Now that the 2015 Illinois State Fair is in the books we travel on to other exciting events around the town. Look out world, here we come!
I didn’t feel a huge rush at the fair this year in either attendance or attitude but it did seem more consistent and caring in some ways, for whatever that’s worth. Of all the interesting sights I saw, stumbling across newspaper clippings in the ISF museum area under the Grandstand tickled me the most. Among the articles, reviews and pictures of Willie, come-and-gone rock bands and assorted grand marshals was a photo of a young girl, looking very determined, playing the fiddle. Sure enough, upon closer inspection, it was none other than a 10-year-old Alison Krauss in the process of winning the Junior Division fiddle contest some 30 years ago.
Another clipping was of Illinois Times’ Pub Crawl during the fair in 2000 with a photo of Misspent Youth dominating the page. Ads for music venues sure showed a time warp, with Bedrock, On Broadway, Brewhaus, Viele’s Planet and George Ranks all advertising live performances.
Remember Hot ‘Panada, the guys that would come around to the bars about 10 to close serving hot food from portable containers? Their slogan on the T-shirt of the drunk guy in the ad says, “Feeding Springfield’s Intoxicated Community.” “Now Playing” was still penned by the infamous Riva Derci but I took over the very next week, making this issue my 15th anniversary of authoring this column. During that time I’ve only missed one issue, when I was on a trip with Jason Eklund and knew better than to try and write from the road when hanging with Captain Stringbean. I’ve enjoyed the run, and hope I’ve served the music community well.
In current music news, here comes the Clayville Folk Music Festival on Saturday at the Clayville Historic Site grounds, 12 miles west of Springfield on Route 125, just this side of Pleasant Plains. A classic car cruise from New Salem to Clayville kicks off the day around 11, then the music begins at noon and runs until near midnight. A super list of performers includes Rockin’ Johnny Burgin playing blues to close the show, Michael “Supe” Granda of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Ben Bedford, Mark Dvorak, Motherlode, Burr Oak String Band, Chico Schwall, Melanie Devaney, The Two Bills - Furry & Rintz, Prairie Aires, The Don Buedal Memorial Traditional Music Performers and many others. This year the festival expands to two stages; one on the Broadwell Inn porch with sound amplified by “elek-tricity” and the other pure folk, powered by all-acoustic sounds, over in the grove of trees east of the main buildings. More information including a schedule is available on the Clayville website and Facebook page. Please attend one of the few festivals around with trees and grass available along with food, drinks and live music, all for the benefit of a historic site.
On Friday at Bar None friends gather at a “Benefit for Brittany” featuring bands Jukebox Casanova, Ragna Rye and more, with raffles, dancing and good times to help out a friend in need. Brittany Franklin bartends at The Gin Mill and is battling breast cancer and doing a damn good job of it. She has the best T-shirt ever on the subject; it very succinctly says, “F-ck Cancer” without the hyphen. Get down there and let’s raise some cash to help her out.
Voting has begun for the 2015 Best of Springfield Readers Poll in Illinois Times. No category seems to be as competitive, coveted, contrived and contested as the music section. Let’s shake hands and come out fighting! Good luck to all.
Contact Tom Irwin at [email protected].
