We have great news! Since adding live music through First Fridays Amplified, more people than ever are participating in First Fridays! It’s exciting stuff and I know all the musicians and artists appreciate your support!
Here are some photos and videos from August’s First Fridays Amplified, featuring The Hangovers at Soulside Healing Arts, Devin C. Williams at the Contemporary Arts Center, Chloe Mae at Studios on Sheridan, and Preston Jackson and John Miller at Casa de Arte.
And while you’re checking out the photos and videos, make your weekend live-music-to-do list! We’ve got 50+ opportunities to see live music listed for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
There’s a lot of music happening in Peoria. Go see some of it!
FRIDAY 8/21
Ryan Massey at Country Saloon 6pm
Kasino at Wildlife Prairie Park 6-9pm (Hanna City)
James and Sarah at Michaels Italian Feast 6-9pm (Germantown Hills)
Decade of Decadence wsg NEON NOVA at Peoria Riverfront 7-11pm
Johnny Quest at Kellehers On Water 7-10pm
Taylor Bruninga & The Bandits at Oz'z Bar & Grill 7pm
Black Velvet at Whitey's On 29 7pm (Creve Coeur)
3 and a Half Men at Brienzo's Pizza + Bar 7pm (Orange Prairie Rd)
Brian Carrol Trio at Peacocks Pub Sports Bar & Grill 7-10pm
Michael Acoustic at Rosies Wine Bar 7-9pm (Peoria Heights)
Harlem Hayfield w/ Joel Graggs & The Filaments at Kenny's Westside 7pm
Cemetery Gatez & The Plumbers at Twisted Spoke Saloon 7-11pm (Pekin)
T Minus 3 at Martini's On Water Street 7:30-11:30pm
Jump: America’s VanHalen Experience at Canton Opera House Plaza 7:30pm
CB Radio at Tin Lizard Bar & Grill 8-11pm
AJ Schmall & The Funny Business at Oliver's in the Heights 8-11pm
The Wes Duffy Project at Brasky's Bar & Grill 8pm
Kayla Brooke & The Willow Strings at Office on Main 8-11pm (Morton)
Fusion Mellow at Industry Brewing 8pm
Don’t forget to check out our YouTube channel! (We have more being added there all the time, so be sure and subscribe.)
SATURDAY 8/22
Sista and the Misters at Eastside Centre 10am (East Peoria)
The Great Heights Jamboree in Tower Park 1pm
Central Illinois Banjo Club 1pm
New Cats Bluegrass Trio 2:15pm
Brainchild 5pm
The Damned Torpedos 7pm
Kris Lager Band 9pm
Ryan Massey at The Groove 1pm (Fairview)
Good N' Rowdy Band at Yates City Harvest Home Festival 5pm
Colt Ball at Tartan Inn 5-9pm
Chicago Farmer & The Fieldnotes w/ John Till at Evergreen Farm 5pm (Metamora)
The Wolf and Gypsy Band at The Groove 6-10pm (Fairview)
The Bleed at Veterans Pub & Pizza 6-9pm
Chris Hawkins at Sankoty Lakes 6-9pm (Spring Bay)
Renegade Trio with Brandon Callaway at Whiskey Taco 6pm (Pekin)
Freedom Street w/ Stephen Stills at Contemporary Art Center of Peoria 6:30-8:30pm
Balderdash at Industry Brewing 7-10pm
Sushi Roll at Mackinaw Valley Winery 7-11pm
Full Circle at Kellehers On Water 7-10pm
Neon Night wsg Neon Nova at Big Catz BBQ 7-11pm (Knoxville)
Kernel Corn & the Hazy Brews at Rocket Tap 7-10pm (Lewistown)
Sadistic Cowboys at Oz'z Bar & Grill 7pm
Highway J at Pour Bros. Courtyard Concert Series 8-11pm
Jonny Quest at Martini's on Water Street 8pm-12am
Do you have this piece of Peoria music history yet? Now is the time!
Order from Harmonize Peoria HERE: https://bit.ly/everypicture2026
or pick up at:
Riverfront Museum
Younger Than Yesterday
Asbury Fox at Oliver's in the Heights 8pm
Triple Threat at Crusens War Memorial 8pm
Heads In Motion at Friendly Valley Tavern 8pm
The Holdouts at Katie's Corner Tap 8-11pm (Groveland)
Austyn Weston Band at The Neon Bison 8pm
Blue Stew at Office on Main (Morton) 8-11pm
Adara Rae at Country Saloon 8-11pm
Stereo Typical at Whitey's On 29 8:30pm (Creve Coeur)
Next Thing Smokin' at The Tin Lizard 9pm-12am
As usual, the photos from the bands are all mixed together, so make sure you scroll all the way through them!
SUNDAY 8/23
Emmalyn Paul at Tres Rojas Winery 1-4pm (Washington)
Stone Cold Cowboy's at Big Horse Vineyards 1-4pm (Lewistown)
James Herr Acoustic and Sarah Marie Dillard at Hidden Hills Vineyard and Winery 1-4pm (Galesburg)
Eli Gaddie and Adara Rae at Oz'z Bar & Grill 2-6pm
Sly Dog Acoustics at Chillicothe American Legion 3-6pm
SUNDAY OPEN STAGES THIS WEEK
Peoria Rhythm Kings at Countyline Tap 2-5pm
Lonesome Jones hosting at Christy's Place 3-6pm
Roy Ponce hosting at Tartan Inn 7-11pm
This week’s post contains contributions from:
Kindall Reuschel, Bennett Rose, & Vesper Goldman
_______
Want to make sure your events are on our Facebook page? Add Peoria Music Live as a co-host on the event page and we'll help share the word about your upcoming show!
_______
Social media providers sometimes make changes that prevent us from interacting with you the way we do now.
So, we'd love to add you to our VIP email list, just in case.
And don't worry, we don’t like getting too many emails either.
If we send something, we’ll make it count!
Fill out the form below, or send your email address to Kindall@PeoriaMusicLive.com