Band Spotlight

A St. Louis native who took to working at Tower Grove Music fresh out of high school intent on making music a lifelong endeavor, Mike Zito plays the blues like nobody’s business. After years of touring the country, releasing four independent records and making a good name on the circuit, he signed a good deal […]

From his hometown of Augusta, Ga., Eric Lee Beddingfield has scaled the heights of country music stardom to play on the Grand Ole Opry, plus record with George Jones and Dolly Parton, while sharing the stage with many of the big names in the industry. Originally heading for a career in football when a college […]

In 2005 this hardworking, easy-playing quintet of Zach Johnson (vocals, harmonica), Mike Eck (vocals, guitar), Danny Sronce (vocals, guitar), Geoff Ryan (electric bass) and Justin Schmidt (percussion, banjo) joined together to play true blues, country- and folk-based music in the Americana genre. With songs ranging from freshly penned originals to deep-rooted traditionals and covering artists […]

Not just another blues band, this group of seasoned area musicians comes together to play music bringing decades of experience in performance, perseverance and practice. With Jacksonville resident Robert Sampson (vocals, songwriter, keyboards, saxophone, guitar, harmonica) leading the way through his spirited performances and multi-instrumentalist capabilities, Blues Gumbo consists of Lorrie Eden (vocals), Art Carey […]

Saxophonist, singer and band leader Frank Trompeter celebrates 200 nights of the Jazz Etc. Happy Hour at Marly’s this Friday. Here’s a breakdown for you math-challenged folks: for the weekly show, take 52 weeks a year rounded off to 50, divided into 200 makes about four years of Friday nights. Figuring about 10 songs an […]

This Nashville-based band comes on with feet and fingers, music and minds in several generations. Members of the Farewell Drifters, born in the 80s and 90s, reach into the past for inspiration, conjuring up modern sensibilities within the timeless folk, bluegrass and country idiom. Among a crop of young folks playing old music a new […]

From the extraordinary and challenging cover song choices to the brilliant, self-penned power pop pieces, no other rock band in Springfield has ever come close to achieving the sonic reality of the Oohs. Founding members Brian Curtis (keyboards, vocals) and Frank Huston (guitars, vocals) with longtime member Brian Cutright (bass, vocals), plus current drummer Tom […]

Once a band, always a band, former members of Next of Kinn could say. The rocking country, old-fashioned funk and classic rock combo recently re-formed to rekindle the magic from when fans voted the group best live band of 2001 for Illinois Times Best of Springfield. Chuck Blankenship (vocals, guitar), Joe Kath (vocals, fiddle, guitar, […]

A singer-songwriter with multi-generational farm roots from the Missouri Ozarks, Lyal Strickland brings a staunch sense of stability and well-worn sensitivity to the performance of his self-penned material. His talents in lyrical ability and music maturity underscore the young man’s deep well of emotional creativity, providing a focused and passionate persona delving into subjects seemingly […]

Self-described as “Great Rock and Roll!!!,” the Backliners certainly live up to their billing, getting better and better as proven by the growing list of 2012 bookings already in the works. Upcoming in the next year see our heroes at several special Quaker Steak and Lube events, plus at all the regular hot spots, such […]

Based out of Chicago, Bobby Conn considers music to be a vehicle for entertainment and puts on a wild and woolly show to prove it. Along with this valuable contribution to stage antics, he backs it up with really, really good music. Accompanied by his wife, the lovely and talented Monica BouBou and an incredibly […]

When Pete Anderson, along with fellow musicians Greg Hanna (bass), Jack Maeby (organ and keys) and Jesper Kristensen (drums), rocks Boone’s on Saturday, folks will get to see the show of a lifetime. Anderson’s credentials include, most famously, playing all the phenomenal guitar work while handling the spectacular production of the major hits of Dwight […]