As we move into the sixth month of the year, there are a lot of things that come to mind for us. These include June weddings, June bugs, Henry and June, “by the light of the silvery moon” in June, and even June Lockhart, who played Lassie’s TV mother. But more than anything else, we focus on music around here at Now Playing Central. So, let’s take a look at what’s going on in the neighborhood in the middle of June 2022, shall we?
The After School Special is a local acoustic duo consisting of Aasne Daniels and Jerry Sticky. They recently released another full-length album of all original material, which was recorded by John Shepherd at his New Paradigm studio. Let’s begin by congratulating The After School Special on this accomplishment (Shep joined in playing various instruments as well). Follow the North Star is a new recording that features ten songs, and it was just made available on streaming services on June 7. Very soon, you will be able to attend an upcoming release party and get your hands on a physical copy of the CD. Keep an eye on this place, as the cool kids are wont to say, for further details.
The great jazz guitarist and all-around kind person Jose Gobbo has been running “The Art of Jazz” performance night at The Pharmacy Gallery and Art Space in the heart of downtown on Adams Street for quite some time now. Jazz pianist Ptah Williams, who is this week’s special guest musician, has collaborated with a wide variety of jazz greats, such as George Benson and Freddie Hubbard, and has performed at jazz festivals all across the United States and Europe. Willem Von Hombracht, a world-class bassist and fellow St. Louisan, and Jose, playing his Hohner guitar, will be joining Ptah for this performance. Dig it, man.
This coming weekend in Jacksonville, Florida, at the venerable and picturesque Lovejoy Hall, Scotty DeWolf will host Yuriy and Tetiana Safronov, both of whom are originally from Ukraine, for a charity event with the goal of bringing attention to the current situation in Ukraine and soliciting financial support for relief efforts there. Students and their families will be given a special presentation on Saturday at 3 p.m. (especially farm folks interested in helping kindred rural Ukrainians), and then on Sunday at 3 p.m., the Safronovs will perform traditional Ukrainian folk songs and stories in a concert setting alongside performances by other participating musicians. I really hope that you will be able to attend in order to learn and assist those there.
Songs & Stories: Comin’ Home is a free showcase for local songwriters that will be held on Friday evening in the upper level of Broadgauge on Petersburg square. It will be hosted by local songwriter Mike Allen. The mighty cool event is broken up into two parts: the first is called “Petersburg,” and it features Mike kicking things off, joined by Kevin Atterberry and Larry Dirks doing songs about the burg; the second is called “Route 97,” and it features Erin Connolly, the Highway Kind (Keith Shank and Josh Pitcher), and yours truly, spinning yarns and singing songs about the road, old Route 97. Both parts of the event will take place
Then, for the major event that will take place this weekend (isn’t it fantastic that they just keep coming), join the celebration at Sheedy Shores Winegarden next to Loami for the Positively Summer Music Festival. Tom Beverly, Geoff Ryan, and their friends came up with the idea for the get-together and arranged it. It is a free event (bring your own lawn chairs and blankets if you want), and it will have food trucks, artisan merchants, and a gorgeous view of a bucolic lake. Starting at one in the afternoon, they will have a program of ripping great Americana music. On Saturday, performances were given by Peaches & Bacon, Me, Myself and Schy, Positively 4th Street, The Chickadee Sermon, and The Tangents, with PS4 coming back to close out the night. Each of these performances lasted roughly 45 minutes. This lineup of Doc Hollow, Buckhart Road, and The Deep Hollow (they’ll each perform for an hour), along with PS4 mopping up again till 6:00 p.m., will hit the stage on Sunday afternoon. The show will begin at 1:00 p.m. What do you think about it a little bit of fun in the sun coming up in June?
And now is the point at which I will provide you with the information you need to search for the other amazing music that is taking place all throughout town and is listed in our music listings.
