Holy smokes, things are flying high as we stroll into the next to last weekend in July for 2025. Before you know it, we’ll be wondering how in the world summer’s end came so soon. But for right now let’s go find what we have to enjoy in the musical moment.
Just to shake things up a bit for those of you who read or listen to Now Playing (the audio version is on our Illinois Times website) on a regular basis, we’re skipping Thursday night and going straight to other stuff. And here’s a reminder to check those incredibly inclusive IT music listings to discover what I’m not writing about this week.
In case you’re wondering if we’d lost another street music fest, the Downhome Music Festival is happening this year but not in the usual format. Due to ongoing downtown infrastructure and road repairs, organizers of the popular original music showcase came up with an alternative indoor solution. Next weekend kicks off with a night of bands at the Gin Mill on Friday (July 25), followed by a pub crawl event involving more groups at the Gin Mill, Floyd’s and Arlington’s upstairs spaces and an acoustic stage in the Brewhaus Pub on Saturday (July 26). As the scheduling comes together, the Downhome folks want to thank you for years of support and have made a definite commitment to be back on the streets of Springfield in 2026.
In other news from the “festive” department, it’s time for the Chatham Sweet Corn Festival hosted by the Chatham Jaycees, celebrating 50 years of village partying in 2025. Other than the obvious main attraction of sweet corn consumption (community corn shucking happens on Thursday night), the fest is well-known for its Illinois Championship Cow Chip Throw contest, plus a bunch of other fun things with the star of the show being live music by area groups. Through the years of Deluxury, Cats on Holiday, F5, Hot Property, the Lost Boys and other staples of our past scene, the summer band badge of honor goes to a gig at the CSCF. This year is no exception with a stellar lineup of local music featuring Blue Sky Revival and Captain Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters on Friday and Slidin’ By, Soul Experience, UNCHAiNED and Deja Voodoo on Saturday with rising young star Griffin Fenoglio playing on the set breaks.
Here’s an upcoming two-day festival going on called Rumble on 66, held at two separate venues and presented by Tom Hart Concerts. Friday gives us a visit from a formerly frequent Springfield performer when Big Sandy brings his Fly-Rite Boys to Motorheads joined by rockabilly band Union Avenue and Johnny Cash tribute group Folsom Prison Five. On Saturday, The Stadium continues the ruckus with a full lineup of 3 on the Tree, Go! Tsunami, Los Injectors, Reckless Rhythms, Bruiser Queen and the Koffin Kats, plus other rumblings like a pin-up contest, hip vendors and “all things cool.”
Oh yes, we have lots of other music happenings including a visit from our old friend and exceptional singer, songwriter, guitarist and composer Chris Miller complimented by an opening set from Joe Dawkins at The Pharmacy on Saturday night. Two way-cool, homegrown, original music bands play on Saturday at the Blue Grouch when Spoonbenders and the New Goat Ensemble join forces for all kinds of mayhem. And on Sunday afternoon, the venerable singer and unequalled entertainer Johnnie Owens invites you to celebrate his birthday with an evening of music at the Brewhaus Pub.
There’s plenty more where that came from, so please go searching for the music of your choosing. .
