What a week of warm weather for November, and with it comes a collection of hot music done by some very cool people as our scene continues to bloom with talent and events. Let's take a gander at what's happening around town this weekend.
By commemorating Veterans Day on Friday, Nov. 10, we've managed to create a Thursday night with a next day off, and some venues are taking advantage of this fact. Buzz Bomb catches Tim Holehouse from London in the U.K. paired with Swamp Rats from down Florida way as they do a swing of dates that started a few weeks ago in St. Augustine, then ends up in Brooklyn a few weeks from now.
Danenberger's delivers the terrific singer, songwriter and performer Corb Lund with guest Branson Anderson as the entertaining Canadian cowboy makes his way across the Midwest this month. The Pharmacy presents The Art of Jazz (curated by our pal Jose Gobbo) with featured artist, Decatur resident and world-renowned (and traveled) jazz guitarist Mark Tonelli, accompanied by fellow gifted musicians Max Beckman (bass) and Drew Cox (drums).
We can also bring it all back home on Thursday with excellent local talent as After School Special joins with Solista Mariachi Gabriel for fun at El Arriero, the dashing Johnnie Owens sings up a storm at BUNN Gourmet and Motorheads hosts another exciting Thursday Night Live, this time featuring Rod Grant, Max Harris, Steve Clark, Jim McCann, Jesse James Miller, Roger Wainwright and Three Dog Slam (John Shepherd, Kylan Davis, Willie Christmon and Jeff Loftus).
After all that on Thursday, don't forget about the rest of the weekend because it's jam-packed with good shows. If you so desire, each day can lead you to the musical gifts of Hope MacGregor as the singer-songwriter, originally from Rochester (she has since been to Iraq, North Carolina and beyond), does a mini-tour of these here parts joined by her bandmates in the Mac Attacks, Jake and Mason, from Jackson, Tennessee. Coming to celebrate her first full length album, The Matriarch, recently released in October 2023, Hope hits upstairs at Broadguage in Petersburg on Friday, does Door 4 Brewing in Decatur on Saturday, then lands at It's All About Wine on Sunday afternoon to complete a whirlwind Veterans Day weekend for this former U.S. Army officer.
As we move on to Saturday night, get your tickets for a super show out at the Backroom Lounge in Riverton when area native Lyman Ellerman returns to play the intimate space with his friend and top Nashville songwriter Gary Hannan. You can't beat the Backroom for up-close-and-personal live music performances, as Lyman brings his indefatigable and indomitable songs and stories back home and Gary gives us a taste of his times as a country music songwriter of No. 1 hits, while delivering his more recent, personal songs. This is a special venue that's become a favorite haunt for touring country artists, so find a way to be there and enjoy.
Here's another excellently tasteful Saturday night show when songwriter, singer and guitarist Ivas John brings his band to Casey's Pub at the K of C Hall on Meadowbrook Road. Ivas hails from Chicagoland, but made his mark in Southern Illinois and now enjoys performing his bluesy roots music, ranging from acoustic swinging to gut bucket blues, wherever it takes him.
Well, that does it from my end. Please be sure to check the listings for all the many other performances happening all over the place and thank a veteran for his or her service.
