It's probably fair to say that Eric Welch never got over SOHO.
A gregarious and unfailingly humorous presence at local music events for years, Eric founded the SOHO Music Festival, which ran every summer from 2004-2016. The festival was both a showcase for original musical acts from the area and a charity event, raising thousands of dollars for a variety of local causes, ranging from the Phoenix Center to Mini O'Beirne Crisis Nursery to Downtown Springfield, Inc.
"Eric's one of the nicest guys I know," said Joe Clennan, president of SOHO's board of directors in a 2014 article in Illinois Times. "He puts in just a tremendous amount of hours and it is a whole lot of work."
In the same story, Eric estimated he put in an average of 60 hours per week for SOHO between January and June of each year, personally creating all graphic design, running the festival's website, distributing flyers and managing nearly every other aspect of the event in addition to his full-time job with the state of Illinois.
A native of Springfield, Eric graduated from Lanphier High School, where he played football and wrestled. He later received a bachelor's degree in political science from University of Illinois Springfield. Always a fan of music, he hosted Monday open mics at Floyd's for many years and played in numerous bands, including Cocked and Loaded.
As dedicated as he was to music and good works, people were always Eric's main focus. A major music festival – which in this case eventually went on to encompass a 10K run and the SOHO Open golf tournament – can't be a one-man show. Over the years, Eric attracted a virtual extended family of dedicated volunteers who helped bring the festival to life each year.
Nonetheless, citing exhaustion, 2017 found Eric stepping away from the festival he had created, nurtured and loved.
Things never seemed the same for him after that. Seen less and less frequently around town, he eventually developed an infection around Valentine's Day of 2022 which he failed to have treated in time and to which he succumbed after a brief hospital stay.
SOHO may have been reconstituted as the Legacy of Giving Music Festival, but Eric's ebullient personality – his mischievous grin, sly sense of humor, undeniable charisma and ingratiating charm – can't be replaced. He left an indelible impression on all who came in contact with him, and a whole lot of dick jokes on his Facebook page.
Scott Faingold is a faculty member of the School of Communication & Media at University of Illinois Springfield. During his time as a staff writer for Illinois Times and editor/founder of Activator magazine, Scott chronicled the Springfield music scene in detail, bringing him into frequent contact with Eric Welch over the years.
