Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, September 2,2010

The Graduate goes to work

In these days of rampant ungainful employment, what a pleasant surprise to see someone get work, especially if they’ve strived long and hard for it and are well suited to the task. The recently

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, August 26,2010

Cicero Slim again

By Tom Irwin

If you were around town in 1978 and liked live music in a bar, chances are Cicero Slim and the World War III Blues Band made it onto your favorite band radar. This Friday night Mr. Slim and a good bun

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, August 19,2010

To the fair and beyond

By Tom Irwin

One might think all the goings-on at the Illinois State Fair would be enough excitement for one town, but quite a few entertainment extravaganzas occur beyond the barbed-wire fencing that surrounds th

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, August 12,2010

State Fair, the musical

By Tom Irwin

Yes, fair citizens of central Illinois and other creatures making a beeline for the Illinois State Fair, the time is upon us. Once again Springfield buzzes with underlined excitement, all the hotels f

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, August 5,2010

Zydeco a-go-go

By Tom Irwin

Few types of American folk music are as full of zest and zing as the Louisiana-based sounds of Zydeco. Built around the accordion with often just a rub board or washboard accompaniment, the simple cho

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, July 29,2010

End of July jewels

By Tom Irwin

Here we are nearing the end of July 2010 with a good forecast for upcoming live music. As August begins we head into the Decatur Celebration and then the Illinois State Fair as major music fronts, wit

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, July 22,2010

Chris Miller’s in town

By Tom Irwin

Let me take you all back a few years (how about roughly 25 or so?) to revisit an interesting time in Springfield’s live music history when several unique music venues operated in the area. Most

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, July 15,2010

Supe’s on

By Tom Irwin

I met Michael Granda, known to the world as “Supe du Jour,” in 1990 while playing around 2:30 a.m. at Bruce’s Tavern. Supe, bassist for and a founding member of the Ozark Mountain Da

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, July 8,2010

More than a Taste

By Tom Irwin

Add last week’s big Capital City Celebration with music on the street corners and fireworks in the rain to the upcoming Taste of Downtown with music in the streets and food in tents (with no rai

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, July 1,2010

July heats up the music scene

By Tom Irwin

As you experienced live music goers know, July means a plate chock full of performances coming out of our ears, to improperly mix metaphors or simulate similes or otherwise antagonize proper grammar a