It’s maybe been a little while since we have added any new pages or features to the Black Sheep site. Today we are launching a new page on the site called “Booking.” The page is fairly simple- we want to guide bands looking for shows in our area and people trying to book shows at Black Sheep in the right direction. We always have our booking email set up as blacksheepcafe.217@gmail.com.

To find the new page just hover over the “About” tab and then click on the pull down bar that says “Booking”. Or you can just click this link.

Here at blacksheepspringfield.com, we do our best to stay on top of things.  We have been trying hard to deliver at least one news post a day as well as keep our shows pages and band pages up to date.  However, the few of us working on the site are starting to realize that we are not able to keep up with these tasks on our own.  We need more editors helping us keep things updated!  If you are interested in helping write posts, seek out news stories, update show or band pages, etc. then we need you!  Email us at blacksheepspringfield@gmail.com if you are interested in becoming an editor.

Here at blacksheepspringfield.com we are always trying to update and improve our website.  Today we are bringing you a brand new feature, and that is the new FAQ (frequently asked questions) section!  http://blacksheepspringfield.com/faq/  There will always be a link to this new section in the pages tabs under the website banner.

We have compiled the list of questions that we are commonly getting asked through email, facebook, and at shows.  If you have any ideas for other questions that could be featured in this feature, then send them to blacksheepspringfield@gmail.com.

It’s here!!!  We have a new webstore that is up and running!!!

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Wow!  Now all of you who missed out on getting shirts during Black Sheep fest can pre-order new shirts of any size!  We also have Patchwork 2012 CDs and Black Sheep fest posters for sale!  Any items ordered can be picked up at Black Sheep during any show, just email us at blacksheepspringfield@gmail.com when you would like to pick orders up, or talk to Kevin.  If you wish to purchase items on our webstore at a Black Sheep show that can also happen.  If you live far away and can not pick orders up at a show then we can ship them to you!  It all works out!

Hopefully our new web store is something that will continue to grow.  If you are a band that would like to donate any CDs, tapes, or merchandise to the web store then get a hold of us at blacksheepspringfield@gmail.com.  All money made from the new web store will be going to fund future projects and running costs at Black Sheep.

Have any ideas on what future projects we can take on?  Don’t have any ideas but just want to help do something?  We are holding a roundtable meeting this Sunday at 3:00 pm at Black Sheep before the 7:00 show.  Anyone is welcome to join.

Quick update!

As we are approaching fall at Black Sheep, plenty of new and exciting things are happening and we are also preparing for some new additions to the website.

First off a lot of you have been asking about Black Sheep shirts.  We sold out of the black shirts we had at the fest this year, but we would like to make new ones soon.  Right now we are working on an online web store where shirts and other items can eventually be purchased.

Some of you may have noticed with The Limiates‘ band page, we set up a new Black Sheep bandcamp.  A long term goal of this site is to add pages for most past and broken up bands in Springfield.  This may include uploading old releases onto bandcamp pages, which is where the Black Sheep bandcamp comes in.  We encourage you all to check out the blog “Some Things Can’t Be Ignored” as well, where a lot of old Springfield releases are featured.  And if you want to talk to us about getting your old band’s music on our bandcamp player and streaming on the site then email us at blacksheepspringfield@gmail.com.

Lastly for the site, we plan on setting up a FAQ page for Black Sheep consisting of questions we are often asked about shows and the venue, as well as long and thorough answers to those questions.  If you have any ideas for any FAQs then feel free to email us at blacksheepspringfield@gmail.com.  Also if you have any other ideas on what we could add to the site then join in on discussion in our forum.  Speaking of our forum, there is a new thread for those of you interested in finding people to start bands with which you can find here.

Another reminder that we are having our first meet-n-greet flier-hang-up session tomorrow. We’re going to be talking about the street team basics, and the logistics behind it, then we will hit streets so to speak. We will be meeting at 1:30 pm outside of Prairie Archives and across from the old State Capitol. Fliers and tape will be provided.

Thanks again for all of your support!  And be on the lookout for more updates soon!

Hi everybody!  Welcome to what is now the official Black Sheep website.  This is hopefully the beginning to a long and on-going project to raise awareness for the Springfield Illinois music scene and every hard working band and musician in town.  The goal of this site will be to better organize band and show information, as well as update everyone on any music related news and going-ons around town.

Right now we would like to thank everyone who helped contribute band information for the band pages as well as those who helped with any other part of the site.  Your help means a lot.  If you are a band or a musician in town and have not yet talked to us about setting up a page, we would love to hear from you.  Send an email to blacksheepspringfield@gmail.com.

We would also like to thank everyone that came out to Black Sheep Fest 2012 on Saturday.  This was the by far the most fun and well-attended fest we have had yet and it was great to celebrate seven years of being an all ages venue with a bunch of great bands and supportive people.  Pictures from Saturday are being organized and developed right now and you can be on the lookout for a feature on the site with some pictures and videos sometime soon.

In the meantime, feel free to explore what the site has to offer.  Read Kevin’s story of how The Black Sheep came to be in our “about” section.  See what shows are coming up at Black Sheep and around Springfield in our “shows” section.  Find some new and old local bands  through our band pages.  Check out other local businesses and projects in the “community” page.  The vids/pics is under construction still, but feel free to look at that too.  Then head over to the forum and tell us what you think.  We want to hear what’s working and what isn’t, and what kinds of things you want to see featured.