We’re showing definite signs of the summer slowdown as fall comes up fast with regular outdoor gigs disappearing and inside shows picking up speed, while the final flashes of the festival season roll on by. Let’s take a look.
Thursdays hold on tight with Boone’s booking Skibbereen in the beer garden (weather permitting) for a half-way to St. Patrick’s Day Celtic celebration. Out at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, the good folks at the Illinois Products Farmers Market host a few more Thursday evenings of live music at the Shed before retiring for the year, presenting our 2022 BoS male vocalist winner, Jason McKenzie of Pawnee on the Lincoln Stage this week. Not far away at The Stadium Smokehouse on Peoria Road, check out a full-blown concert by Paralandra, an original, hard-hitting, touring rock band from Springfield, Missouri. From humble beginnings doing a one-off show in 2013 by daughter-and-father team Casandra and Paul Carlson, the band scored a No. 1 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart in 2016, recorded a couple of killer records with producer Elvis Baskette and continues to tour nationally, making connections with famous folks like Lita Ford, Sevendust, Petra, Lynch Mob, the L.I.F. E. Project and more as the exciting adventure continues.
For a few Friday night specials I see plenty, including the Stefan Huffman Band helping the Corner Pub celebrate 20 years of being here and DreamCatchers getting dreamy at Peases. Also, the Curveside Bar & Grill near Athens goes all in with Bustin’ Loose, The Tipsy Toad on Dirksen goes all out with Triple Threat and Dance Monkey goes all ape at The Funky Monkey in Taylorville.
Saturday comes in in a hurry with Barb, Goddess of Guitar at Stella Coffee & Tea in the morning, Soul Experience continuing the Corner Pub celebration at 2:30 p.m., The Tangents on the Petersburg Square at 5 p.m. as part of the town’s Harvest Fest, Devil’s Daughter and the Black Water Band taking on the Town Hall in Loami and Heavy Delight weighing in at The Bird Tavern for some all day and into the night highlights. A couple of our most popular local cover bands and perennial BoS winners hit hard when Captain Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters cap off the Corner Pub anniversary party and Lick Creek reaps a bounty from the Petersburg Harvest Fest for several big, beautiful blasts straight into the heart of Saturday night.
Sunday delivers a wonderful event called Logan’s Homegrown Cigar Box Guitar Festival featuring traditional and contemporary blues and Americana-based musicians Brandon Elliott, Rob “Hillbilly” Ingram, Devin C. Williams, Lil’ Higgy, Ghost Town Blues Band and Cody & the Chameleons (playing in that order from 12:30 to 6:30). The 9th annual fest, organized by prolific (he’s made a 1000 plus) and creative (just go see some) cigar box guitar maker Logan Elliott of Modesto, happens at Vixen Hill Winery in Palmyra. In other Sunday stuff, see Black Magic Johnson at Hill Prairie Winery, Ethan Taylor Stephenson at It’s All About Wine, Daniel Cavanagh at Danenberger Family Vineyards and Avery Kern at Brookhills for more of the many marvelous music makers out making marvelous music.
Next week, Florida-based, internationally touring bluesman Joey Tenuto comes back home to tour the Springfield area starting with The Alamo this Monday, then playing George Rank’s on Tuesday and Trails End on Wednesday. JT finishes up on a roll with the Buckhart Tavern on Friday and Butternut Hut on Saturday. Go Joey, go.
Here’s a friendly reminder to check those listings for other shows and that we have until Monday, Sept. 21, at 11:59 p.m. to vote in our 2026 Best of Springfield poll.
This article appears in September 17-23, 2026.
