The Cabin Concert series opens its spring
season with a program called “Illinois Songwriters
Special.” Ann Bova and Joe Bohlen, hosts of the
bluegrass/acoustic concerts, have booked four folk-oriented
Illinois singer/songwriters as a preseries bonus show. The
performances are held in the couple’s home, a cabin (hence
the name) out in the wilds north of Pleasant Plains that’s
equipped with a wonderful sound system and great acoustics. Ben Bedford, the youngster of the songsters,
was raised in Chatham and recently graduated from the University of
Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He got his taste in music from his
mother’s album collection. Bedford’s father’s
family lived not far from the actual site of the Cabin Concerts, so
it is a bit of a homecoming for him. Bedford, a prolific writer, is best described as a
pleasant cross between Gordon Lightfoot and Willie Nelson. The other central-Illinois representative,
Mark Mathewson, makes his home in Athens, works in Springfield, and
co-hosts Bluegrass Breakdown on WUIS (91.9 FM) every Sunday evening. A
stellar acoustic guitarist, he is also a gifted songwriter —
a talent he is quite quiet about, even though he has had more
success in getting songs covered by recording artists than anyone
else in the area. He spends most of his playing time backing his
singing daughter Molly, who has promised to join him for a few songs
Saturday night, along with Bova and Doug Knecht. Wil Maring, a southern-Illinois gal, seems
destined to rule the hearts and ears of the Springfield community
and from there the world. Every local show, from previous Cabin
Concerts to a packed house at First Night Springfield, shows her
ability to play great music and attract a large audience, which are
not always simultaneous accomplishments. The Gordons — that would be Roberta and
Gary — are also from southern Illinois, down Sparta way, and
have played many a well-attended show here in central Illinois. The
married duo has ascended to near-legendary status the honest way,
through years of good work, while touring, releasing records, and
helping other musicians in the community. The Cabin Concerts spring series runs
March-May and features nationally (and, in some cases,
internationally) known acoustic artists.
The Cabin Concert Series presents
“Illinois Songwriters Special,” featuring Wil Maring
with Robert Bowlin, Ben Bedford, Mark Mathewson with Molly
Mathewson, Ann Bova, Doug Knecht, and Roberta and Gary Gordon, at 7
p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at 6495 Lehmann Rd. in Pleasant Plains.
Reservations must be made in advance; call 217-626-1091 or visit www.thecabinconcerts.com. Still on the go,
after years of using one of the most colorful, clever names on the
local show-business scene, the Moonlight Rhythm Rangers romp into
Floyd’s Thirst Parlor (212 S. Fifth St., 217-522-2020) at 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, for a foray into roots-rock and altered
country. Fronted by Rodney Patterson and Keith Voegele, the group
makes a rare live appearance to celebrate the little-known but
highly respected Feast of the Sanguine and the thought that Morris
might get a haircut before the next full moon. Lyman Ellerman, our
personal songwriter at large in Nashville, Tenn., returns to the
L&L Stockyards (3045 Sangamon Ave., 217-789-0440) on Saturday,
Feb. 25 with his latest live-music concoction, Ragged Jack. The
band is one of Ellerman’s best ever, combining elements of
Midwest country and Southern rock to yield a modern mix of
foot-stompin’, beer-drinkin’, enjoyable bar music. No
major bites for Lyman in Music City, USA, as of yet, but he keeps
plugging away and recently had a song put on hold, which is a very
good thing in the business of songwriting. What’s that you
say? You just can’t get enough of that old Dixieland music?
Satisfy your jones this weekend as the Riverboat 5+1 cruises into
the Lime Street Café (951 S. Durkin Dr., 217-793-1905), 8:30
p.m.-midnight Friday, Feb. 24, and Turasky’s (Old Route 36,
Dawson, 217-364-5451), 5-8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26. The group
comprises some our finest local jazz musicians. It’s
CD-celebration time for Prairie Rose, a local mainstay trio
consisting of Al and Nancy Kitchen and Al’s daughter Kathy
Kitchen. The 12-track disc, Tell Me
Why, was recorded at the Little
Hollywood Studio in Nashville, Tenn., and produced by studio owner
Danny Lee Ramsey, using experienced Nashville session players. The
music, which ranges from country to pop to blues, showcases the
vocal harmonies of Nancy and Kathy. The $15 admission to the party
gets you live music by Prairie Rose and Danny Lee Ramsey, one
drink, and a two-song preview CD of Nancy’s new solo
Nashville project. The festivities run from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday,
Feb. 26, at Chantilly Lace (2660 S. Fifth St., 217-522-7447). For
more information visit www.prairieroseband.org.
This article appears in Feb 23 – Mar 1, 2006.
