By Ben Cox
The weather is warm. The drinks are cold. Spring is in full swing and so is the music calendar. The music starts this week on Thursday, May 1 at KJB’s Pinthaus with
Jacksonville’s traveling troubadour Jeff Newman and his friend Dennis Smith for an evening of acoustic covers and maybe if you ask Jeff real nice, an original song or two from 7-10 p.m.
For a Friday night, May 2 is relatively quiet for a music night in Jacksonville. However, if you are looking to have a little musical fun, starting at 8 p.m. at Goodtime Doc’s, Randy Springer and the crew have a game called Singo. It’s like Bingo but you gotta know the songs. It’s a fun party game and Doc’s has got a great sound system.
Saturday is when things really get going. As I mentioned last week, one of country music’s best under-the-radar songwriters is at Twisted Tree Music Hall. Ward Davis plays a killer acoustic set from 7-10 p.m. Pull up with some My Buddy’s BBQ and listen to one of Nashville’s best storytellers play some songs you probably didn’t know that he wrote. He’s been writing music for over three decades for the likes of Willie Nelson to Trace Adkins. This is a great opportunity to hear some tried and true real country songwriting.
If you don’t want to wait around until the evening and you love Delta Blues, Jacksonville Main Street kicks off their summer concert series with an afternoon of acoustic blues artists and some cold adult beverages on the square from 12-4 p.m. This free event will also feature a brand-new beer put together by Riggs Brewing Company made for Jacksonville’s Bicentennial. It’s an American lager and should go great with any of the food trucks that will be parked around the plaza. John G. Drake kicks things off with a blend of acoustic blues that harken to the 60s traditionalists like Hot Tuna and Siegel-Schwall Band. David Berchtold, of Auburn, is in much of the same vein but has plenty of his own originals that fit nicely around the set. Then, Reverend Robert from the east side of the state plays a mixture of folk blues, rhumba and Delta favorites. The lineup is capped by Springfield acoustic blues extraordinaire Devin C. Williams. This young man has played for the legends and has his own spin with all originals that sound like they came out of the 20s and 30s.
Reverend Robert is doing a little mini-tour of the area so if you miss him in Jacksonville, head over to Vixen Hill Winery in Palmyra on Sunday. Music starts at 2 p.m. They have a great lineup of music over there throughout the summer.
Exit 52, one of Jacksonville’s most well-known cover bands for rock and pop, will also entertain from 8 p.m. to midnight at Kuhl Tyme Korner on Saturday.
But wait there’s more … our friends on the west side of Morgan County have organized the first ever Meredosia May Days Celebration. This weekend-long celebration has food, a car show and great music. Starting at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jacksonville’s Devin Clemons takes the stage at Boyd Park for an hour-long acoustic set. From 3-5 p.m., string duo of Between the Strings entertains. Jacksonville’s premier regional band that’s been doing it a long time Captain Geech & The Shrimp Shack Shooters close out the night from 7-10 p.m. This is a first-time family-friendly event with a little something for everybody.
Last but not least, Jacksonville folks looking for modern Christian music have a great opportunity every Sunday to worship with the Case family at the renovated Annie Merner Chapel. Now known simply as “The Chapel,” the modern music service is complete with a new sound system and hopefully, in the near future, the sounds of the Aeolian-Skinner organ will ring.
Opening day services will take place May 4 starting at 10 a.m. If you’re not a spiritual person but would like to hear some great music, this would be well worth your time.
Our friends at Evandy’s Boatel start their summer music series starting on May 11. They will have music on the river over there pretty much every weekend this summer on Saturdays and Sundays.
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.
