Blue Grouch, Elvis Himselvis dialing in the King at Harvest Market, Travis Ried Band delving into original rock, blues and funk at George Rank’s and Jay Larson Band flying high at The Bird.
To continue our exciting adventures, look for Meetup at the Main Gate, an all-ages hip hop show of local artists hosted by Kennon Penn, CT Jazz with Steve Schepper and Manly Mallard at Decatur Brew Works, the UIS Flute Choir and Jazz Ensemble at the Polly Roesch Music Room in the Visual and Performing Arts Building on the UIS campus and Organ Concert: A Semester in Review performed by Carlo van Ulft on the house organ at St. John’s Lutheran Church.
For a one-of-a-kind experience, the Springfield Choral Society produces a double bill this weekend presenting Voices of America: “I, Too, Sing America” with a small vocal ensemble plus Wild Columbine at the Old State Capitol on Friday, then kicks in with the full choir concert at First Presbyterian Church on Saturday night for “This Land is Your Land.” Find all you need to know about this special show honoring 250 years of America in song, including schedules, the full set lists and ticket information at SpringfieldChoralSociety.org.
Saturday comes with a rush of over 50 shows scattered throughout the area in bars, wineries, restaurants and churches, plus Prairie State of Mind distributing the good vibes at Brookhills Golf Club, to add one more type of venue to the mix.
Also, Brandy Kristin Band conjures up an acoustic show at Docker’s in Spaulding, while the Wolf Crick Boys and Tyler Landess drift into the Backroom Lounge just a shot away in Riverton and The Whiskey Killers and Seager Shymansky deliver their shows to the Curveside Bar & Grill near Athens as the new venue in an old spot kicks up live music as well.
I was hoping to get Sunday, but this week’s column is filled up, out the door and headed for home. Be sure to check out our listings for the Funday specials and more happening all over the place. See you later, gator.
This article appears in April 23-29, 2026.
