If you are a Deadhead, that is a fan of all things Grateful Dead related, this is a show for you. With more than 50 Dead songs in the repertoire, along with a few additions from the Jerry Garcia Band, Sunshine Daydream does the music justice with passion and respect. Area musicians Casey Cantrall (bass, […]
Donnie’s Homespun
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A cool event and more
Chicago Farmer plays Frost Fest at Donnie’s Homespun, Sat., Jan. 11. With the great freeze out of 2014 soon becoming a mushy thaw of a memory, it’s time to put the unfortunate show cancellations behind us and move on in earnest with live music in the new year. This week includes a cool, new, indoor, […]
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Hodgepodge of happenings
With a whirlwind of wonderful whatevers available to while away the hours this week in the entertainment section of our lives, here are a few tidbits and takes on the goings-on. In the “unbelievable events” category, how is it that two of my favorites in the music business are playing in Springfield on the same […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Laborless stroll into the holiday
OK. If you’re so busy or brain dead you forgot you get a three-day weekend this weekend (like I did), you need to read this stuff below: Tonight, 7 p.m., at The Pharmacy a jazz show with Lucas Collins from N.Y. on percussion and Albert Wildeman from Chicago on the upright bass and End Times […]
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Friday at Donnie’s: Springfield Renaissance
This Friday July 5th marks the first of several events under the Springfield Renaissance umbrella. Presented by the not-for-profit Illinois Independent Arts Association, the shows have been created with an eye toward “supporting the young music community through arts and entertainment,” according to IIAA board member Eric Heyen, who hopes that this will be the […]
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Catch the June music bug
We sure are on a roll weather wise lately, either sweating up a storm or sweating out a storm, with not much in between. Regardless, the music keeps pouring all the time and that’s just fine. Speaking of weather and live music, have you been to the Old Capitol Plaza on the south side of […]
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Drum Fest 2013
Back in 2010 for the debut of Drum Fest, I started out with a few typical drummer jokes such as “What do you call someone who hangs around with musicians? A drummer.” And a beauty like this slammer, “How can you tell if there is a drummer at your door? The knocking speeds up or, […]
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No fooling April
If last Monday someone tried to pull an April Fool’s joke on me by talking about the quality and variety of upcoming live music this month, I think I’d wholeheartedly felt foolish and fell for the whole shebang. But really there are some amazing shows headed our way in the next few weeks. First […]
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New Year’s news
As I titled this end-of-the-year column I had no idea that the last two years I had come up with the same catchy words to name my final “Now Playing” of the year. I guess I started a tradition, and I’m sticking with it from here on out. The 2012 music scene in Springfield grew […]
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Thanks for Thanksgiving Eve
As reported in this column for the past several years, for those of you who care, the night before Thanksgiving is known as the biggest party of the calendar year for the live music/bar scene. Even lacking a proper name like St. Patrick’s Day or New Year’s Eve – the other big participants in the […]
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Various November varieties
Every once in a while it’s fascinating to take a look at all the music out there in the big picture rather than focusing in on one subject. With all the happenings this weekend, plus the upcoming Thanksgiving feast of music next week, that once in a while is now. First, what’s up with all […]
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Venues make a comeback
Not long ago Springfield was sorely lacking in club venues capable of handling a few hundred folks to see national touring acts. Now within a few months, voila!, ask and ye shall receive, here you go, we have the spaces. Some months back Catch 22, located downtown, near the corner of Fifth and Adams began […]
