Where to find live entertainment in the capital city
The nightlife of Springfield and surrounding communities is diverse and robust. Blues, folk, jazz, rock, country, hip-hop, dance music, open mic events and karaoke nights are well represented on any given night in central Illinois and the capital city. Solid local acts playing original and cover material mix with national touring bands on the road from St. Louis to Chicago or between Indianapolis and Kansas City to create a fertile atmosphere for vibrant entertainment.
The blues are alive and well in Springfield, influenced by the city’s proximity to Chicago, one of the world’s great blues music locales. Every Monday night starting around 8 p.m., the Illinois Central Blues Club (ICBC) sponsors a different band and an open jam at the Alamo (115 N. Fifth St.). Local, regional and national acts have enlivened this wonderful music experience during the 30-plus years of Blue Mondays. Watch for special blues events regularly sponsored by the active ICBC at different venues in town, such as Casey’s Pub, housed in the Knights of Columbus Hall (2200 S.
Meadowbrook Road). Third Base Sports Bar (410 Maple Ave.) also regularly supports touring blues acts on the weekends along with an assortment of local bands of all genres.
Jazz in all its varied forms is represented at certain nightclubs and restaurants. Robbie’s (4 S. Old State Capitol Plaza) hosts a different local group each Friday, 5:30-7:30 p.m. On the near west side of town, the Lime Street Cafe (951 S. Durkin Dr.) serves up jazz-style musicians with an occasional foray into classic rock ’n’ roll. On Thursdays, experience Frank Parker’s Jambalaya Jam at 411 Bar & Grill (411 E. Washington), featuring sets of jazz and blues by regular and guest musicians from Springfield and surrounding communities.
Local, regional and national touring acts of various genres take the stage weekly at several clubs around the city. Boondocks (2909 N. Dirksen) presents contemporary country bands often still on the music charts, while Bar None (427 E. Monroe) hosts a variety of acts that run the gamut from singer-songwriter types and indierock bands to Americana groups and hip-hop artists. The Curve Inn (3219 S. Sixth St.) books live, local music in a heated outdoor venue every weekend from 6 to 10 p.m., then continues the entertainment inside until 3 a.m. with a DJ. The city’s all-ages venue, the Black Sheep Café (1320 S. 11th St.), matches local groups with touring indie and punk rock bands several nights a week.
Look for much-appreciated local bands and musicians of all flavors, including rock, bluegrass, blues, country and pop music at Alibi (320 E. Main, Rochester), Always After Five (2741 S. Sixth St.), Blue Grouch Pub (510 W. Maple), Boar’s Nest (Rt. 29, Athens), Bob’s Butternut Hut (215 N. Second St.), Brewhaus (617 E. Washington St.), Capital City Bar and Grill (3149 S. Dirksen Parkway), Craft Beer Bar (430 Monroe St.), Crows Mill Pub (1220 Toronto Road), George Rank’s (1800 S. Sixth St.), Long Bridge (1055 Camp Sangamo Road), Mama Lee’s Sandbar (6111 Mechanicsburg Road), Smurf’s Guitars and Cadillacs Saloon (2724 Peoria Road), Trading Post Saloon (731 S. Durkin Dr.), Weebles (4136 N. Peoria Road) and Win, Lose or Draught (7004 Kingsmill Ct.).
Nearby wineries, a wine bar and a specialty wine shop also offer weekly musical entertainment. West of Wise Winery (Rt. 97, Petersburg), Walnut Street Winery (309 S. Walnut St., Rochester), 3Sixteen Wine Bar (316 N. Main Plaza, Chatham), 1864 Wine Pub (613 S. Seventh St., Pawnee), Sheedy Shores Winery (1300 Johns Creek Road, Loami), and Vixen Hill Winery (7331 Palmyra Road, Palmyra) regularly host touring and area musicians. Hear live music at Hill Prairie Winery (RR 1, Oakford) every Sunday afternoon and at holiday festivals during the year. It’s All About Wine (1305 Wabash Ave.), a specialty wine shop, hosts acoustic acts on Saturday evenings. Danenberger Family Vineyards (12341 Irish Road, New Berlin) hosts WineRocks 5-8 p.m. Saturdays and live music on Sunday afternoons from 2-5 p.m.
If laughter is what you’re after, look no further than Donnie B’s Comedy Club (3455 Freedom Dr.) or head north of town to the Mason City Limits Comedy Club (114 E. Chestnut, Mason City). Both clubs feature nationally known touring comedians every Friday and Saturday night, with occasional open mics for the aspiring comic. Additionally, Capital City Bar & Grill (3149 S. Dirksen Parkway) and other area venues host local and regional comedians on occasion.
Fortunately, should you develop the urge to sing your heart out in front of a crowd, karaoke machines and competent hosts await your command at Blue Grouch Pub (510 W. Maple), Burger Bar (2765 S. Sixth), Docker’s Tavern (120 E. State Route 54, Spaulding), Fox Run Restaurant and Lounge (1130 Legacy Pointe Dr.), George Rank’s (1800 S. Sixth St.), Lake Springfield Tavern (1221 Stevenson Dr.), Pam’s Jailhouse Tavern (125 Mayden), Penny Bar (2815 Price St.), and several other bars. If you prefer your public performance with an instrument in hand, check out these regular open mics all around town, including at Craft Beer Bar (430 Monroe St.), Trail’s End Saloon (Rt. 54, Curran), Blue Grouch Pub (510 W. Maple), 411 Bar and Grill (411 E. Washington St.), George Rank’s (1800 S. Sixth St.), Locals (609 Douglas St., Pawnee), Weebles (4136 Peoria Road) and Bar None (427 E. Monroe).
Care to put on your dancing shoes, find a DJ and shake your booty all night long? You’ll find contemporary Top 40 and other recorded-music delights on the dance floor at the Club Station House (306 E. Washington) every night of the week.
For a more complete listing of area venues with nightlife and entertainment offerings, check the live music and entertainment list on page 46 of this guide. For a complete listing of what’s going on in and around the capital city on any given week, check the arts and entertainment listings in Illinois Times, the city’s free weekly newspaper, which also publishes Capital City Visitor. Look for the numerous IT newsstands throughout downtown, as well as at area hotels, restaurants, stores and government buildings.
