NOW PLAYING | Tom Irwin
This week brings us all kinds of styles, variations, moods and muses of music. Surely somewhere in there is a spot for you. Let us proceed to discover something for everyone.
Friday night holds a collection of seasoned and experienced musicians all playing at once in different places. These guys are the real deal, five- and six-decade dedicated players of music, born when TV was a novelty, cellphones were sciencefiction nonsense and music was played on instruments not requiring electricity. Maybe I’m overstating and exaggerating a bit, but I can’t express enough gratitude and respect for musicians of this caliber, consistency and caring, and for all the good work they’ve done for music in the community. Thanks guys. Now let’s figure out a way to see these cool cats all playing on Friday evening. The Bobby Remack Trio swings Robbie’s (5:30- 7:30), Don Smith Band does the VFW Post #755 (8-11) and Riverboat 5+1 rolls into Lime Street Cafe from 8 to 11:30 (Jane Hartman is the plus one. She meets the seasoned criteria without quite that many decades of playing).
Saturday afternoon brings us something different as Engrained Brewing Company hosts a first annual Summer Craft Fest from noon to four. Murder of Crowes supplies the music as several local farmers, wineries, businesses, artists and craft vendors display their wares on the Engrained premises out by Scheels, while the local microbrewery unveils a summertime Blackberry Lager beer that is already known as “famous.”
Starting at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, our Southtown go-getters at the Black Sheep Cafe hold the Black Sheep Fest, the club’s annual celebration of local bands and a big fundraiser. Leading local punk-pop-rock indie bands Our Lady, Looming (recently featured in Illinois Times), Asthma, Hospital Job, King Worm and The Timmys help make a total of 15 local bands for the eighth Black Sheep Fest honoring this fine venue for all ages to enjoy music together.
The Bedrock 66 Live! music series, sponsored in part by WUIS, presents a night of women singer-songwriters at Homespun Republic on Saturday starting at 8 p.m. Kicking off the evening is Decatur’s own Jessica Jolly, singing songs she wrote. Bloodshot Records recording artist Lydia Loveless hits the stage around nine to deliver tunes with an attitude, backed by a rocking good band. Lydia takes things to the edge and welcomes listeners to come along for the ride. Somebody’s Darling, fronted by vocalist Amber Farris and backed by a blues-based rock band, bring on the power tunes by 11 o’clock. Originally from North Texas-Dallas area, they recently relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, to further their music making ambitions.
Also on Saturday, from 4 to 10 p.m., the St. Andrew’s Society of Central Illinois hosts a fundraiser at the TRN Club on Lake Springfield for the 2016 Highland Games. After vandalism and theft took its toll on the 2015 games in March, the organization looks to raise funds to continue the event. These folks give so much in music and inspiration to the community, please help support this worthwhile mission.
On Sunday we gather to celebrate the life and times of Bobby “Mr. Rhythm & Blues” Taylor, an area musician, vocalist and bandleader who passed away in March. The event, held at the Fireman’s Postal Club from 1 to 8 p.m., features several prominent blues and soul artists including Johnnie Owens, Mary Jo Curry and Tombstone Bullet, Blues Expressions and Reggie Britton with the Sofa Kings. Come celebrate Bobby and donate to help out with his final expenses.
That’s one for the ages. And that’s all ages, if you don’t mind.