Welcome to Mother’s Day weekend in the merry month of May. The made-up music comes on strong as several all-original artists take to the stages.
Let us first send our heartfelt condolences to the family of Shane Shomidie for the tragic loss of this fine, young man, who is the son of musician Micky Shomidie. I know and you know, Micky, that we in the music community and otherwise are all with you and your family during this difficult and tragic time. Words cannot express what the heart is feeling, but we still try.
On Thursday night please welcome home native son Greg Pasenko for a “Music at the Museum” concert. Greg grew up in Springfield then hit the road for an amazing career in music, including performing with many contemporary jazz and blues greats, plus founding and running BluJazz, a record label for independent jazz artists. He’s lived and worked in Chicago for many years and returns to perform with old friend and mighty musician David Lumsden for the monthly museum music event hosted by Chris Vallillo.
Also on Thursday, two original, locallybased rock bands, The Mazed (their name changed ever so slightly – ask a Mazed member) and The Station, hit the Curve Inn for a night of no-cover songs, which is always a wonderful experience to behold. Venice, the California band of Lennon brothers and cousins, joined by The Deep Hollow, perform all original songs at the Legacy Theatre in a benefit concert for Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Illinois and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Springfield. And, while we’re considering original rock music, let’s leap ahead to Saturday when Good Times & Company brings their brand of fun-loving, self-penned tunes to Crows Mill Pub.
On Friday The Blue G’s come out of the woodwork for a show at Bar None, featuring bluegrass-y, original songs from their CDs and few new tunes as well. Wil Maring and Robert Bowlin make the trek up from Southern Illinois to perform at the Paris-Belle House Concert in Williamsville. These two create some of the most lovely acoustic folk music you’ll hear anywhere, including many of Wil’s original songs. Fresh from receiving music industry awards out in L.A., Barry Cloyd comes down from Peoria to play the Walnut Street Winery. The multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter received accolades for two #1 tracks on online radio charts and a best in the Americana class for his album Southland from Akademia, a music organization with international reach that promoted Barry’s music to a worldwide audience.
On Saturday Biscuit Miller, two-time Blues Music Award-winner for bass player of the year (2012 and 2017), along with his renowned band of blues-playing guys called The Mix stir it up for “Blues at the Base” night at Third Base Sports Bar. In more world-class music occurrences, our Springfield Classical Guitar Society hosts the Chicago-based Avanti Guitar Trio at Grace Lutheran Church. Guitarists Jason Deroche, Julie Goldberg and Wesley Hixson comprise this amazing ensemble capable of making music from the Baroque era to contemporary jazz and rock sound freshly wonderful and effortlessly brilliant.
A new open acoustic get-together called “Jam Du Jour” debuts Tuesday, May 15 at Scoop Du Jour, an ice cream parlor located next the Goodwill store in Chatham. Bring an instrument and join in the fun twice a month, every first and third Tuesday from 5:30 to 7:30. In other open-stage news, the “Open Pic” at Abe’s Old Hat downtown now happens every Wednesday through the summer months, while Sam and Kortney have fired up their popular “Tuesday Open Mic Night” at the Curve Inn. Be sure to check out all the other open jams happening around town.
Now, get out there and get going!
