This Saturday evening, Midnight River Choir performs at Connor's Corner Pub in Tallula.
Welcome to the month of March 2022, my fellow travelers. As we work our way back to our regularly planned programming after the nearly two-year pandemic interruption, our first full weekend is jam-packed with delights.
I’ll skip forward a day and start with Sunday and the Boondocks and Mason Sound-hosted Doug Warcup Memorial Benefit, which runs from 1 to 7 p.m. at the acclaimed location on North Dirksen Parkway. Doug was a well-known sound engineer from this area of central Illinois who was also well-liked for being a lovely guy outside of work. His untimely death the day after Thanksgiving last year devastated hearts and altered lives forever.
The money raised from this benefit will be sent to his family, along with our condolences. In addition to donated silent auction items (there will be no live auction), there will be a $20 suggested donation at the door and numerous bands supporting Doug’s cause, including Jeff Young & the Bad Grandpas, Unchained, Sleeping Dogz, and Lick Creek. If you would like to contribute but are unable to attend, kindly send donations to Edie Warcup at 309 E. Sixth St., Pana, Illinois, 62557.
While you’re here, look online at all the upcoming national touring artists planned to perform at Boondocks over the coming months, including numerous well-known new country bands and a performance by Rob Schneider, the successful actor, and SNL alum, on April 30.
Do you think we should just stay out on Sunday and see what else happens? Schy Willmore and Sarah Schnieder are performing at It’s All About Wine at 3 p.m., the Jay Larson Band is performing at Trail’s End in Curran at 4 p.m., and Buzz Bomb is hosting the Fantastical Folk Jam, where you can bring your instruments and play some music (6 p.m.). The one and only Groove Daddies, who may be the longest-running Springfield rock band ever, hit the stage at Danenberger’s Family Vineyards at 2 p.m. On the first Sunday in March, there is a lot of good music playing there.
We’re in for a great run of musical entertainment if we go back to Saturday night. Let’s start with Off the Wall performing at the Sangamon County Fair Pre-Fair Party, a great fundraiser for our county fair, which was held at the fairgrounds in New Berlin. You can participate in a live auction when the doors open at 6 and browse the silent auction of donated goods for $5. The best party band in town will then begin playing at 8, and there will also be a cash bar and food available from the Fast Break Food Truck. It’s all for the sake of the fair’s pleasure, which is slated for June 15–19, 2022.
One of the coolest bands to ever become friends with people in central Illinois, Midnight River Choir, plays Connor’s Corner Pub in Tallula near the close of a Midwest tour that also takes them to Nebraska, Minnesota, and Wisconsin before finishing in Menard County. Jon-Mark Robb, an Austin, Texas native who hails from Tallula, kicks off the performance with a CD release celebration for MRC.
Here’s one more Saturday night treat: for the foreseeable future, Silas Tockey and Joel Honey, your friends, and mine, will be hosting the popular and well-attended Wednesday night Open Mic at Boone’s on Saturdays.
Now it’s up to you to browse through our live music listings to find the rest of the excellent stuff. Then be careful when St. Patrick’s Day party music arrives the following week.
