We’re turning up the heat as we hit mid-July with the summer time going full on with fun-feeling, corn-tassling, music-making happenings everywhere you look, turn, walk, skip, hop and/or run. The decision is yours to participate, so make the right choice and get yourself out there to experience the live music and surrounding excitement.
Thursdays again are out in front with the Levitt AMP concert series leading the way as this week Esso Funk delivers groovy Afro-Caribbean grooves with TaQsem and the Candy Jams opening the show. Here’s a heads up on an added makeup date, Friday, July 31, for the Matchsellers to extend the series for a day.
Also on Thursday, Griffin Fenoglio packs the patio at Casey’s Pub, Sam Lacy lands at Illinois Product Farmers Market, Angel Brown guides her full Smooth ‘N Blue Band to Mother Road Diner and Johnny Mullennax minds the store at the Backroom Lounge in Riverton.
This weekend brings us the Chatham Jaycees Sweet Corn Festival featuring all kinds of extraordinary events, including the Championship Cow Chip (you do know what that means, correct?) Throw and lots and lots of live music. Friday gives us Menace to Sobriety and Revel in Red with Griffin Fenoglio (the guy is everywhere!) playing set breaks and Saturday lists Silas Tockey, Soul Experience and Brandy Kristin Band with Griffin again on the set breaks. Shuck that corn, folks.
Special shows on Friday night include the Dominick Spolitino Trio fresh off a European jazz tour at It’s All About Wine and 2nd Street Harmony at Obed & Isaac’s as part of the Downtown Prom happening, plus the second edition of Friday Night Live upstairs at Arlington’s with musical guest Black Magic Johnson.
We have a ton of area performers at regular spots, including Max Beckman Duo at the noontime Artist in the Park series held in Union Square Park, After School Special at The Railyard, Not Petty at Harvest Market upstairs and Brandon Santini, just back from an acclaimed show at the Cincy Blues Fest, hitting at Long Bridge Golf Course.
Saturday gets on board with several interesting occurrences downtown such as Tater Tots Rock playing at the Kidzeum’s 8th anniversary party at 11:15 a.m. after the Union Pacific Big Boy locomotive opens the show from the Third Street tracks and The Gordons, an internationally renowned folk-bluegrass duo from Sparta, Illinois, doing a daytime (2-4 p.m.) concert at Dumb Records (book sale and signings, too) with me opening the show.
The day rolls on with many familiar faces at various venues like John Drake at Dockside Grill, Ocean State Quartet at Pease’s at BUNN Gourmet, Jonnie Concaroo Band at Boone’s, Jay Larson Band at Buckhart Tavern and Rod Grant at The Stadium. Then get set for Chicago Farmer and the Fieldnotes at Danenberger Family Vineyards near New Berlin, Jeff Young and the Bad Grandpas at Town Hall in Loami, Summerdaze Showcase featuring LuhFogs, Zac Tyrr, Prince Cash, La Mart, cee.cld, Fire Water, Access Granted, Blumoon and North S.T.A.R.R. at Pizza Records in Jacksonville, Tom Irwin (yep) & Friends (Nova, Kevin Atterberry, Grant Barnett, Amy Battles and Matthew Battles) at New Salem’s Theatre in the Park and Bernet, Rolens, Minder and Cellini at Sky Lounge.
Here we are going into Sunday Funday already (worn out yet?) with nearly 20 acts playing all over the place including Scott Nichols at Hill Prairie Winery and Devin C. Williams at Butternut Hut. Please take a look at the listings and go see ‘em all. I dare you.
Until next week, be cool, stay safe and hydrate like heck.
This article appears in July 16-22, 2026.
