By Ben Cox
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School’s out for summer! It’s time to rock ‘n’ roll. Every weekend through the summer, I should have at least one show to talk about in the Jacksonville area. There’s going to be more for sure. I’ve even gotten word that several shows have been added to venues after our big Summer Guide came out last week. That’s good because it means that live music is continuing to rejuvenate in the area.
This week is the kickoff of the Jacksonville Main Street Downtown Concert Series. I’ve already done a preview of Revel in Red a few weeks back. They rock. You wanna rock. It’s free. Show starts at 6 p.m. after the pageant on the square. Bring a blanket. Bring a chair. Kick off your shoes and dance on the grass. Have a good time. Show runs until 9 p.m. and then the after party will shift to GoodTime Doc’s for more fun. “Don’t Stop Believin’” in this downtown gift. It’s truly one of the highlights of the su
May 31 is busy. If you want to hear all your favorite 90s country hits, head out to Twisted Tree Music Hall on East Morton and pick up Neon Rodeo. Wear your favorite Shania Twain or Garth Brooks get-up and you might get a prize.
Pizza Records has a return performance by The Bayou Prowlers with special guests The Good Times. Billed as swamp blues and rockin’ Delta soul, they hail from Fulton County to Jacksonville’s north. The four-piece band is guitar, bass, drums, and saxophone. The Good Times is also from up north in Canton and is a power trio of rockin’ blues. There should be some fantastic guitar work from some young, talented artists in our area.
Kuhl Tyme Korner also has music scheduled for May 31. I have both Toxic Johnny and Just 4 Kicks. Just 4 Kicks is a cover band based out of Springfield. Toxic Johnny is a rock group based out of Granite City. They’ve held down a couple of dates at the Jacksonville AmVets Post #100 this month. Either way, it should be a fun show out there … and if you get both bands, well, that’s double the fun.
Our friends down in the southeast part of Morgan County get a real treat on May 31. Patriot’s Pub in Waverly is hosting their one-year anniversary party. Springfield Delta blues extraordinaire Devin Williams will turn the place into a juke joint from 8-11 p.m. They have barbecue lined up and some other fun events.
If you decide you want to stay in Waverly for the night, you can keep the bluesmobile moving down to rural Palmyra. Vixen Hill Winery is hosting a cigar box guitar/Delta blues event from 2-6 p.m. on June 1. Logan Elliott of Logan’s Cigar Box Guitars has invited in a couple of friends to jam on his creations. Mike Higginson of Girard, but better known as Lil Higgy, will bring his one-man swamp boogie band to the stage. Higgy can be found at just about any place where there is live music with stomp pedals, harmonica and his three-string Jack Daniels cigar box guitar.
The second guy on the line-up is all the way from Belgium. John Mary Go Round will bring his own bunch of cigar box guitars and turn up the fun. He plays with a lot of grit and sings like the old days of the British blues rockers. It proves once again that America’s oldest art form really has a worldwide appeal and appreciation. This well-traveled artist is a treat for Central Illinois. Enjoy some raw blues in the rolling hills of northern Macoupin County. Better yet, if you want to play a cigar box guitar, you can always pick up one of Logan’s cigar box creations at Pizza Records.
If blues isn’t your thing, you can always catch our Sangamon Songs troubadour Tom Irwin on June 1 from 3-6 p.m. at the Trails End Saloon in Curran. Tom’s always got a great story to tell in song and otherwise.
Last but not least this week, Eyecon Productions got together with Twisted Tree Music Hall for a little bit of John Prine-style inspiration. Twisted Tree owner Michael Hayes released his first original song in music video form this week. “Banks of Mauvaisterre” can be found on his Facebook page. Kudos to Mike for not only bringing in some great music to Jacksonville but making some music, too.
Remember, only you can prevent empty music venues! Support your local musicians and venues. Jam on!
If you have a show in the Jacksonville area or are a Jacksonville artist/band that would like to be featured here, email Ben Cox with your live music schedule or information at elmcityradio@gmail.com.
