BEST NEW BAND

Dave Littrell Band As the frontman and main composer for the Station, Dave Littrell established the Chatham-based group as road warriors, traveling for years across the nation and specifically the Midwest as a progressive electric jam band staple. Last year Littrell began focusing on more acoustic and introspective material, ending up with a beautifully recorded CD, Now I See (2011 Planet Playground Records) and a new eponymous band, featuring the musical talents of Jeff Cunningham, Mason Baran and Tony Kirk. Dave Littrell Band headlined several local festivals this year while performing regularly at various area clubs and Littrell plays every Thursday at The Creek in his hometown of Chatham. This category brought votes for a large group of new bands, including Joshua Catalano and the Dirty Thoughts, Midnight Rush, Elizabeth Eckert, Closing Time, Seeing Daylight, Two Trick Pony and Leaving Ashland, only a few of the more than 50 groups mentioned. Perhaps Springfield is the place to start a new band.

NEW LOCAL EVENT

Downhome Music Festival Seems like these days there’s a music festival every weekend in downtown Springfield, but no one’s complaining here. Of the new fests in 2011, the Downhome Music Festival came in as number one. Other popular events received lots of votes, but they weren’t necessarily “new.” Downhome, designed as a showcase for homegrown bands, gives bands the entrance fees to divide equally, thereby making sure musicians get paid. Perhaps this led to the popularity of the show or maybe it was the wonderful all-day-long lineup of original music or maybe all the beer. Whatever the reason, the event, brainchild of Shane Turnage and Michael Conneely of the Celtic Mist Pub, Nate Short of the Brewhaus and Josh Catalano of several bands and bars, roped off two city blocks at Seventh and Washington, got local food vendors involved and made quite a party for downtown Springfield. Good luck for next year, though it won’t be “new” anymore.

BEST BAND WITHOUT A CATEGORY

Still Kick’n Oh my goodness, the bull ran loose when no category for country band appeared in the 2011 Best of Springfield list. Immediately fans of Still Kick’n and band members began a campaign to prove the popularity of one of central Illinois’ favorite bands. Still Kick’n folks should know they won or at least placed highly in every music category including rap/hiphop, new band, rock band, jazz and blues. With a showing like that, what could we do but create a category just for this rockin’ country band featuring the twin vocals of Kelsey Hickman and Jen Campbell, band leader, vocalist and acoustic guitarist Pat McCue, steel guitarist Donnie Hinkle, bassist John Peters and drummer Bill Wikoff. Congratulations to Still Kick’n as Springfield’s all-around favorite band.