March 3rd at Black Sheep: Falter, Pryss, Burdened, Thieves, Nagasaki

Posted on February 26, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

Here’s a show we just haven’t quite made an official announcement for yet on our site but it is coming up quick and it is going to be a big one. This upcoming Friday, March 3rd we have Falter returning to Black Sheep from Milwaukee for the first time since their crushing performance at the first day of Dumb Fest 4-Ever this past summer. They will be bringing the hardcore, and bringing it hard. Check out some of Falter’s music on the player below. Also on this show we have Springfield heavy hitting punk band Pryss. Also Burdened from Chicago will be performing, and so will Thieves – both bands have performed at Black Sheep a few years back. Opening things up we will have Nagasaki getting the crowd rowdied up.

This show will be starting at 7:00 pm and admission is $7. It’s our only show happening next weekend! 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 other shows are coming up at Black Sheep in the near future.

The Springfield Business Journal: “Hope For a Bright Future”

Posted on February 26, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

Looking at the cover, most of you wouldn’t think that the cover of the Springfield Business Journal for the month of March 2017 has anything to do with what we are doing at Black Sheep or Dumb Records. The headline is “Hope For A Bright Future” and has a photo of Clavin Pitts who is director of a new Southtown-based business called South Town Training Center. Calvin has been hard at work renovating two buildings located at 1124 and 1122 South Grand Ave East, right across the street from Dumb Records and right next door to Walch’s Stained Glass Studio for close to a year now. From the article:

Inside a nondescript brick building in Springfield’s South Town business district, a wall covered with clear acrylic instead of drywall illustrates various tools and electrical wiring standards. Between the wooden studs, next to lineman pliers and a conduit bender, are inspirational messages about leadership and discipline.

Calvin Pitts built the wall as a teaching aid inside his South Town Training Center, which he’s opening this year as a space dedicated to offering construction training for people who might not have any other opportunity for a career. It’s an expansion of work Pitts started four years ago, providing job training and a healthy dose of hope. Soon, his students will learn skills such as solar panel installation and radon testing and mitigation through partnerships with other Springfield organizations.

Check out the full Springfield Business Journal online right here. The South Town Training Center’s program is set to be in full effect this spring as they are putting finishing touches on getting the buildings ready. It is certainly great to see new businesses popping up in our neighborhood!

Dumb Records Open Mic Tonight

Posted on February 26, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

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Would you look at that, our second ever open mic night to take place inside of Dumb Records is happening tonight! The lineup for it is stacked to the brim too- and features a wide variety of bands, solo performers, and even a film premier. That’s right. Let’s take a look at the lineup which starts at 7:00 pm:

9:45-10:00 – Nighthawk’s DEBUT feature film
9:30-9:45 – Rashann J Ford
9:15-9:30 – Keller Carter Walsh Trio
9:00-9:15 – Bradford Walsh
8:45-9:00 – Bernie Flesch
8:30-8:45 – Opposite Good
8:15-8:30 – (open)
8:00-8:15 – Ian Winterbauer
7:45-8:00 – Savv Sativa
7:30-7:45 – Eric Marvel
7:15-7:30 – Relativity
7:00-7:15 – Relativity

There you have it! 11 performances crammed into one night. If you would still like to perform on this open mic we encourage you to come out and talk to us- chances are one or two acts will drop from the lineup and we will make things work out.

Things start at the record store (1107 South Grand Ave East) tonight at 7:00 pm. There is also a 20% discount off of everything in the store during the open mic. The event itself of course is free. Check out a facebook event right here. Also check out our shows page for a list of everything coming up in Southtown right here.

Tonight at Black Sheep: Wabeno Rock Farm, Starlorde, Kowabunga! Kid, The Suction Cups

Posted on February 25, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

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Yes, it’s real. Tonight will be a show for the truest of the weirdos featuring the one and only mythical and legendary weirdo rock band Wabeno Rock Farm from Harrison, Wisconsin. Listen to their newest album streaming on the player below. This show will be all sorts of fun. We also have the intergalactic super space band Starlorde on the bill. Before them is a return of our friends Kowabunga! Kid from Champaign-Urbana. And opening things up tonight we actually have The Suction Cups, who are also from somewhere out of this world.

This tonight all starts at 7:00 pm and admission is $7. Check out a facebook event for the show right here. Also be sure to check out our shows page for a list of all the other shows we have coming up at Black Sheep.

Today on Black Sheep Radio: Lisa Stott (Downtown Springfield Inc.)

Posted on February 24, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

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We are very excited for our guest coming on to The Black Sheep Radio Show today! Going along with our downtown theme the past few episodes (last we we had Katie Davison of Innovate Springfield, and before that was Linda Renehan of Springfield Vintage)- this week we have the head of Downtown Springfield Inc herself, Lisa Stott. From their website, Downtown Springfield’s mission is to “increase economic and cultural vitality in the downtown district.” We’ll be talking to Lisa more about new things happening downtown, how it relates to Southtown, and more things to expect from Springfield in the future! On top of that of course we’ll be playing all of your favorite hits from local artists and bands who are coming to town.

Tune in to the Black Sheep Radio Show today and every Friday from 4:00 to 6:00 pm on 88.3 WQNA fm, or online at the same time at wqna.net. For a list of downloadable episodes of the past go to our radio page.

Tonight at Black Sheep: Free Kittens & Bread, Old Fox Road, Gadget, Bottom Bracket

Posted on February 20, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

It’s a Monday night – and some of you don’t have work or school due to some holiday going on so it sounds like a perfect night for a show to happen at Black Sheep. Tonight we have the band Free Kittens & Bread returning from Texas after playing here last year in 2016. Check out some of their newer music streaming on the player below. We also have the full on electric pop punk, once folk punk band Old Fox Road on the bill. Then coming from Decatur, Illinois is the three-piece pop punk band Gadget. Opening things up tonight we will have “Bottom Bracket” (once called “Christmas Canamela” or “Roman Candle Drive-By”).

This show will start at 7:00 pm tonight and admission is only $5. 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 these next few months.

Tonight at Black Sheep & Dumb Records: Crowns, Stems, Sidelined, Low Weather, P.I.N.T., Mysery, Black Bloc, Gutterpriest

Posted on February 18, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

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Tonight we have the ‘ol classic double header happening tonight inside Black Sheep and Dumb Records. There will be six whole bands playing inside Black Sheep and two inside of Dumb Records for a whole eight bands total! (yikes)!

Let’s take a look at the Black Sheep show first. Tonight we have returning champs from Indiana, Sidelined playing this show. They have played Black Sheep a good number of times in many years past. Then the main touring act on this gig (we think) is Crowns from Nashville, Tennessee. You can check out some of their music streaming on the player below. We also have the grungy as ever three piece from Taylorville, Illinois on this show- Stems. And a FOURth band from outside of Springfield “Low Weather” is playing. They are coming all the way from Seattle, Washington (wow that’s a lot of music from all over the place). The local acts on this bill are solo project Pretend I’m Not There, and other solo project Mystery (maybe the shortened version of Mystery Gift)?

Then inside DUMB RECORDS happening in between bands at Black Sheep we have a couple of noise acts lined up. Those will be Black Bloc (noise electronic act from New York), and also the intense local noisecore act Gutterpriest. Black Bloc also performed at South Town Studio last summer.

Things are going to be kicking off right at 7:00 pm over at Black Sheep. The Black Sheep show is $8, and we will just be taking donations over at the Dumb Records stage. 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 everything else coming up in 2017 at Black Sheep.

Today on Black Sheep Radio: Katie Davison (Innovate Springfield)

Posted on February 17, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

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Today is Friday, so it’s another episode of The Black Sheep Radio Show! This week we are mixing things up a little bit 0nce again and will be featuring a guest less on the musical side of things, but more on the local *cool things going on in Springfield* side of things. Today’s guest is Katie Davison, executive director of Innovate Springfield – the new business incubator located in downtown Springfield. We’ll be talking to Katie about what Innovate Springfield does, and what’s happening in downtown Springfield. (There she is pictured above as seen on an episode of The Studio Show). Check out that full bit on The Studio Show right here.

The Black Sheep Radio Show airs today and every Friday from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. Katie will be joining us as guest halfway through at 5:00 pm. Stream on 88.3 WQNA fm or online at wqna.net. Also check out our radio page for a list of downloadable episodes of the past.

Tonight at Black Sheep: “217 Day Music Fest!”

Posted on February 17, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

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It’s February 17th! Or 2-17, or “217 Day” for those of you who are proud to be living in that 217 area code. Since 2-17 day just so happens to be on a Friday night in February and the weather is hot outside, we are holding a big show / (almost) music festival inside Black Sheep tonight. This one is thanks to the Kick-It Coalition! Tonight we give you a mix of hip hop and other genres for a full night of some of what the 217 area code has to offer! The event will be going on most of the night from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm. Let’s take a look at who’s lined up:

Young Blu
Archie
Rula
Lucky
Montana Fivehunna
Omeezy
Wicked Sweet
TJ Byrd
Doogie
Steffy Ballin
Kool Krew
Rustocrat
Nefarious Cloud
Co Pilots
Prince Louie V
Johnny Music
Lumbajack
AMG / Blackhood
So Real
Samuel Taylor

That’s right, 20 whole acts all jam-packed into one night! Check out some of Rustocrat’s music streaming on the player below. This whole show is starting right at 7:00pm, and guess what- it’s only $2.00 (we rounded down from $2.17). Check out a facebook event for this one right here. Also be sure to check out our shows page on our site right here for a better look at everything coming up at Black Sheep in the next few months.

March 1st at Black Sheep: Open Fields, Spooky Poo, Stereo Static

Posted on February 14, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

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Look at that show with those nice little snapshots of those bands! We have a sweet little three-band show happening here on Wednesday, March 1st to tell you about. This show features the psychedelic rock band Open Fields from Little Rock, Arkansas who will be on tour. Check out their music on the player below. Pretty neat! We also have some familiar locals on the bill. This includes the two-piece indie folk project Spooky Poo from Decatur. And also the alternative grunge rock band Stereo Static will be taking the stage for this one.

This show will start at 7:00 pm and admission is $5. Check out a facebook event for the show right here. Also be sure to check out our shows page for a better look at everything else coming up at Black Sheep these next few months.