Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Illinois Times Best of 2016: Nominees

Posted on by
Reply

BOS_Logo2016.png

It’s the time of the year again for The Illinois Times to open up their ballots for your vote of your favorite local businesses, people, bands and other things for the year 2016. We aren’t quite there yet though- before the actual voting begins there is a nomination period of the polling, which has started right now and goes until September 4th.

To nominate your favorites for different categories of the poll, go here. Categories are split up into music/arts, food, people, local life, and places. Specific favorites include best large and small music venue, best punk band, best rock/pop band, and more. Feel free to nominate anyone you see fit!

August 30th at Dumb Records: Stand-Up Comedy Show

Posted on by
Reply

14141668_10100232384446988_6080427797244389970_n.jpg

Just when you were thinking that Southtown*** (check out Donnie B’s comedy club for Springfield comedy) was lacking some good stand-up comedy shows, here is Dumb Records to the rescue. This one is happening in just a couple of days- this upcoming Tuesday, August 30th. We will be hosting a few comedians in the store as the metal show next door in Black Sheep is coming to a close. The comedians on deck include Dan Alten from Bloomington, Indiana and Eric Sorgel from Nashville, TN- both of which did a comedy/hardcore split show with Diaper Rash at one point a little over a year ago. It was a good time. This time around we have Brandon Judd, comedian from St. Louis opening things up for them, and also possibly a little bit by Devon Fluelen?

The comedy show will be likely starting inside Dumb Records around 9:00 pm. We are taking $5 donations for the touring comedians. You can check out 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 and Southtown this fall.

Tonight at Black Sheep: Spooky Poo, Gadget, Bring On The Fall, Skunkworks

Posted on by
Reply

13814052_145513829221714_600846204963356938_n-1.jpg

There is a show happening at Black Sheep tonight! And hey, it’s the weekend! This will also been the seventh show that has happened in the past ten days, we sure are busy! Tonight we have four bands, all of which participated in our Black Sheep Battle of the Bands last month. This includes Decatur’s own two-piece project “Spooky Poo” which you can find streaming below. We also have Spooky Poo’s cousin band also from Decatur, Gadget, playing tonight. Before that is Bring On The Fall from Taylorville, Illinois brinning the rock. And the fourth and final band we have on the bill is the Jacksonville-based and talented “Skunkworks” who actually won our judges portion of our battle of the bands last month.

The show tonight will start at 7:00 pm and admission is $5. You can find a facebook event for tonight right here. Also be sure to check out our shows page for a good look at what else is coming up at Black Sheep in the next month or so.

Tonight at Black Sheep: Selector Dub Narcotic, Epsom, SAP

Posted on by
Reply

13698267_10209518277741552_8966160039034333728_o

Alright, tonight it is time to boogie at Black Sheep! We have a show happening featuring Selector Dub Narcotic – the new project featuring Calvin Johnson of Beat Happening and K Records. If you are unfamiliar with Calvin’s work, this documentary might be a place to start, or check out his wikipedia page. Stream the new album by Selector Dub Narcotic below. Also on this show is the face melting rock band, Epsom. Then opening things up we have the sweet grungy punk band SAP.

The show tonight will start at 7:00 pm and admission this time around is $6. You can check out a facebook event for the show right here. Also be sure to check out our shows page for a good look at everything coming up at Black Sheep in the next few weeks.

Tonight at Black Sheep: Stereo Static, Vonne, Blind Social, The Incorporated, Fill In The Blank, Gadget

Posted on by
Reply

13699972_1784572988446346_6260591516388848859_n.jpg

We have a good amount of bands all from the area playing tonight at Black Sheep, this one is being called the “Sunset Spectacular Show” and it is sure to be a good time. This includes six bands. At the top of the bill we have the alternative rock band “Stereo Static” who set up the show. You can stream some of their music on the player below. We also have the all-local pop group Vonne performing (formerly known as “The Locals”). We also have Fill In The Blank, filling in all of those blanks on this show. Then we have Gadget– an emo band from Decatur who will actually also be playing our Battle of the Bands on July 9th (very cool). Before them we have Blind Social on the bill, the alternative rock n’ roll indie rock band. Check out some of Blind Social’s music on the player below. Last band is The Incorporated! based out of Litchfield and Macomb these days (we think). We are not sure what order those bands are going to play, so show up early and catch the whole thing!

The show tonight will start at 6:30 pm, and admission is only $5 for 6 bands. You can find a facebook event for the show 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 summer and fall!

New Arrivals This Week at Dumb Records

Posted on by
Reply

arrivals.jpg

Southtown record store Dumb Records (1107 South Grand Ave. East) is still going strong this summer, and is also very very close to getting that giant elephant. Click the link right here to purchase that limited edition elephant shirt that will go towards getting that giant statue to go right next to the store. This week the store has a few used records and 7″s hitting the shelves. Let’s take a look at the operation hours and then dive into the new arrivals:

Tuesday (today): noon – 8:00 pm
Wednesday: noon – 8:00 pm
Thursday: noon – 8:00 pm
Friday (show): noon – 9:00 pm
Saturday (show): noon – 9:00 pm
Sunday (show): noon – 9:00 pm
Monday: noon – 8:00 pm

Used LPs
Bing Crosby – Bing Crosby
Blood, Sweat, & Tears – 3
Brick – Good High
Carole King – Music
Daryl Hall / John Oats – Livetime
Eddie Dean – The Golden Cowboy
Gordon MacRae – Cowboy’s Lament
George Jones – Love Bug
Gypsy – Gypsy
James Gang – Rides Again
The Lettermen – …and “Live!”
Margie Joseph – Knockout (Special Mix)
Michael Parks – The Best of Michael Parks
Olivia Newton-John – Totally Hot
The Outsiders – Album #2
The Outsiders – Time Won’t Let Me
Pat Boone – Memories
Peter And Gordon – I Don’t Want To See You Again
Peter, Paul and Mary – A Song Will Rise
Rare Earth – Get Ready
Stonewall Jackson – Trouble & Me
Tennessee Ernie Ford – Sixteen Tons

Used 7”s
Paul McCartney / Michael Jackson – Say Say Say
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Travelin’ Band / Who’ll Stop The Rain
The Rolling Stones – Paint It Black / Stupid Girl
USA for Africa – We Are The World

WUIS: “The Scene Meets The Absurdist People’s Theatre”

Posted on by
Reply

13988247_10209532806092583_9151955088811042562_o.jpg

We are all about the theater performance happening this weekend today on Blacksheepspringfield.com, that is for sure! We felt like we had to mention this segment that WUIS and The Scene put together on the performances of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” this weekend. Hosts Rachel Otwell and Scott Faingold sat down with The Absurdist People’s Theatre to talk about the new theater group and what some of us can expect to see inside Black Sheep this weekend.

You can find the episode of The Scene streaming on the player below. Also head over to the WUIS site to stream it there or find older episodes of The Scene, which airs once a week. The first performance of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” kicks off tonight at 7:00 pm.

Today + Tonight at Black Sheep: “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” Performances 2 & 3

Posted on by
Reply

13906846_324239454583499_7435659575580874465_n.jpg

The critics agree, last night was the first performance of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” at Black Sheep, and it was amazing! We encourage anyone who missed last night to check out one of the two plays going on today! We have two performances – one at 1:00 pm and the other at 7:00 pm. You can expect both to be around 3 hours long with intermission, and there will also be discussion at the end for anyone who wants to stick around after that. Go ahead and RSVP on either facebook event if you are interested in attending:

1:00PM PERFORMANCE

7:00PM PERFORMANCE

Also check out The Absurdist People’s Theater facebook page!

Tonight at Black Sheep: “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” (First Performance)

Posted on by
Reply

Screen Shot 2016-08-12 at 8.07.53 AM.png

We can hardly hold back excitement for the things happening at Black Sheep tonight! This weekend we are being taken over by a new DIY Theater group in town – The Absurdist People’s Theatre Troupe – and they will be holding four performances of Edward Albee’s play “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.”

Tonight is the very first performance of the play, kicking off at 7:00 pm. We hear seating for this one is going to be limited for this one! If you intend on going, try to RSVP on the facebook event right here. Tickets are $12, and of course the event is all ages. There will also be three other performances taking place this weekend – two on Saturday and also one on Sunday. More info on all of that can be found on The Absurdist People’s Theatre Troupe’s facebook page.

Today on Black Sheep Radio: The Absurdist People’s Theatre Troupe

Posted on by
Reply

theater.jpg

Of course many of you may know that we have some exciting and new things happening at Black Sheep this weekend. We will be hosting the first ever theater performance inside of our venue, with “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” being performed four times over the course of tonight, Saturday, and Sunday. The cast for this new play is shown above. The play is being put together by a brand new group in town called “The People’s Absurdist Theatre Troup.” We have two or three of them coming in on The Black Sheep Radio Show today to talk to us about what exactly will be going down at Black Sheep this weekend and what their new group is all about.

You can listen to The Black Sheep Radio Show today and every Friday from 4:00 to 6:00 pm on 88.3 WQNA fm, or online the same time at wqna.net. Check out a few of our old episodes up for download on our radio show page.