Things To Do: Chicago, Blackberry Smoke headline musical entertainment

Steven Spearie, State Journal-Register
·3 min read
The 56-year-old rock band with horns, Chicago, will play the Performing Arts Center at the University of Illinois Springfield on Saturday. Original members Robert Lamm, Lee Loughnane and James Pankow are still touring.
The 56-year-old rock band with horns, Chicago, will play the Performing Arts Center at the University of Illinois Springfield on Saturday. Original members Robert Lamm, Lee Loughnane and James Pankow are still touring.

A number of touring bands come to the Springfield area this weekend, including Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Chicago Saturday at the Performing Arts Center on the campus of the University of Illinois Springfield.

The touring show "The Lincolns of Springfield" begins its stretch at the Hoogland Center for the Arts on Thursday.

And the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes have five home dates over the next week at Robin Roberts Stadium.

Trumpeter Lee Loughnane and Chicago play the Performing Arts Center on the campus of the University of Illinois Springfield on Saturday.
Trumpeter Lee Loughnane and Chicago play the Performing Arts Center on the campus of the University of Illinois Springfield on Saturday.

Chicago...Alive Again

The veteran rock band Chicago returns to Springfield for the first time since 2019.

Self-described as "a rock and roll band with horns," this marks Chicago's 56th year of touring.

Its catalog of hits includes "25 or 6 to 4," "Hard to Say I'm Sorry," If You Leave Me Now," "Feelin' Stronger Every Day," "Beginnings," "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" and "(I've Been) Searchin' So Long."

On keyboards for Chicago Robert Lamm performs at the DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston Sunday, July 25, 2021. Lee Loughnane, on trumpet, performs behind him.
On keyboards for Chicago Robert Lamm performs at the DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston Sunday, July 25, 2021. Lee Loughnane, on trumpet, performs behind him.

Three touring members - Robert Lamm on keyboards, Lee Loughnane on trumpet and James Pankow on trombone - date back to the band's founding in 1967.

The five-time Grammy Award-winning group was the focus of a 2022 documentary “The Last Band on Stage” narrated by Joe Mantegna.

The band Chicago performs at the Performing Arts Center on the campus of the University of Illinois Springfield Saturday.
The band Chicago performs at the Performing Arts Center on the campus of the University of Illinois Springfield Saturday.

Tickets are $60.50-$180.50.

Sangamon County Fair

It's county fair time again.

The Sangamon County Fair in New Berlin runs Wednesday through Sunday. Featured Grandstand entertainment includes Blackberry Smoke ("Pretty Little Lie") with opener Stoney LaRue on Thursday; a Rodeo on Friday; a Demo Derby on Saturday and IPA and ITPA Tractor Pull on Sunday.

Blackberry Smoke plays at the Sangamon County Fair in New Berlin Thursday. Stoney LaRue opens for the band.
Blackberry Smoke plays at the Sangamon County Fair in New Berlin Thursday. Stoney LaRue opens for the band.

For the kids, the Springfield Area Home Builders Association is sponsoring LEGO building contests Friday and Saturday. There's also carnival attractions and a free petting zoo.

For more information and complete schedules, visit the fair's website.

The 90s band FireHouse brings hits like "Love of A Lifetime" to the Sherman Village Park Amphitheater Friday.
The 90s band FireHouse brings hits like "Love of A Lifetime" to the Sherman Village Park Amphitheater Friday.

Revisit the 90s with FireHouse

The 90s glam band FireHouse plays at the Sherman Village Park Amphitheater, 1200 Rail Fence Road, at 7 p.m. Friday.

The quartet is best known for its hits "Love of A Lifetime," "Don't Treat Me Bad," "When I Look Into Your Eyes," "I Live My Life For You" and "Here For You."

Sherman's Kelsey Hickman opens up the show.

Tickets are $25-$30 and available at the Concert Series website or by calling 217-496-2621.

"The Lincolns of Springfield" comes to the Hoogland Center for the Arts Thursday.
"The Lincolns of Springfield" comes to the Hoogland Center for the Arts Thursday.

'The Lincolns of Springfield' in...Springfield

"The Lincolns of Springfield," the story of how Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd met and became "America's first power couple," premiers at the Peggy Ryder Theater at the Hoogland Center for the Arts on Thursday.

The promotional material labels the musical with Broadway actors and actresses "in the grand tradition of Rodgers and Hammerstein or Lerner and Loewe."

Curtain times are at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday with 3 p.m. matinees Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $22-$32 and available at the HCFTA website.

Springfield Lucky Horseshoes center fielder Nasir Frederick slides into third base during the third inning against Clinton in a Prospect League contest at Robin Roberts Stadium on Friday, July 1.
Springfield Lucky Horseshoes center fielder Nasir Frederick slides into third base during the third inning against Clinton in a Prospect League contest at Robin Roberts Stadium on Friday, July 1.

Horseshoes home

The Springfield Lucky Horseshoes of the Prospect League have five home games at Robin Roberts Stadium over the next week.

Thursday and Friday the 'Shoes take on the Jackson Rockabillys. Thursday is Fiesta Night and Friday is Military Appreciation Night.

On Saturday, it's Pink in the Park vs. Southern Illinois, with fireworks after the game.

There are also home games Monday and Wednesday. The action begins each evening at 6:30 p.m.

Visit the 'Shoes' website for more information.

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Weekend highlights in and around Springfield IL