Our last weekend of live music stretched from Saturday to Tuesday and included a whole lot of amazing music from Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Bobby Rush, 3 Mile High, Mike Dawes, and Justin Hayward.
KWS and Bobby Rush April 26, 2025
Saturday was the much-anticipated show with Kenny Wayne Shephard and Bobby Rush at the Civic Center. It was everything KWS promised it would be in our interview last month and more. Bobby Rush talked about how he is almost 92, but you wouldn’t have guessed it from the way he was taking command of the stage. Kenny and Bobby put on quite a performance.
3 Mile High at Neon Bison April 26, 2025
After the KWS show, we stopped in at Neon Bison. I have never not enjoyed a performance by 3 Mile High. They have so much fun doing what they do - it’s contagious. There are always familiar faces of loyal fans when we hit one of their shows, but it’s exciting to see people who haven’t experienced them before see them for the first time too.
Tuesday's show with Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues was my first show back at the Scottish Rite since its reopening and it was lovely to see how many people were there - and so many from out of town too! Over and over concert-goers commented on the beauty of the venue and how there was not a bad seat in the house.
While I was not around when Moody Blues and Justin Hayward began making an impact on the music world, I was familiar with much more of the music than I expected. Another thing I loved about the show was how comfortable performers were sharing stories between songs. The more intimate the venue, the more you feel like you all already know each other. There's just a more personal feel to anecdotes from artists when in a smaller venue like TempleLive. (Green Room subscribers will get to hear an example of that later this week when I share how Justin once won and lost a karaoke contest at the same time.)
It all goes to show, you can stream a song, watch a video, or scroll past a performance online - but you can’t download the electric energy of a live show - it’s something you have to be there for.
If you missed any of these, don’t let the next opportunity pass you by!
Check out the photos and videos in this post while you make your live music to-do list for this weekend.
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FRIDAY 5/2
Chris Tarpley at Clink Bar & Events 8-11pm
Easy Riders at Luthy Botanical Gardens 4-8pm
Top 4D Acoustic at Brienzo’s 8-11pm
James Herr at Michael’s Italian Feast (Germ. Hills) 6-9pm
Kev and Mal at Crusens on War 7pm
Peoria Area Civic Chorale at Five Points Washington 7:30-9:30pm
Head East at 3300 Event Center 7:30pm
Emily How, The Matriarch, Wide Orbit, and Andy Martinez at Cafe Santa Rosa 8pm
Taylor Bruninga & The Bandits at OZ’Z Bar & Grill 8pm
Spoony & the Bootleggers at The Country Saloon 8-11pm
Roy Fifer at Office on Main 9pm
Raynah at W.E. Sullivans 9pm-12am
Brown Eyed Women at Kenny's Westside 9pm
Don’t forget to check out our YouTube channel! (We have more being added there all the time, so be sure and subscribe.)
SATURDAY 5/3
Raynah at CTX 12-3pm
Soulpatch Celebration at Three Sisters Park 1pm-11pm
Raven Walker 1pm
Regina Miller 2pm
Ava Easter 3pm
Alison Hanna & Roy Ponce 4pm
Eagle Ridge & Friends 5:30pm
Peoria Drum Circle 6:30pm
Captain Crayfish 7:30pm
Formerly the Fox 8:15pm
Sun Stereo 10pm
Harvest Sons & Brody Vancil at Evergreen Farm Brewing 5pm
Boomstick at Psycho Silo Saloon (Langley) 5pm
Barry Cloyd Common Thread at Bishop Hill Creative Commons 7pm
Galactic Empress at MoonTower Bar & Grill 7-11pm
Rogers & Co at Third Chance (3300 Event Center) 7pm
Sadistic Cowboys at Oz'z Bar & Grill 7pm
Click image to see full details on FB event page.
The Killer Riffs at Jim Dandy Lounge 7pm
Chris Hawkins at The Peoria Zoo 7-9pm
James & The Underground at Oliver’s in the Heights 7-10pm
AJ & Aidan Schmall at The Neon Bison 8-11pm
Ryan Massey at Corner Inn (Elmwood) 8pm
Highway J at Martini’s on Water 8pm-12am
Jera and the Absoluts at Cactus Country 8pm
Stone Cold Cowboys at Gracie's Sports Bar 8-11pm
Revel in Red at Clinton Eagles Club 8-11pm
Backstabbin' Betty at The Corral 8:30pm-12:30am
Alex Hoffer at Pour Bros Craft Taproom 8:30-11:30pm
Twisted Whiskey at the Tin Lizard 9pm
Devin Williams at Office on Main 9pm
The People Brothers Band at Kenny's Westside 9pm
Photos are all mixed together, so be sure to scroll through all of them!
SUNDAY 5/4
Bruce Moon via Zoom SEE INFO HERE 12pm
Matt Eckberg at Tres Rojas Winery 1-4pm
Jam Sessions Battle of the Bands at Oz’z Bar & Grill 2-8pm
Mr Charlie & Friends 2pm
Word Booty 3pm
Broken Mojo 3:45pm
Ray Long & The Highway 61 Band 4:30pm
2nd Chance 5:15pm
Open Jam 6-8pm
Bucktown Americana at Peoria Public Library North Branch 2-4pm
Deuces Wild at The Pub (Henry) 3-6pm
Jess Klein & Jenny Reynolds at Bishop Hill Creative Commons 7pm
SUNDAY OPEN STAGES THIS WEEK
East Bluff All Stars hosting at The 808 Room 3-6pm cancelled
Roy Ponce hosting at Tartan Inn 7pm-12am
This week’s post contains contributions from:
Kindall Reuschel, & Ray Watson III
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