Music – Tom Irwin

Here we are, heading right into October with September barely left behind. I see lots of good local bands out as we wind down the outdoor festivals and begin to think about the seasonal end to our music and beer garden time. If you’re hankering to get in all the last blasts of the season, […]

With all the hurricanes in the news lately, we humbly send our love and care to those affected by the sea storms, but today we talk a bit about a hurricane known to central Illinois folks as Ruth. Ruth LaMaster, born and raised in Beardstown, just released a powerhouse new CD called Ain’t Ready for […]

First, let’s think some good thoughts for friends, family and everyone touched by Hurricane Irma. Fellow musicians Ken Carlyle, Joshua Reilly and Patrick Hagerman, all formerly from central Illinois, live in the central Florida region. Josh came up here to ride the storm out and played a gig at the Butternut Hut last night (Sept. […]

Hang onto your horses and your hats as we roll into a big weekend full of celebrations! On Friday, St. Louis-based blues entertainer, composer and singer Paul Bonn brings his stellar band, the Bluesmen, to the 411 Bar and Grill downtown. These accomplished musicians play all over the country and are spending 2017 celebrating 50 […]

Here we are approaching and directly running into September 2017, with the Labor Day weekend upon us like nobody’s business. What should we do but enjoy all we can. Let’s take a moment on this Labor Day holiday weekend to remember all those who sacrificed their livelihoods – and sometimes their lives – to create […]

Well, we made it through the state fair, survived a solar eclipse, and now we’re preparing to wrap up a very exciting and busy August 2017. Don’t stop now, folks, this week and the weekend are chock-full of more stuff than you can shake a stick at. On Thursday the Nashville-based, Southern rock-influenced band The […]

We’re closing in on the final days of the 2017 Illinois State Fair, and from all reports, all has gone fairly well. Soon the dust will clear, the flies will fly away, and our entertainment scene will return to normal as the memories of fun times carry us through until next year. As always, there […]

Yessiree, folks, it’s that time of year when the state fair comes to town, whether you like it or not. Along with the all the fair doings, here are a few other happenings in our fair city that might get lost in the shade of the bright lights of the Illinois State Fair. Tonight (that’s […]

August in Springfield is ruled by heat and the events of the Illinois State Fair, which runs from August 10 through August 20. In the week before, here are a few doings to do (or not). Tonight (Thursday) at Bar None (I hope you got your Illinois Times today) another hopping Bedrock 66 Live! concert […]

Ready or not, here we go rocking and rolling into the last weekend of July 2017. My how the summertime has flown by. This weekend’s big event is the Downhome Music, Beer and Art Festival, held downtown on Seventh between Washington and Adams. The stated reason of the happening is to support local, original bands […]

This weekend the scene explodes, and I don’t know which way to go. All one can do is list as many happenings as possible that might slip under the radar and hope for the best. On Friday, singing sensation and Springfield-area native Kelsey Hickman returns to central Illinois as a special guest at the Granger […]

Congrats to our friends Tammy and Larry for getting hitched on Saturday, hosting a reception at George Rank’s, then taking the party to the Amaranth Apple Festival in downtown Springfield. May the union be long lasting and long loving, and may I continue to see you all Fridays at the round bar. For the rest […]