Tonight at Black Sheep: Hallow Point, Eyes From Above, Robot Army, Kryosis

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Were there some of you saying that you wish there were more metal shows at Black Sheep? Well, tonight is your chance to come out and experience that, because we have a Saturday night metal show going on! This one features the St. Louis-based band Hallow Point. Check out what they’re all about on the youtube player embedded below. We also have the local metalcore group Eyes From Above lined up. Before that is Central-Illinois based newer metal band Kryosis. And up before them is the terrifying “Robot Army” from Jacksonville, Illinois.

Check out a facebook event for the show right here. That kicks off tonight at 7:00 pm and admission is $10. Also be sure to check out our shows page for a good look at everything else coming up at Black Sheep this fall.

October 7th at Black Sheep: Scary Movie Night

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Hey it’s more new and exciting stuff! A lot of you have suggested that we try movie showings inside Black Sheep. At the start of the summer we were trying this on Monday nights with a VCR, projector and a giant bed sheet. They went ALRIGHT. Now with October right around the corner it only seems appropriate that we try another movie night and make it a spooky one. So on Saturday, October 7th (one week from tomorrow) we will be hosting a “Scary Movie Night” in Black Sheep. We will likely be playing two movies, with the first starting at 7:00 pm. You can vote on a few options of which movies will be playing on the facebook event right here.

Again, that starts at 7:00 pm, find a facebook event right here. The flier may say “3 dollars” but we are going to go ahead and say that this is a donation-based movie night. Anything goes! Check out our shows page to look at what else is coming up this fall right here.

Today on Black Sheep Radio: Brandon Carnes

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This isn’t very exciting since he was just here about a month or so ago for Black Sheep Fest, but there IS another episode of The Black Sheep Radio Show and Brandon Carnes has flown in to co-host once again with regular host Brian Galecki. The duo will be accepting all of your best prank phone calls if you would like to call in to the station at 217-529-0312. They will also be playing your favorite local hits, including some cuts off of the new Looming album that we premiered on our site earlier this week.

The Black Sheep Radio Show airs today and every Friday from 4:00 to 6:00 pm on 88.3 WQNA fm. You can stream it online at that same time at wqna.net. Check out our radio show page for a few downloadable episodes of the past.

*Free* Show Tonight at Black Sheep: Livin’ Thing, Bottom Bracket, Old Fox Road, Water Tower Water Terror, Alvo

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We have a pretty busy weekend lined up at Black Sheep! That includes a big free show tonight, a metal show tomorrow, and then a mega huge show later on Monday. Tonight we are opening our doors to absolutely everyone for a free show – you have no excuse not to come out! Unless of course you are checking out live music over at The Radon Lounge, who also have a show going on. Tonight’s lineup has shifted a little bit since it was first announced. We have five acts lined up tonight, which includes the smashing hardcore rock n’ roll outfit band Livin’ Thing, which you can stream on the player below. Bottom Bracket was also added last minute as a replacement to Capitol Offense who will no longer be playing. Old Fox Road from Champaign/Urbana however is still on board. So is new Springfield solo project “Water Tower, Water Terror.” Opening things up right at 7:00 pm we have a solo performer in town new to the Black Sheep stage called “Arvo!” Come check it out!

This show starts right at 7:00 pm and admission is… free! Come out and bring a friend! Find a facebook event for this one right here, and also check out our shows page for a good look at everything coming up at Black Sheep this fall.

Looming: “Seed” Full Album Stream

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Today we are beyond excited to host the full album stream for Looming‘s new album Seed on our site. Check out Seed in its entirety on the player below.

 

Seed is the band’s follow up to 2015’s Nailbiter, both released by No Sleep Records. It has now been roughly four years since the band started here in Springfield in 2013. We got the chance to reflect a little bit on things with Jess, Mitch, and Brandon in the band.

I mean we basically started this band as a fun little local project that specifically wouldn’t tour. But when you have a community that’s as supportive as Black Sheep, you can’t help but go as far as you can, knowing that you have people who really believe in you. -Mitch Baker, guitar

With the writing and recording process for Seed, the band had to take a much different approach than with Nailbiter which was recorded by Brandon Carnes when Southtown Studio was in operation behind Black Sheep.

The writing process was really new to us because we had just moved to different parts of the country so it relied heavily on google docs and videos and demos. I would take the demos sent over and use a rock band USB microphone to record myself over them in my little apartment in Austin then email them back to Pittsburgh and we just did that until we had a record and finished the rest in the studio. – Jessica Knight, vocals/bass

Brandon talks about each of the band members coming out to Pittsburg one by one to record their parts for the new album. “It wasn’t until after the record was finished that we even played the songs together as a full band.” Jess says that the album itself has a theme of change and growth, which stems from some of them (herself and Brandon), leaving their hometown here in Springfield. With this album the band also brought in Nick DeMarco in on guitar. With Seed being released, the band is gearing up for their big release show at Black Sheep on Monday with Screaming Females, and a tour that will span nearly the entire month of October.

I personally feel really excited to play this show at Black Sheep and with Screaming Females because it really feels like everything has come full circle and we get to be back with our community. Every time we do this we know it is right because this is where our support system is. I’m just stoked that Screaming Females is coming back to town because they truly are one of my favorite bands. I would drive the distance and buy myself a ticket to see them, and here they are in my own backyard. – Jessica

Looking back on Looming’s four years as a band which now includes an EP and two full length albums, some slight member changes, members moving, multiple tours, and multiple tour vans, it certainly has been a wild ride for them.

When we started this band, we had no idea the impact it would have on our lives. We had no idea how many incredible people these songs would help us meet. The long drives. The van arguments that you look back and laugh at. The van accident. The outpouring of support from friends and strangers that helped us when the accident happened. Signing to a rad record label. You can’t plan for any of that. This band has absolutely transformed us, but still when we get together and practice it feels just like it did in the basement on 7th Street. – Brandon

The band has announced all of the dates for their record release tour spanning throughout most of the month of October. You can find all of those dates listed on the band’s facebook page right here.

Looming’s official album release show is this Monday, October 2nd at Black Sheep along with Screaming Females, Street Eaters, and Choir Vandals. There are still a few days left to purchase tickets in advance! You can get tickets online right here, or also at Dumb Records during the day. Find a facebook event for that one right here.

October 6th at Black Sheep: Poetry Fight Club

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Continuing the with non-standard rock n’ roll shows at Black Sheep – on Friday, October 6th we are once again trying something new and allowing a new group in town – The Poetry Fight Club – to take over our space. What’s this all about? Here’s a description of what to expect from a facebook event:

Poetry Fight Club is an intimate monthly event hosted by Johari Idusuyi and Emma Wilson. Each month, we propose a question, and then at the event, we all share a poem that centers around that month’s question. The goal is to promote the creation of new work through these prompts, and also to encourage attendees to get comfortable sharing what they’ve written.

For October we ask: What are you harvesting? This prompt is extremely open and flexible! Interpret it how ever you would like. To participate in Poetry Fight Club, bring a poem that answers this question to share with the group.

Bring a pen and paper too for a writing exercise.

This will kick off at 6:30 pm on Friday, October 6th. Feel free to come out if it sounds like something you would be interested in! Admission is $3. Find a facebook event for this one right here. Also be sure to check out our shows page for a good look at what else is coming up at Black Sheep this autumn.

Tonight at Black Sheep: Clothing Swap + Reggae Night

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After our last roundtable meeting earlier this month bringing up many that had ideas and suggestions as far as what they want to see or help book at our space, we are taking some things on different from the regular ol’ show. Tonight we will be hosting a clothing swap inside of Black Sheep! This will be paired up with a DJ night of sorts by Jim Whitehead of Animals With Human Names who will be playing all of his favorite reggae cuts off of vinyl. Here’s an explanation of the clothing swap from the facebook event:

Beyond being economical, eco-friendly, and an excuse to clean out your closet, a swap party is a great time to make new friends and find new threads! Please bring clean goods in gently used condition this includes clothes, shoes, books, bags and jewelry. Guests should also come with an extra tote bag for carting home their finds.

Admission for this is $5 – bring five bucks and whatever stuff you would like to submit to the swap, and then you can just go inside and take whatever you like! Pretty cool. This is happening that night from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Check out a facebook event right here. Also check our shows page for all of the events coming up inside Black Sheep this fall.

Tonight at WUIS: “A Glimpse Into The Underground” Art Exhibition

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Tonight! We do not have a show or anything going on at Black Sheep tonight, however there is an opening for an art exhibition at the WUIS building on the University of Illinois campus (One University Plaza, WUIS-130) that very much relates to our space and a lot of the shows we have hosted. That is the opening for the “Glimpse Into The Underground” art exhibition, featuring the works of Brian Galecki (Dumb Records, Black Sheep, Dumb Fest), Kamila Glowacki (Nectar, Girls Rock C-U), and Veronica Mullen (Dumb Fest, Blips & Chitz, Ghoul Jr.). The opening will be taking place this evening from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. This will include poster and album artwork on display, as well as plenty of photos from Veronica. Brian Galecki will have limited edition screen printed posters available for sale just for the showing.

Check out short interviews NPR Illinois and Rachel Otwell organized to preview the show right here. Find a facebook event right here. After today’s opening the gallery will remain open to the public for viewing during the day up until November 3rd. Also check out a video preview of what to expect below:

New Band Pages: The Little Death

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Good morning and welcome to another week. This week’s featured band with a new band page on our site is “The Little Death.” They describe themselves as that “self-deprecation emo-indie rock” and you can find more about the band as well as check out one of their music videos on their newly created band page right here. The Little Death do not have any shows lined up at Black Sheep as of right now, but keep an eye out in the near future!

Our current total current band count in Springfield by band pages on our site is now at 45. (We cleaned up the list a bit this weekend). Check those all out on our current bands page right here. Do you play in a band here in town or are a solo project that has not yet set up a page with us? Email us at blacksheepspringfield@gmail.com and we would love to work with you to set something up!

NPR Illinois: “A Glimpse Into The Underground” Art Exhibition Preview

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WUIS / NPR Illinois has posted a nice preview segment for the upcoming art exhibition “A Glimpse Into The Underground” featuring the works of Brian Galecki, Kamila Glowacki, and Veronica Mullen. The exhibition will have its opening this coming Tuesday from 5:00 to 7:00 pm in the WUIS building on the UIS campus. After that the pieces will remain on display for public viewing for over a month until November 3rd.

You can check out the full preview segment on the NPR Illinois site right here. Interview segments have also been airing on WUIS 91.9 throughout this weekend. On the segment you can check out interview pieces with all of the artists, and also a video interview with Brian Galecki about the exhibition, also on the youtube player below.

Find a facebook event for the upcoming art exhibition right here.