Rick Mari celebrates his 71st birthday with a gig at the Curve Inn this Sunday.
Step right up as we consider the last weekend of the Illinois State Fair for 2025. Take a look around the area and generally go gallivanting anywhere and everywhere we can to search out the music-makers making music for you. With “no time like the present” as our motto, may I present to you my thoughts on the matter?
We like our Thursdays here, including those regular spots around town along with some added fair attractions. Take a gander at Keith Dunlap at Sangamo Brewing in Chatham and Dan Grover at Mother Road Diner, while Mr. Opporknockity with OAT Band hit at the Curve Inn’s Southside Fair as Ocean State Quartet rolls into the Pharmacy’s Art of Jazz night.
The fair lineup is overwhelming in volume, but thanks to our mighty awesome calendar person Daron Walker, all the stages, times and performers are included in our listings, which is really nice, cool and extremely helpful. Otherwise, you might have a hard time finding acts such as heritage holders Def Leprauchan (12 p.m.) and Waterloo German Band (4 p.m.) at the Village of Cultures, friends in music the Neverly Brothers (12 p.m.) and Not Petty (3 p.m.) on the Apex Stage and super singer-songwriters Avery Kern (4 p.m.) and Stuart Smith (6 p.m.) in the Expo Building. Headlining highlights include central Illinois music heroes Head East at the amazing and free Grand Central Stage in the Reisch Pavilion (old Food-a-Rama) and country superstar Brad Paisley at the Grandstand.
Friday is more of the same in different places with other performers, including Frank Parker’s Jambalaya Jazz Jam at Buzz Bomb, Me, Myself & Schy going Americana at Dockside Grill and Angel Brown’s Smooth N’ Blue Band doing their thing at Lime Street Cafe.
Then as we saunter out to the fair, look for Ivas John Band (4-7 p.m.) bringing the blues from southern Illinois to the Illinois Wine Experience in the Artisans Building and Tyson Schulte dealing in cool country as an independent singer-songwriter from northern Illinois on the Lincoln Stage (6 p.m.). Beer tent entertainment excitement includes Capt. Quirk transporting into the Coors Light Tent (5-8 p.m.), Journey from the Heart (9 p.m.) from Nashville featuring top tribute artists of Journey and Heart stirring up the Miller Tent and Broken Stone (5-8 p.m.) rocking out the Busch Light Tent.
Continue your adventures on Saturday, going all day and into the night both around town and at the fair. City shows include these choices of Stella Coffee & Tea presenting Rich Van Dorn (10 a.m.-12 p.m.), JackAsh (1-3 p.m.) and Whiskey Killers (4-7 p.m.) at a cancer benefit for Brandon Webb at VFW Post 755, plus Travis Ried Band at Crows Mill Pub.
At the fair, look for this smattering of Simply Spice for your Spice Girls fix (7:30 p.m.) on the Grand Central Stage, Thornhill in the Artisans Building (4-7 p.m.), Positively 4th Street (4 p.m.) on the Apex Stage, Def Leppard at the Grandstand and Jack Daniel (6 p.m.) in the Expo Building.
Sunday delivers a bunch for the fair’s final fare, along with plenty of in-town stuff, too. Come celebrate Rick Mari’s 71st birthday as the always rocking septuagenarian brings his band plus special guests to the Curve Inn or hang with Tom Thady at It’s All About Wine. Get your last fair gasp with The Damned Torpedoes (1 p.m.) not backing down for Tom Petty at the Busch Lite Tent or see if it’s good to be king with Elvis Himselvis (1 p.m.) at the Miller Tent. Among the dozens of other choices, check out the Turnpike Troubadours at the Grandstand and the popular Powerlight Festival at the Lincoln Stage to fulfill your fair finale.
I hope that’s all fair enough for you.