Mid-July roundup
NOW PLAYING | Tom Irwin
Welcome friends, to mid-July in central Illinois as the music heats up right along with the local weather. This week features record release parties and fundraisers, closely related events in nature, when you think about it.
As readers of this column should know by now, you can see local musicians performing every Tuesday and Thursday during the summer, from noon to 1 on the south side of the Old Capitol Plaza. Area businesses donate to support the three-decade-long program called Artists on the Plaza and the Springfield Area Arts Council coordinates the details of bookings, setups and advertising. Now, through a funding campaign aptly and wittingly called Amp Up the Arts, the council established a GoFundMe site at http://www. gofundme.com/ampupthearts intending to purchase a small sound system for common use by AoP performers. More information is available at the SAAC’s website or Facebook page. Thank you so much.
In the exciting new music release portion of our show, two bands are separately holding celebrations of recorded songs presented to the public for consumption. On Friday, Bar None hosts The Complaint Line, as members John, Zesty Marie, Dayton Cripe and James Welch let go a debut CD called Stick Ninja joined by bands Flamingo and Ragna Rye.
On Saturday, at The Pharmacy Gallery and Art Space, Epsom puts out Ah, Youth on vinyl and digital download, graced by an opening set from The Seething Coast. Epsom dudes Kristopher Zander, Steven Sgro, Scott Faingold (of Illinois Times fame) and Tim “Grumpy” Harte are joined by esteemed guests Bruce Williams, Chuck Nolan, Sarah Michelle, Eric Rogers, Jason Perry, Damon Soper and Peter Bleicher along with a promised “maybe a surprise or two!” to cap off the night of marvelous music making.
As we move to the “fun with fundraising” time, let us not forget that as the world demands we empty our pockets on a daily basis to live and let live, the choice of where some of the dough goes makes a difference. The Springfield Art Association hosts Paint the Street on Saturday afternoon downtown on Washington Street. The idea is for folks, either private or as an organization, to purchase a 6-foot x 6-foot section of the street as a donation, then paint whatever they want on said spot. During this joyous occasion, live music happens at various points along the way to entertain and elevate. If it sounds like fun, it very likely is.
Meow, meow, meow. The time has come to put your paws in your pocket and help out helpless kitty cats when the Forever Home Feline Ranch hosts its second annual Cheeseburgers in Purr-adise fundraiser at Harry’s Adult Day Care this Saturday starting at 3 p.m. Check out celebrity bartenders, raffles and food along with featured musicians Mike Miller and Dyke Corson of the Boat Drunks, a very popular Jimmy Buffet cover band, playing 4 to 7, and a DJ starting at 9 p.m. With lots of entertainment and fundraising choices this weekend, this is the only one strictly for our feline friends. Meow again.
Elvis Himselvis makes a rare (these days) bar showing with an appearance at Casey’s Pub on Saturday night to show off the new suit last seen at the May Hoogland show. Sunday, this month’s Music in the Park features Kapitol Sounds at Comer Cox Park for an afternoon of sweet songs and gorgeous grooves. While you’re out on Sunday, dare to look at all the afternoon listings in the Pub Crawl. Sunday afternoon is the new Saturday night, one might say.
Stay cool folks and see y’all next week.
Contact Tom Irwin at tirwin@illinoistimes.com.
