Well, friends, Jacksonville’s musical entertainment is limited this week as the kids head back to school and the Illinois State Fair is in full effect.
That’s not to say that Jacksonville isn’t musical this week — you’ll just have to head over to the Illinois State Fair to hear it. There’s plenty of local talent jamming out as part of some of the free entertainment to supplement the Grand Stand line up this year. The Longmeyer Band will be in the Coors Light Tent on August 14 from 5-8 p.m. Jacksonville’s #1 party band, Captain Geech & the Shrimp Shack Shooters, are a part of the Miller Tent lineup all week long. They have times on both Friday and Saturday night in case you missed them earlier. Also, in the Miller Tent this week are local favorites Sushi Roll, Harmony Grits, Brushville and Elvis Himselvis,among others. The Busch Light Tent has an equally impressive group of local bands that have brought their tunes to Jacksonville in the recent past. Check out The Feudin’ Hillbillies, Broken Stone, The Get Down, Brandi Kristin Band, Kapital Sound and the impressive Tom Petty tribute act, The Damned Torpedoes, to name a few.
On some of the smaller stages of the Illinois State Fair, several local singer-songwriters will be wrapping up the fair’s schedule this week. Avery Kern (both solo and with her band), Stuart Smith, The Neverly Brothers, Astrofix, Not Petty, Lydia Cunningham and Chloe Mae, among others, will get to share their craft.
Check out statefair.illinois.gov/entertainment/freestages to find the times and locations. I simply can’t list them all here.
As far as folks wanting to catch music but wanting to stay away from the controlled chaos that is the Illinois State Fair, there’s still a chance to catch some music. Jeff Newman and Steve Dawson hold down their old haunt at Nucci’s in Pittsfield on August 15 from 6-9 p.m. Jeff then comes to town for a solo performance at Guse’s Pub in Jacksonville from 7-10 the evening of August 16. Pizza Records has a busy Saturday afternoon on August 16 with an all-female hardcore benefit show for the Chicago Foundation for Women starting at 4:30 p.m. Costume, Extort, Down the Barrel, Pucker Up and Staring Contest are all set to perform. This all-ages show is just $15 for the day.
Local rock band Toxic Johnny holds down the stage at Two Dogs Saloon in Roodhouse starting at 8 p.m. on August 16. If that’s not enough for you and you have a State Fair hangover, cure it on Monday, August 18 as my friends from Michigan Sunny Bleau & The Moons hold down the Alamo stage in Springfield.
Remember, only you can prevent empty music venues! Support local live music. If I don’t know about your event, I can’t write about it. Email me at elmcityradio@gmail.com.
