Here we are, heading right into October with September barely left behind. I see lots of good local bands out as we wind down the outdoor festivals and begin to think about the seasonal end to our music and beer garden time.

If you’re hankering to get in all the last blasts of the season, you better start on Thursday and work your way through the outdoor music venues. The Curve Inn hosts Take 10, featuring some of our most talented homegrown musicians. And in case you’re wondering, the 10 in Take 10 stands for the ten, count ‘em, ten, members of the band. Oh, yeah, this is serious stuff.

Clayton Shay is the Friday night happening out at Long Bridge just past the airport, while Geezers wind up the rock ’n’ roll clock at the cool outdoor setup at the rejuvenated Crows Mill Pub, as X-Krush crushes it at the Blue Grouch. Over at Weebles, it’s the 2nd Chance Band outside from 6:30 to 10:30. I have run into these guys twice this summer, and that’s unusual for me since I am always (almost, obviously) playing somewhere, too. But let me tell you, they rock without mercy, roll with the punches, and take great pleasure in making the music go to town.

Switch it up and go see Take 10 do an encore presentation on Saturday at Weebles while GirlBilly hoots it up over at the Curve. New City Road rolls into the Blue Grouch outdoor arena, while The Phantom Lordz and Cemetery Gatez (yes, that’s how they spell it, what’s it to ya?) materialize in the Crows Mill Pub on Toronto Road. Now, you might think you’re done, but here comes Captain Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters, dropping into the Blue Grouch for an outdoor afternoon party at 2 p.m. on Sunday to fulfill your weekend desires.

Engrained Brewery & Restaurant out in the Legacy Pointe Mall by Scheels hosts an Oktoberfest celebration on Saturday. Very important things will be here, such as beer – as Engrained releases its very own Oktoberfest brew – and live music, with afternoon acoustic sets by Rachel Rambach, Avery Kern and Micah Walk from 2 to 5 and the Shenanigans taking the night shift from 7 to 11. Along with guest brewskis, German food and kid’s activities from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., this is this fine brewery’s largest fest to date. And, best of all, a portion of the day’s proceeds will go to Generation Healthy Kids. Come on out and spend some time with one of your local brewers. It’ll do you good.

It’s Rockin’ Johnny Burgin time, so you’d better get yourself a good helping of his royal, rockin’ self, and you can do so on Saturday night during the Blues at the Base event at Third Base Sportsbar. If that ain’t enough of Johnny B., and it never is, head out to Hand of Fate Brewery in Petersburg for a Sunday Funday afternoon show from 1:30 to 3:30 and support another brewery in your neighborhood. It’s easy if you try.

Keep your blues shoes on for an appearance by the one and only Chris O’Leary at the Alamo on Monday for the weekly Illinois Central Blues Club show. I’ve been informed by reliable sources that Chris is transformational and a bit beyond belief. But it’s always best to see and hear for yourself at these kinds of things. See you there.

IT’s Best of Springfield poll is in progress.

Don’t forget to vote and be on watch for any Russian hackers out to give some balalaikaplaying dude a win.

Contact Tom Irwin at [email protected].