Seems like it was only yesterday we were celebrating the end of August and waiting in line for September's songs to commence. Now October is coming 'round the bend and our last full weekend of the ninth month is upon us. So let's see what we have on the platter.
Our friend and fellow musician, Isaiah Christian, takes a big step in his career with a move to Fort Wayne, Indiana, for a job at the world-class, music product company Sweetwater Sound. We wish Isaiah well in his latest adventure and look forward to occasional gigs back home. Here's your last local chance to catch him with his band The Rebel Saints when the group gathers at Twisted Tree Music Hall in Jacksonville on Friday.
While visiting with Frank Trompeter last weekend, he told me his Friday Night Jazz & Blues show at Boone's with the quartet will feature some tunes by and about the late, great jazz pianist Bud Powell on the occasion of the bebop pioneer's 100th birthday. In another birthday bash celebration on Friday, the Wolf Crick Boys celebrate "Bang's" latest trip around the sun with a whoop-de-do at the Bird Tavern.
Friday continues with Josie Lowder and Nate Cozadd plus special guest, accomplished percussionist Chris Di Piazza on djembe, at Bar Bella and Devin C. Williams and Amanda Scrubbs landing at Legendary Small Town Trading Co. in Taylorville. The Stadium Smokehouse presents touring country artists Jackson Taylor and Craig Gerdes for a hardcore, cool country show while Longbridge Golf Course welcomes our very own traveling bluesman, Brandon Santini, back to Springfield for a night on his Comeback Tour 2024. The Curve Inn delivers Off the Wall, one of our most popular and longest-running bands, while Birds of a Feather fly into the Blue Grouch for a night of Phish music. Fairweather Friends meet up at VFW Post 755 while Angel Brown's Smooth 'n' Blue Band roll on at Lime Street Cafe, just as Long Way Home finds its way to Harvest Market and Rod Grant strums up some tunes at Mowie's Cue.
And we've got a weekend full of cars, cars and more cars for the 23rd annual International Route 66 Mother Road Festival. For musical entertainment during the big event, Wowie Zowie wows at the Isringhausen Stage at the corner of Sixth and Washington streets on Friday night while Wreckless Whiskey, Pizzazz and Horizon entertain on Saturday. For other downtown music during the car show, Steele Wheels, a one-off, fun project of crazy country music hits at Whiskey Jack's Saturday afternoon, while Frank Parker kicks in his famed Jambalaya Jam at Buzz Bomb Co. in the evening hours.
In other Saturday gigs, Boone's hosts A Family Affair Street Affair starting at 4 p.m. with vendors and fun stuff happening with popular local bands Dead Man's Dog and Square of the Roots (plus a surprise performer) while Mandy Rose rolls back into town for a Pease's at BUNN Gourmet late afternoon show.
On top of all that, the Springfield Area Arts Council's Art of the 90s Trivia night happens on Saturday evening at Ace Sign Co. Tickets for the fundraising event are available online as well as info on the all-important, online silent auction. This is where you, dear reader and supporter of the arts, can purchase all kinds of items donated by area businesses, including CDs from local musicians, with all the proceeds benefiting our wonderful and hardworking SAAC. Please buy early and often, as the silent auction is now open for business.
Check out all the other events in our listings, please. Until October...
