Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, June 13,2013

John Byrne brings on the Irish

From centuries-old songs and tunes performed in traditional ways to the adaptation of instruments and melodies to the new land, Irish music certainly infused itself into the American consciousness thr

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, June 6,2013

So goes SOHO so far

By Tom Irwin

Here it is the first of June already and time for another SOHO music fest and, for some reason or another, time for more controversy surrounding the charity-driven event. Regardless of the obstacles,

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, May 30,2013

Chris Vallillo makes music work

By Tom Irwin

Macomb resident and working folk musician Chris Vallillo (sounds like pillow), has spent a lifetime making a living making music. Anyone who’s tried knows what a trying time that can be, and any

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, May 23,2013

Memorable Memorial Day Weekend

By Tom Irwin

Yes, friends and neighbors, the official beginning of the summer season is upon us as we celebrate Memorial Day with a weekend of fun and excitement. Please remember to remember your lost loved ones a

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, May 16,2013

From Perkins to Presney

By Tom Irwin

John Michael Presney spent the better part of the last two years on the road in the first national touring production of the Tony award-winning musical Million Dollar Quartet portraying the “fat

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, May 9,2013

This Momma’s Boy is blessed

By Tom Irwin

Within the burgeoning Springfield music scene bubbles a wonderful and creative world of hip-hop and rap music that thrives on talent and expression. As the national music direction goes, so goes the f

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, May 2,2013

20 years of the FTQ

By Tom Irwin

Oh, how we love to measure time, indeed, we live by that desire, but that’s the human way of observing and commemorating movement through our lives. Important events in our travels are designate

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, April 25,2013

Kirwan, Foster and Lincoln

By Tom Irwin

What do the songs “Oh! Susanna,” “Camptown Races” (“doo-dah, doo-dah”) and “Old Folks at Home” (“… way down upon the Swanee River”) a

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, April 18,2013

Heil, high and hi-fi

By Tom Irwin

During a recent conversation with Illinois Times blogger Scott Faingold, I mentioned that National Record Store Day coincided with what has become national “weed” day (Huffington Post has

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, April 11,2013

Marina V’s magical music tour

A performer’s journey from Moscow to Springfield and beyond

By Tom Irwin

What separates the dreamers and schemers of the world from the believers and achievers? Some say hard work and some say circumstance, but most would think it’s a fair amount of both that make th