My goodness, there’s a lot going on this weekend and I’m just talking about days of significance for now without getting to the music. We have a Friday the 13th, Valentine’s Day on Saturday, then a President’s Day federal holiday on Monday. Sunday could be the Ides of February or President’s Day Eve or Post-Valentine’s Day, but let’s just go take a look at the music that makes these days worth celebrating.
Our week starts on Thursday as Obed & Isaac’s celebrates 14 years of being here with a big party from 5:30 to 9 p.m. featuring the music of our friends Me, Myself and Schy from 6 to 8 p.m. Congratulations to O & I’s for being the spot for outdoor (and indoor, too) downtown eating and drinking with weekly live music in addition to making some mighty fine beer as well.
Out at Motorheads, it’s time for another edition of Thursday Night Live with this month’s showcase artists including Caprice Hardin, Julia Rolens, Shaun Tobin, Roger Wainwright and Death Do Us Part (Caprice Hardin, Kaleb Billbe, Buddy Jackson and Blake Perry). Thursdays keep on giving with the dad and daughter team, Al and Kathy Kitchen, at Mother Road Diner and bandmates from 3’s Company, Melanie Dennison and Steve Clark, doing the “steak and side ballad” show at the Curve Inn. Downtown at The Pharmacy, The Art of Jazz kicks in with this month’s music guests, Ocean State Quartet, consisting of Mark Russillo, Ben Taylor, Jaro Howse and Adrian Russo doing a concoction of jazz, bossa nova and blues.
Friday evening gets downtown going as our first focus with Silas Tockey at Boone’s, Joel Honey at The Alamo and Fairweather Friends at the Cidery. Heading westward, there’s Johnnie Owens at Pease’s at BUNN Gourmet, Gianna Hines at Farmhouse Brews in Harvest Market, Ashley Riley at Bar Bella and Angel Brown with Rick Gasparin at Lime Street Cafe. On the north end, I spy Hipbone Sam and the Joints at Stockyards VFW and the monthly Meetup 6 hip-hop show at the Main Gate Bar & Grill.
Let’s scoot over to Saturday and set our sights on Valentine’s Day and the nighttime, too. Stella Coffee & Tea gets us started with the Springfield Uketopians bringing in the songs at the crack of noon. Officially advertised V-Day parties in the afternoon start in the small towns around Springfield with Thomas J Beverly at Mulvaney’s in Stonington, Robert Sampson at Trails End in Curran, The Guilty Boys at Hill Prairie Winery near Oakford and TyJon Charlie at Cafe Amulet in Petersburg, with OAT at Pease’s as an in-town happening.
For your evening adventures look for this assortment of acts with Mace Hathaway at the Butternut Hut, LowPhatt at George Rank’s, Larry Watson at Mother Road Diner, Tim Duggan at Boone’s and a Best Kept Secret Live Show at the Curve Inn with music from Paul Bill Jr., Ryan Byfield, Nicholas R., Rontè Harris and Raven B.
On Sunday, the Bobby Hoyt celebration party, affectionately called “Don’t Threaten Me With a Good Time” from one of Tequila Bob’s well-worn jokes, starts at 1 p.m. at The Alamo and goes until it’s over with live music and free food, plus donations accepted for St. John’s Breadline.
Once again, the small towns around our area lead the way on Sunday with Not Petty at 1905 Brewing in Assumption, After School Special at Buckhart Tavern and Todd & friends at Vixen Hill in Palmyra, plus Antone DeRocchi and Jaigh Lowder with special guest Brandon Elliott at Lucky’s on the Square in Petersburg to name a few.
Please enjoy the weather and the celebrations, plus check our listings for more music.
This article appears in February 12-18, 2026.
