Band Spotlight

Stocked with a bevy of classy, veteran Springfield musicians, Royal Pain stakes a claim as the classic rock band “THAT ROCKS!” With Sam Draper (guitar, vocals) from Freak of Nature, Elephants Gerald and Spy vs. Spy, Gary Davis (guitar, vocals) from Hurricane Ruth, Out on Bail, Little Big Band and Muni Opera Orchestra, Steve Marvel […]

Hailing from somewhere between the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers not far from Macomb, singer-songwriter-guitarist Bill Harroun leads his group of heartland rockers through a terrain of proudly alt-country, no-nonsense tunes as honest and true as the day is long and the night is too. Featuring lead guitar and pedal steel wiz John Gorlewski, bassist Larry […]

Around since 1997, the Timmys still play fast and furious fun songs in punkster fashion. Led by that fine figure of a man, Robbie Kording, on vocals, the rest of the band (as of this moment) is Brandon Carnes (bass), Tyler Orton (guitar), Wes Selinger (drums) and Ian Kelley (guitar). After a relatively quiet spell […]

From a stint at Berklee College of Music, where he hung with fellow student and future legendary guitarist Al DiMeola, to years as Springfield’s reigning rock guitarist in the ’70s, and from a run as sideman to blues-rocker Jerry Doucette of “Mama Let Him Play” fame, to his Nashville years with St. Louis native Greg […]

Here’s the idea: take four singer-songwriters, set them on stage then let them sing their songs and talk about the inspiration behind the tunes. Springfield songwriter Pete Sander participated in a Chicago round robin song swap before creating his Homegrown Folk Show. The first public viewing last month was a smashing success and for January […]

With a heartfelt love of music and a strong desire to entertain, Cabin Fever boasts an enthusiastic lineup of extraordinary musicians. Formed in 2006, the band plays regularly at local nightclubs and in the music festival market making it two years in a row at Springfest in Indianapolis and three years running at SOHO Fest […]

An accomplished musician on many levels, Randy Skalicky a.k.a. Cowboy Randy Erwin, found his niche several years ago as a yodeler of American western swing music. By learning tricky rope tricks (like lassoing stuff, dude), the Texas native developed an entertaining character who ropes and yodels some sweet old-fashioned tunes from the Wild West. Lest […]

In the last five years Ben Bedford went from being a guy playing open mics around town to a nationally known and highly respected folk singer of original music. He did it the old-fashioned way, by writing good songs, performing well and working hard to promote his music to the world outside of Springfield. His […]

For over a year and half now The Ramblin Blues Band has traveled around the local music scene roaming through venues all over central Illinois. The quartet of Keeli Zerrusen (lead vocals), Matt Combs (bass), Josh Patterson (drums) and Ryan King (lead guitar) play a good variety of the greats including tunes by Led Zeppelin, […]

About two years ago Kevin Hawkins decided to make a living playing music and that’s exactly what he’s done. Now known all over central Illinois as the fun lovin’, music makin’, get-a-party-goin’ Hipbone Sam, the guy who yells “Let me hear you say yeah!” played nearly 200 shows in 2010. By offering venues the choice […]

When his band Holden unexpectedly folded in 2007, Tom Cantillon – the Tommy of the High Pilots – took off from his native Santa Barbara, Calif., for a year in New York City using the inspiration of the Big Apple to fill a songbook. Returning to the Golden State in 2008, Cantillon formed the High […]

In honor of National Drum Month, Prairie Drum presents two world-class drummers with roots in central Illinois in an evening of entertainment and education. Dale Armstrong, a Bloomington native, moved to Nashville 30 years ago and made his mark as one of the most sought after studio and live drummers in Music City, USA. Armstrong […]