Definitely in the class of defining weather months, October can lean any way the wind blows, but by the time it’s over we’re on our way to winter no matter what you want to think, wish, believe or deny. Let’s get going to see what’s in the forecast for our music meanderings.
Thursdays always take a hit during the cooler times, but we’re still hanging in there with a few goodies. Mother Road Diner presents Jerry Harlow this week and Dumb Records promotes an all-ages concert with Radioactivity, Hospital Job, Discern and Hard Looks (while celebrating the post-water main break reopening of Monroe Street in front of the store), as Devin Clemons continues his every other Thursday night residency at the East Side out west on the square in Virginia. If you’ve developed a hankering for karaoke, Thursdays are the bomb with six K-nights listed, plus we have three open mics happening as well, all set to entertain yourself while entertaining others.
Friday continues to not disappoint with a boatload of bar-busting bands and combos of various shapes and sizes all around town. Storm Front rolls into The Tipsy Toad ready to rock while Jonnie Concaroo Band brings it all to the table at Harvest Market, and interestingly enough, both groups are made up of excellent local music-makers who happen to be longtime friends and cohort-ing collaborators. Then, we have Rod Grant grooving it at Bar Bella, The Pleiades highlighting original rock at DH Browns, 2nd Street Harmony settling in at Jamie’s Route 66 and DJs doing the monthly House Music take over for First Fridays at Butternut Hut.
In Friday’s “check this out” category, over in downtown Decatur starting at 6 p.m., go check out a great night of rocking blues with Blue Sky Revival, The Meerkats and The South Side Johnny Band performing for a Decatur and Mid-Illinois United Way fundraiser. Bring lawn chairs and blankets for seating, look for the arts and craft vendors too, and be prepared for a good time, ‘cause Neill Dresen (your host, known to Springfield folks as the cool owner of Donnie’s Homespun, the popular, now defunct music venue in the Vinegar Hill Mall) knows how to throw a party.
Our generously music-filled proposal for a Saturday adventure starts off at Stella Coffee & Tea with Kevin Aldrich playing guitar and singing songs at 10 a.m., winds into the debut of the Grant Barnett Band country-fy-ing at Pease’s at 3 p.m., lands at Boone’s for the righteously random Red Ribbon Revue or cruises into It’s All About Wine for the jazzed up Frank Trompeter Trio – both starting at 5 p.m. – and closes up with Broken Stone rocking hard at Weebles (6:30 p.m.) or maybe some funky blues with Travis Ried Band at the Bird (8 p.m.).
For a good time for a good cause go hear The Juniors jamming and Amy Benton playing in between their sets at the Refuge Ranch Mane Event fundraiser on Cascade Road near Rochester. Expect a full day of family fun activities all in support of the good work done in our community for 18 years now at the Double R. Look for more info on the event’s Facebook page.
Sunday Funday goes wild with Colt Ball doing his folky, funky fun stuff at Whiskey Ridge Saloon in Breckenridge, Partners in Rhyme putting it on the page at Buckhart Tavern and Deep Lunar Blue tackling Trails End Saloon in Curran, to name only a few of the many.
There’s plenty more where that came from so be sure to look at our listings. I’ll see you later.
This article appears in October 1-7, 2026.
