Band Spotlight

This Los Angeles-based blues/roots/rock band winds and climbs through the greasy and grand world of gut-bucket blues like nobody’s business. Since they first made a splash in 2007 with a credible fourth-place finish at the prestigious International Blues Challenge in Memphis, the quartet has continued to tour incessantly, making fans and friends all over the […]

Originally from Dublin, Ireland, this highly-regarded American-Celtic folk musician spent his formative years in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and his career spans both areas. From an acclaimed CD debut in 2010 through heralded performances and landmark recordings, John Byrne and his gifted group of fellow players set a course for modern Irish music in America, inspired by […]

These hard-hittin’, fire-spittin’, go-gittin’ cool cats come from Birmingham, Alabama, on a mission from the land of the Deep South to set the record straight on Southern ways and means. One way describes the group as “part MC5 and part Flannery O’Connor and all rock and roll,” which puts a perspective on what Lee (guitar, […]

Hailing from the west central Illinois town of Winchester, Mr. Smith’s been performing in Springfield for some time now, and the gifted singer, songwriter and versatile guitarist recently expanded his solo-acoustic gig reach (he also plays with Smashtag) to include St. Louis, southern Illinois and other regional spots. Stuart just recorded a full-length album (titled […]

Originally a resident of Springfield before relocating to Champaign, Jesse W. Johnson then moved to Chicago, where he made a splash as the frontman and songwriter in Jet W. Lee, a band that successfully recorded and toured nationally. Soon after a solo record release and time spent negotiating the music landscape, JWJ struck out with […]

When they say “you’re not bragging if it’s a fact,” those “theys” could be talking about The Pine Mountain Logs, who claim to be “The World’s Best Cover Band with International Fame in Global Proportions” and actually, in several valid opinions, most likely are. Existing as the alter ego of the original music band Venice, […]

There’s a good chance you’ll recognize this band name, as this group has been around town for some 25 years now, with Denny Lucas (guitars, keys, vocals) being the beating heart and caring soul of the group. Denny, a longtime area musician (Denny was in Sky High back in the early 80s, with other local […]

Roland Johnson and Gene Jackson spent their adults lives involved in the soul and rhythm and blues live music scenes in the St. Louis area – Jackson since the mid 70s and Johnson since the late 60s. After decades of making music, the two singers met up with Paul Niehaus IV, a local musician and […]

Back for one more reunion show that celebrates 21 years of togetherness, Mr. O still rules the roost in the local “original music with a few covers” category. After a strong showing in the late 90s and early to mid 00s, including winning Illinois Times’ “Best of Springfield” reader polls, producing CDs of all original […]

Started in 2016 as a group of friends who enjoy playing music together, the story of Six Rows Back remains the same, just with more songs on the set list. When Caprice Ciota-Hardin (guitar, vocals), Courtney Grimes (guitar, vocals), Patty Kniss (drums) and Aaron Mazrim (bass) play, they play for pleasure and the crowd gets […]

When so many blues cats play guitar while the blues master is on keyboards, the music is that much more special. When the dude on the keys is Bruce Katz, you are indeed in for a very special, special treat. Bruce is one of the world’s best performers of blues on the Hammond B-3 organ […]

Folks around these parts sure like these Texas-groove band dudes who met while singing songs as they floated down the Guadalupe River some years ago. The mysterious “Midnight River Choir” heard on the water soon became a combo, and they’ve been riding a rushing current of growing popularity ever since. Bandmates Eric Middleton (lead vocals, […]