Welcome to July of 2026 as our national holiday weekend celebrating Independence Day in the U.S. of A. comes in hotter than a firecracker on the Fourth of July, to borrow an appropriate phrase for the occasion. I’m sure you’ve heard plenty about the 250th anniversary of America, so let’s move on to the music as we like to do here at Now Playing central.
Thursdays leads us to another Levitt AMP concert downtown with blues on the bill this time, featuring Shawn Holt and the Teardrops along with our own Devin C. Williams. Shawn, the son of Magic Slim, carries on the tradition of his dad doing classic, basic Chicago blues, while Devin keeps the Delta-style, one-man band blues going strong by combining originals and standards.
Other Thursday slots include Mike Burnett on the patio at Casey’s Pub and The Tangents taking the Lincoln Stage at the Illinois Product Farmers Market in the Shed on the state fairgrounds.
With the holiday falling on Saturday this year, we have the odd situation of extra shows booked because of the celebration combined with a bunch of regular places not hosting music since so much other stuff is rolling through. So keep that in mind as you make your entertainment decisions on this special celebratory weekend.
Friday gets cooking when SERA MONSTERA rolls into the round bar for another George Rank’s show while Positively 4th Street winds up at the Trading Post. The Butternut Hut brings us Kapital Sound for July’s First Friday Fest evening spectacle with DJs spinning tunes all afternoon until the band’s performance. Dreamers and Doers pop into Harvest Market, Sunbeam and Moonlight shine on in Boone’s and Avery Kern goes out to The Shed in Pawnee, while Beige Desperadoes escape to the Railyard and Dave Littrell and Storm Front drop anchor at Lake Springfield Marina. On the north end, Broken Stone chips away at Weebles while Sponge, Order of the Machine and Dysfunctional Family play a ticketed concert at The Stadium. John Drake covers the Artist in the Park at noon for the Springfield Area Arts Council weekly series at Union Square Park in conjunction with the ALPLM.
Saturday has all kinds of happenings going on, starting early with Silas Tockey at The Railyard from 9 to noon and Waterhouse at Stella Coffee & Tea, 10 to 12:30. Let’s keep things moving along into early afternoon action with Griffin Fenoglio landing at Dockside Grill on the lake (1-4), Eric and Kortney glowing at Northern Lights (2-5) and Peaches and Bacon playing cousin Clara Irwin’s Strawberry Party at the Iles House (3:30-5:30).
They’re having a big day in the small towns for the Fourth with The Grainery in Pleasant Plains hosting Branded at 3, then Grand Theft Audio at 7, the Longmeyer Band going to bat for the party in Franklin, Al & Kathy Kitchen hitting at Trails End in Curran and The Remedy setting up in New Berlin.
Evening on the east side of Springfield delivers the one and only Rudy Boz joined by a stellar group of musician friends at American Legion Post 809 to celebrate the night in style.
After the hoopla of the Fourth of July on a Saturday, Sunday comes in cool and classy with Folsom Prison Five cashing in at Hill Prairie Winery, Mississippi Leghound dogging it at Trails End, OAT teeing up at Brookhills, Devin C. Williams diggin’ the blues at It’s All About Wine and Molly Seaton cruising at the Elks Club on Lake Springfield to get to a few Sunday Funday occurrences.
Please enjoy your celebration and see you next week.
This article appears in July 2, 2026.
