Bones Jugs play Bar None on Thursday, June 16, at 8 p.m. PHOTO BY SNK PHOTOGRAPHY Welcome to mid-June in central Illinois. The weather is heating up along with the music scene, save for the occasional thundershower that washes out a performance. Here comes the Sangamon County Fair with plenty of hot, modern country in […]
central Illinois
Posted inSpecial Issues
Bursting with Pride
Photo BY BRUCE RUSHTON Celebrate “the gayest day in central Illinois” by attending the sixth annual Springfield PrideFest on Saturday, May 21, from noon to 10 p.m., on Capitol Avenue between Fourth and Sixth streets. The free street festival contains something for everyone including a ribbon cutting ceremony, live music by some of Springfield’s most-loved […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
SOHO Music Festival
Photo COURTESY SOHO MUSIC FESTIVAL What started as a community outreach project in 2005 has grown to include a two-day outdoor street festival which features live music, vendors, food and kids’ activities plus a 10K walk/run and a PDGA-certified disc golf tournament. The 11th annual SOHO Music Festival will occur June 3-4 while the 10K […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
International Carillon Festival
This summer, attend a different kind of music festival, one without the high ticket prices, long lines, dirty facilities and drunks. Substitute the serenity of Washington Park, the company of friends and family, and five nights of al fresco music performed by five of the world’s most talented carillonneurs. By definition, a carillon is a […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Levitt AMP Jacksonville Music Series
Remember last year when we asked you to vote for Jacksonville in the Levitt AMP [Your City] Grant Award contest? Your votes paid off, as the city of Jacksonville was selected as one out of 15 finalists for a $25,000 grant to produce a free and family-friendly concert series in a neglected public space. All […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Bring on the bacon
On July 22 and 23, Downtown Springfield, Inc. and Isringhausen Imports plus other festival sponsors will transform downtown Springfield into a bacon-lovers paradise for the second year in a row during DSI’s Bacon Throwdown II. While the possibility of future food “Throwdown” events is strong, this is likely to be the last bacon-themed Throwdown, so […]
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Insane Inflatable 5K
This summer, get pumped for a wacky obstacle course unlike anything central Illinois has seen before. The Insane Inflatable 5K bounces into Centennial Park on Saturday, Aug. 6. Race waves begin at 8:30 a.m. and continue every 15 minutes through 11:30 a.m. The traveling race will land in 115 cities during its 2016 tour, 40 […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Year-end laughs
See some of the Midwest’s top comedians this Saturday during the Best of the Midwest Comedy Showcase. The show features up-and-coming comedians from central Illinois, Chicago and St. Louis. Located just 45 minutes from Springfield, Mason City Limits Comedy Club offers a full bar and routinely hosts top comedians from Comedy Central, “The Tonight Show,” […]
Posted inMusic
Christmas music
James Armstrong plays his blues at the Alamo on Monday, Dec.28. Here we are full of holiday spirit, and hopefully spirits too, ready to finish off the holiday season with Christmas and next week’s New Year’s Eve. This year our weekend is a bit off as the big day occurs on a Friday, but there […]
Posted inArts & Culture
A 26-year tradition
Memorial Medical Center’s Festival of Trees is celebrating its 26th season as a central Illinois holiday highlight. The goal of the festival is twofold: to bring holiday cheer to all ages and to raise money for community programs and outreach. Since 1989, Memorial’s Festival of Trees has raised more than $3.9 million dollars for community […]
Posted inMusic
Captain Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters
Winners of the Rock Band award in our “Best of Springfield” poll for 2015, this band has steadily won a “Best of” category in music for the last several years. Considered the go-to popular band in central Illinois, there’s no doubt that bandmates J Bird Geech (drums, vocals), Peter Geech (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Majeeda […]
Posted inMusic
Music matters most
Mary and the Immaculate Rejections play a CD release show at Black Sheep Cafe on Sat., Nov. 14. Ah, November comes and I feel the sadness and sorrow in my bones, even with these wonderful, extra sunny days. That normal slowing down of fall combined with the time change just knocked me for a loop. […]
