Happy upcoming Fourth of July! When America’s Independence Day lands on a Monday, many folks receive a generous gift of a three-day weekend and maybe more. Those of us in the music business find the holiday time an extra workday (and payday), and that’s A-OK.
Along with plenty of celebratory cookouts on the lake and other places this weekend, downtown Springfield whoops it up with the Jaycees annual Capital City Celebration. Using the usual suspects of top local bands, the CCC evening entertainment lineup includes Hipbone Sam and Fun DMC on Saturday, then on Sunday there’s New City Road and The Shenanigans. The Springfield Municipal Band performs in front of the Capitol steps at 7 on Sunday evening, playing some stirring patriotic numbers in a magnificent, majestic manner worthy of the occasion. Yes, there will be fireworks and lots of other activities for all.
One of my favorite downtown Fourth of July celebrations happens on the Fourth proper when the good folks at the Elijah Iles House (corner of Cook and Seventh) host Clara Irwin’s annual Strawberry and Lawn Party from 5 to 8 p.m. I played this delightful event last year and regret I am unable to play cousin Clara’s (she was married to Robert, and they were friends of Abe’s) party in 2016, but we’re proud to announce the Burr Oak String Band will most admirably entertain the audience on the Iles House lawn. Along with the terrific music, enjoy a reading of the Declaration of Independence plus drinks and food (lots of strawberries available for consumption, of course, including in daiquiris) at modest prices in this open-to-all celebration.
The “Watch Them Burn” tour descends on Springfield this Friday when The Convalescence and Nethersphere plus Dedwayte and Green Messiah, all soundly set in the heavy metal and beyond category, converge on Third Base Sports Bar. The Convalescence, from Toledo, Ohio, keep the pedal to the metal with constant touring as they continue on a steady rise in the burgeoning and bustling metal market that began for them in 2011 with the release of the five-song EP Memories. Nethersphere, based out of Jacksonville and central Illinois, count this gig as a rare hometown show and describe their music as “Deep Fried Southern Black Metal.” The thunderous trio of Cary Funk, Mathias Piechowski and our very own John Scully plans to perform as a “sneak peek” the group’s soon to be released CD, Arrival, from beginning to end. You should expect (and you will receive) a concert-going experience of astoundingly epic proportions.
On Saturday at the Curve Inn, Off the Wall plays from 6 to 10 p.m., hosting a “Rusty Remembered Party” to honor the memory and life of the recently deceased bandmate, singer, bassist and musician Rusty Koehler. Over 20 fellow musicians will join in this tribute to our dearly departed friend who left us so suddenly and way too soon. Rusty will be remembered.
On Saturday, July 23, award-winning singer-songwriter and music composer Sven Sundberg plans a video shoot in Springfield at various locations, including a morning scene at the Washington Park Gazebo and an evening one on a private beach near Island Bay Yacht Club. Please contact Sven at [email protected] for all the skinny on the event. Here’s your chance to be in a groundbreaking video that will be well promoted and produced with a good chance to go viral due to the interesting and provocative subject matter Sven is covering.
Happy Independence Day and welcome to July, 2016.
Contact Tom Irwin at [email protected].
