By Ben Cox
It’s time for a hunka hunka burnin’ jams this week. Classic cars. Elvis. This week is going to be wild for music and entertainment in Jacksonville.
The Sangamon County Fair kicks in this weekend. Be sure to head over and catch the local and national entertainment they have squared up — especially if you are a country music fan.
Speaking of country music, as I mentioned in last week’s edition, Jake Clayton will be conjuring up devils of Georgia’s past on a fiery fiddle at Twisted Tree Music Hall starting at 7 p.m. on June 12. Head out to get into some country-fueled southern rock and fun up on the hill in Jacksonville’s east end.
If you are looking for something a little bit more low-key, hit up Winchester’s Douglas Park in the downtown square. The Music in the Park series returns this year with another round of great talent. The Sangamon Songs troubadour Tom Irwin brings along partner Amy Battles. Amy’s a great addition to Tom’s show and they have some great interplay. I’m sure Tom will tell you it allows him to have some voice rest, too. The concerts in the park are always free and family friendly with some great food.
Now, Friday, June 13 is when things heat up in Jacksonville. If you are an Elvis Presley fan, then this upcoming concert in the Jacksonville Main Street Downtown Concert Series is for you. The Blue Suede Crew is led by award-winning Elvis impersonator Scott Wattles. Wattles has been tabbed as one of the top Elvis Tribute artists in both the U.S. and Canada, and has been on the road since 1996. The Crew has played everywhere between Missouri, Indiana and Illinois at some of the largest festivals around. The show is complete with horns, keys, drums and backup singers. I don’t know how they’ll squeeze this stage show all in under the pavilion on the square, but it should be fun.
If Elvis isn’t enough for you, head to the after party at Don’s Place and catch Trio DeGroove from 8-11 p.m. Jeff Newman, Robert Sampson and Steve Dawson have some great chemistry together and put on a great show of all your favorite hits and some rarely covered tunes.
Country music fans over in Waverly are going to get a real treat on June 13 when a couple of natives return for a special acoustic show. Will Clark and Sharae Rowland will have a special acoustic performance from 8 p.m. to midnight at The Wagon Wheel.
The party doesn’t end on Friday. Classic cars will round the Jacksonville square for the 29th Downtown Plaza Car Show and Cruise. The Morton Ave Misfits hand out some great trophies and have plenty of entertainment for kids. The car show runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and then cruising goes from 5 p.m to 9 p.m. along Morton Avenue, weather permitting. While all of that is going on outside, the 66 Ramblers make their debut on the Pizza Records stage for a free show starting at Noon. I hear they have a lot of great 50s and 60s in their repertoire to fit with all of the great chrome and horsepower lined up outside.
Friday evening at Twisted Tree, the New Goat Ensemble gets together for a previously mentioned reunion show. Jeff Davidsmeyer, Tony Berkman, Brad Floreth, Mike Krupp and Andy Hanson are all great people with some cool music stories. You never know what’s going to happen at a NGE show so enjoy the moment. It’s the first time they’ve played together for a while. They’re kind of like Meat Loaf — put out a great show and then disappear for a decade only to remind everyone how great they are. You won’t be disappointed.
Do you have a guitar and like hard rock? It came to me via some friends this week that BLIND MIND, a local hard rock group is on the hunt for a second guitarist. If you think you got the chops to be in a band or want to give it a shot, email blindmind217@gmail.com or find them on Facebook.
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.
Jacksonville Jams for June 12
By Ben Cox
It’s time for a hunka hunka burnin’ jams this week. Classic cars. Elvis. This week is going to be wild for music and entertainment in Jacksonville.
The Sangamon County Fair kicks in this weekend. Be sure to head over and catch the local and national entertainment they have squared up — especially if you are a country music fan.
Speaking of country music, as I mentioned in last week’s edition, Jake Clayton will be conjuring up devils of Georgia’s past on a fiery fiddle at Twisted Tree Music Hall starting at 7 p.m. on June 12. Head out to get into some country-fueled southern rock and fun up on the hill in Jacksonville’s east end.
If you are looking for something a little bit more low-key, hit up Winchester’s Douglas Park in the downtown square. The Music in the Park series returns this year with another round of great talent. The Sangamon Songs troubadour Tom Irwin brings along partner Amy Battles. Amy’s a great addition to Tom’s show and they have some great interplay. I’m sure Tom will tell you it allows him to have some voice rest, too. The concerts in the park are always free and family friendly with some great food.
Now, Friday, June 13 is when things heat up in Jacksonville. If you are an Elvis Presley fan, then this upcoming concert in the Jacksonville Main Street Downtown Concert Series is for you. The Blue Suede Crew is led by award-winning Elvis impersonator Scott Wattles. Wattles has been tabbed as one of the top Elvis Tribute artists in both the U.S. and Canada, and has been on the road since 1996. The Crew has played everywhere between Missouri, Indiana and Illinois at some of the largest festivals around. The show is complete with horns, keys, drums and backup singers. I don’t know how they’ll squeeze this stage show all in under the pavilion on the square, but it should be fun.
If Elvis isn’t enough for you, head to the after party at Don’s Place and catch Trio DeGroove from 8-11 p.m. Jeff Newman, Robert Sampson and Steve Dawson have some great chemistry together and put on a great show of all your favorite hits and some rarely covered tunes.
Country music fans over in Waverly are going to get a real treat on June 13 when a couple of natives return for a special acoustic show. Will Clark and Sharae Rowland will have a special acoustic performance from 8 p.m. to midnight at The Wagon Wheel.
The party doesn’t end on Friday. Classic cars will round the Jacksonville square for the 29th Downtown Plaza Car Show and Cruise. The Morton Ave Misfits hand out some great trophies and have plenty of entertainment for kids. The car show runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and then cruising goes from 5 p.m to 9 p.m. along Morton Avenue, weather permitting. While all of that is going on outside, the 66 Ramblers make their debut on the Pizza Records stage for a free show starting at Noon. I hear they have a lot of great 50s and 60s in their repertoire to fit with all of the great chrome and horsepower lined up outside.
Friday evening at Twisted Tree, the New Goat Ensemble gets together for a previously mentioned reunion show. Jeff Davidsmeyer, Tony Berkman, Brad Floreth, Mike Krupp and Andy Hanson are all great people with some cool music stories. You never know what’s going to happen at a NGE show so enjoy the moment. It’s the first time they’ve played together for a while. They’re kind of like Meat Loaf — put out a great show and then disappear for a decade only to remind everyone how great they are. You won’t be disappointed.
Do you have a guitar and like hard rock? It came to me via some friends this week that BLIND MIND, a local hard rock group is on the hunt for a second guitarist. If you think you got the chops to be in a band or want to give it a shot, email blindmind217@gmail.com or find them on Facebook.
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.
