My goodness, this is what we dream of for October weather with the reality being even better. Here’s hoping it holds on through this weekend full of fun, fests, fine times and who knows what, where and why as live music discoveries wait to be made if you choose to go find them. I have complete confidence in your abilities to do so, so let’s go.
We begin our weekly adventures with the monthly Thursday Night Live at Motorheads for a local talent showcase of ever-changing musicians as this edition includes Albert Capati, Mike Newberry, Joe Calandrino, Steve Gragert, Roger Wainwright, Mattison Avenue (Allison Jones and Matt Smegal) and Mandy Rose. Dan Grover mans the stage at Mother Road Diner for our only other live music in town along with those ubiquitous karaoke nights and open mics listed.
Should we try the “double bills at the bars” angle again this weekend? OK, if you say so, here we go. Harvest Market Farmhouse Brews brings in a couple of stellar guitar-slinging, singing performers with Devin C. Williams on Friday and Daniel Cavanagh on Saturday while The Library (formerly Crows Mill Pub) hosts the one-and-only Captain Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters on Friday, then the one-and-only Rod Grant sings on Saturday. Next, the Tipsy Toad celebrates two years of being a bar with Phat Kitti on Friday and Rooster on Saturday night with celebratory drinks, food and fun happening all day Saturday.
Back to some evening singles, on Friday I spy Dennis Glavin going solo outside on The Railyard stage off of South Sixth Street, Broken Stone going all out at Curveside Bar & Grill on Route 29 near Athens and Positively 4th Street going all in at Bloom Wine Bar on the south side of the Old Capitol Plaza.
Saturday night goes bananas with bands including Sunshine Daydream being grateful for the Dead at The Blue Grouch, Pimpin’ Henry hopping up the hits at The Bird Tavern and Grand Theft Auto stealing the show at Weebles.
Saturday shows off all day long with Mandy Rose getting going early at 10 a.m. at the Old Capitol Farmers Market, then Stella Coffee & Tea puts on the Springfield Uketopians at noon, while the Illinois Product Farmers Market at the Shed on the State Fairgrounds closes out its season with The Tangents waking up the crowd at 9:30 a.m. and Tom & Amy shaking it down at noon. The afternoon rolls on with MKDZ getting crazy at West of Wise near Petersburg at 1 and Groundhog Jam jamming on at Whiskey Ridge Saloon near Breckenridge at 2, while at 3, Robert Sampson goes off to the Trails End in Curran and the Larson Brothers go to candyland at Peases in The Gables.
And yes, since Lincoln Memorial Garden presents its long-running and always entertaining Fall Festival this weekend, we’ve got bunches more live music for your listening pleasure. On the beautifully bucolic, righteously rustic outdoor stage, in this order, starting both days at 11 a.m., check out the lineup of Tater Tots Rock, Me, Myself and Schy, then Devin C. Williams on Saturday, plus Ethan Taylor Stephenson, OAT, then The Deep Hollow on Sunday.
If you’re looking to get out of town (what?!), the CU Folk & Roots Festival happens Oct. 8-10 in nearby downtown Urbana featuring some 80 “high-quality folk performances and participatory activities” including headliners Dom Flemons, Cristina Vane, Esther Rose and Po’ Ramblin’ Boys along with Dan Hubbard, The Wildwoods, Ochin Pakhi and Prof. Jay and friends, plus many more.
Enjoy the lovely weather and get out to see some music, why dontcha!
This article appears in October 8-14, 2026.
