By Ben Cox
Photos submitted
We’ve gotten out of spooky season in one piece for the most part. Now, it’s time for feasting. The local live music scene always seems to cook up some extra special trimmings for the holidays. As people come home for the holiday season, it feels like local bands get back together to make some music.
The Jacksonville Public Library opens up the Music Under the Dome series for the 2025-2026 season with a Central Illinois troubadour and his partner. Tom Irwin and Amy Battles have been playing together since 2022. Based in a wide-ranging, folk-country, Americana vein that allows for a variety of topics and styles, the duo moves from gentle ballads to topical commentaries and from true love songs to humorous tunes, all wrapped up with sparkling harmonies to give folks an honest, straight to the heart of it, feel-good time. They have a children’s album out currently and have made plans for a full, original album release in 2026. Go see them on November 16 starting at 4 p.m. for this intimate performance.
Twisted Tree has a pair of shows this week. For more than a decade, Alabama native Adam Hood has left his mark both onstage and in the writing room, carving out a southern sound that mixes equal parts country, soul and American roots music. Adam has written songs for Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert, Lee Ann Womack and Brent Cobb, among others.
Tickets are $28 for the show on November 14. They follow up with local favorites, The Longmeyer Band opening for The Filthy Heathens on November 16. From Southern grit to alt-edge, classic country to hard rock, The Filthy Heathens were born out of jams among musicians during the pandemic. Known for high-octane live shows and a growing regional fanbase, this southern rock outfit is on tour in support of a new EP.
Big Heads Gift Shop is throwing their hat in the ring with the local underground hip hop scene. Pizza Records has had several shows with underground hip hop and rap artists. Big Heads is throwing open the decks for a group of nine artists for the show on November 15 from 7-10 p.m. at their South Jacksonville location. Tickets are available at Big Heads on 230 South Sandy St. in downtown Jacksonville for $5. Tickets will be $10 at the door. This is a 21+ show.
Illinois College will have a busy weekend of music for classical music fans with the Engelbach-Hart Music Festival from November 13-15 as a part of its Fine Arts Series. This admission-free event is a gift to the community and will consist of three concerts. The “popular and highly unusual classical quartet,” Quartetto Gelato, opens the festival on November 13 at 7:30 p.m. with an enchanting and eclectic program. Featuring repertoire that includes not only classical masterpieces, but also regional music from all over the globe, the group’s virtuosity and versatility along with their warm and engaging stage presence are sure to enrich and excite you. With sold-out performances around the globe and a recording which has been to outer space, this ensemble is a must see!
The November 14 program is the annual Faculty Collage Concert, highlighting the exceptional talents of the Illinois College music faculty. The November 15 program will feature guitar ensemble Duo 220. Hailed for their “extraordinary technique and musicianship,” Duo 220 has established a firm position at the forefront of American guitar ensembles. Guitarists Adam Larison and Andrew Stroud strive to create programs that are new, fresh and accessible through a mixture of both standards and lesser-known works in the guitar duo repertoire, inventive and effective transcriptions, and newly commissioned works by young composers, with an emphasis on reaching as broad an audience as possible. All of the shows will take place at Rammelkamp Chapel.
Saturday, November 15 is a busy night in the old town and even beyond for music. GoodTime Doc’s helps you party down with an early opening of the dance floor at 6 p.m. to help you dance through the decades. Lights, fog and bubbles are said to be part of the show. Bring your best retro dance moves. Springfield alternative rockers Broken Stone jam out at the AmVets starting at 8 p.m. Across town at Kuhl Tyme Korner, Toxic Johnny throws down some classic hits starting at 8 p.m. The West Bend Bar & Grill in Murrayville says to come enjoy dinner and stay for some tunes by acoustic artist Jason Michael Launer starting at 8:30 p.m. Springfield acoustic rocker Joel Honey brings out his fans the Honey Bears for an acoustic set at Patriots Pub in Waverly starting at 8 p.m.
On November 16, don’t miss Robert Sampson from 3-6 p.m. at the American Legion Post 279 for Sunday Funday live music.
Blues fans, I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you about two really cool shows coming up in Springfield. Timo Arthur, guitarist for Brandon Santini and a great solo artist in his own right, will hold down the stage for the Illinois Central Blues Club’s Blue Monday at the Alamo on November 17. This 21+ show has a $5 cover. Canadian blues-rocker Shawn Kellerman is a high-energy treat. I could name drop all the people he’s played with but this would be a mile long. There’s a reason why he’s been a part of so many great projects as well as his own.
He’s playing a free show at Casey’s Pub on November 14 starting at 7 p.m. The day before, Casey’s Pub also has a free show of husband-and-wife duo Nikki and Matt Hill called the HeartBreak Hill Trio. This is also another one you won’t be disappointed in seeing. That show starts at 7 p.m. on November 13 and, again, it’s free.
Remember, only you can prevent live music venues. Support live music!
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.
