Straight Up Magazine Apr. 2014

Issue #

21

Apr. 2014

FREE

‘Try Me’ Miscellanea House ~ The Parade of Two Centuries ~ 618 Equals 9 ~ April Calendar of Events ~ Comics ~ April is Local Film Month! ~ Things Happen for a Reason: A Look at Old Salt Union’s Recent Past ~ ~ Submissions ~ Music Review Photos

April 2014

Gary Olds

Serving Up Art, Music, and Culture for the Metro East’s Enjoyment

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Inside Page

April 2014

Editors Word – April 2014 This is the 21st edition of Straight Up Magazine, ‘Serving Up Art, Music and Culture for the Metro-East’s Enjoyment’. The Metro East deserves its own arts and entertainment magazine. It’s here and it’s called Straight Up!!!

We are pleased to have Gary Olds as the cover artist for this twenty-first Straight Up edition! See more on Gary in our Submissions section.

We always thank our writers for their poignant features. We appreciate our fans who have submitted their works for publication. And “Likes” to all you followers on Facebook!!!

Straight Up loves you!!!!

Like Straight Up on Facebook and receive daily entertainment updates, photos, videos and more.

The mission of Straight Up Magazine is to support local arts and artists and the businesses and organizations that support local arts and artists. Please feel free to contact us with ideas, comments, information, etc. that might assist us in our mission to serve you, the residents of the Metro region.

Enjoy Str8 Up. Tell your friends. Send us your work. And visit our website at StraightUpMagazine.net (You can scan our QRC on the cover). You’ll see Straight Up Magazine at over 260 area distribution locations. And we’ll see you at the clubs, theatres and festivals all over the Metro-East.

Contact Straight Up Magazine:

PO Box 412 – Belleville IL (62222); 618-416-2289 straightup@straightupmagazine.net.

The Editors thank you!!!

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Staff

April Credits

Editors: Dylan Seibert, Paul Seibert Layout Design Artists: Mark Polege, Michelle Reynolds, Callib Carver Sales: Paul Seibert Ad Artists: Mark Polege, Wil Sullivan Calendar: Dylan Seibert, Paul Seibert Website Design: Mark Polege (MarkusDesignWorks.com) Photography: Mark Polege (PhotographyofMarkPolege.com) Distribution: Brenton Ebersole; Brian Gardner, Daniel Nygard, Kaila Ryan, Sarah Skiold-Hanlin

Contributors

Cover Art: “Reflections of Time” by Gary Olds (GaryOlds.com) Cover Logo: Josh Rowan (JoshuaRowan.com) Photography: Dan Cross (Local Film Month) Feature Writers: Callib Carver; Dan Cross; Mark Johnson; Robyn Kirsch

Submissions

Gary Olds – Sculpture / Textiles All material in this publication is copyrighted to the individual contributors or Straight Up Magazine, LLC and may not be reproduced without written consent. We are very grateful to those who have submitted material to be considered for publication. However, the opinions and views of those contributing content to Straight Up do not necessarily reflect those of Str8 Up Magazine.

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Table of Contents

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Str8 Up Magazine Distribution Locations: Alton Alton Sports Tap AmTrac Chez Marilyn Doc Holiday’s Frank’s Restaurant Jacoby Art Center Mike’s Ten Pin Belleville 10th Street Baking Co Abbey, The Adenaline Prints Almighty Tatoos Althoff CHS Art Dept Anthony’s Salon At Home Computer Repair Bank of Belleville Bamboo Valley Buffet Beatnik’s Bell Air Bowl Belle Clair Expo Center Belleville Public Libraries Ben’s Crafts & Floral Big Reggie’s Blue Agave Bronx Zoo Casablanca Café CeLeen Gallery Centerfield Bar and Grill Chamber of Commerce Christopher Mikal Photo.

Circa City Hall Club Escapade Crehan’s Pub Dutch Hollow Barn Eckert Florist Effinger’s Garden Center Facial Rejuvenation Center Fletcher’s Kitchen Geo’s Wings Governor French Gallery Grappa Growlers Green Forest Vapors Hair on Main Happy Hops Homebrew Hardees Harters Hobby House Hicks Bar-B-Que Hippie Daze

Hite Auto Body and Repair Imo’s Pizza Inside Out Ministries Katherine Frazier State Farm Kelso Auto Body Lindenwood Univ Local Lucy’s Mabista Salon and Spa Main Street Café Mary’s Hidden Treasures Max’s One Stop Melodic Rhythms Miscellanea MotoMart North Belt West Liquor Olympic Restaurant Papa Vito’s Patriot Restaurant Peachy Yogurt Pitchers Pub Pizza World Plug N Play Computers Renaissance Hair & Skin Care Rising Star Too Schnucks Sears App and Hrdwe Seven Shop N Save Simply Thrift Sips n Splatters Sole Survivor Leather & Art Southwestern IL College St E’s Medical Arts Bldg Sullivan’s Super 8 Motel Sweet Sinsation TOCO Shop Towne & Country Mart Weingarten YMCA East Cahokia Cahokia Club KC MarkO’s Grill Spinner’s Restaurant Caseyville Amer.’s Best Inn & Suites First Western Inn Knollwood Retirement Mudbugs Bar & Grill Quality Inn and Suites

April 2014

‘Try Me’ Miscellanea House The Parade of Two Centuries 618 Equals 9 April Calendar of Events Comics April is Local Film Month!

Things Happen for a Reason: A Look at Old Salt Union’s Recent Past Submissions Music Review Photos Centreville Terry’s Home & Garden Collinsville Bert’s Chuckwagon Dean’s Farmers Market Fifth Quarter Knights of Columbus Public Library Spring Garden Restaurant Swing City Music Columbia Columbia City Saloon Edwardsville Auto Tire Bailey Cakes Bin 51 Bridal Couture Circle K Edison’s Entertainment Enclave & Enclave West Green Mobile Handee-Mart (BP) Happy Up Toys Heroic Adventures Mark’s Appliances Public Library Run Well Sacred Grounds Southern IL University Stagger Inn Teaspoon Cafe Fairview Heights $1.98 Cleaners Best Western Casey’s Caseyville Twshp Bldg China King City Hall Drury Inn Express Medical Care Fortels Pizza Guitar Center Jacob’s Herb Shop Jonnie’s Pizza Just One More Time Hooters Hucks Lasting Impress. Floral Lilly’s Gyro

Public Library Quiznos RaaQQa Food Mart Ramada Inn Randalls Wine & Spirits Sahara Hair Studio Schnucks Sheraton Four Points St Clair Bowl Sunshine Daydream Super 8 Motel Winchester Place Office VFW Freeburg Casey’s Deli Express Tom’s Supermarket Glen Carbon Glen Mart Granite City Apple Tree Restaurant Southwestern IL College Highland Great Clips Highland’s Tru-Buy Randy’s House of BBQ Lebanon Artimis Fezziwig’s Marketplace Ghost Vapor Shop Las Cabanas Lebanon Visitors Center Legendary Creations Mama Gusto’s McKendree University MotoMart Public Library Sasafras Way Photography Tiadaghton House Whimsey Gifts Mascoutah All Mart Smoke Shop American Legion Bee Hollow Marketplace Boyce Hund & Assocs Casey’s General Store Dauber’s Pharmacy Han-Dee Mart Jo-Al Winery LaQuinta Hotel & Suites

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Mascoutah Steak House MidAmerica Inn & Suite McDonald’s Moore’s Family Restaurant Moto Mart Nite Deposit Sax Hometown Store Silver Creek Asstd Living Scott Credit Union St E’s Medical Plaza Tom’s Supermarket O’Fallon AC Computers Baymont Inn Candlewood Suites Casey’s Casa Azteca Circle K City Hall CoffeeHouse Co & Salon Country Inn and Suites CVS Days Inn Drury Inn Egg and I Extended Stay Frieze Harley Davidson Gias Pizza Hemingway’s Zen Garden Hilton Garden Inn Hometown Barber Knights of Columbus Lake Point Dental Luckenbooth Gallery McDonald’s Memorial Healthcare Memorial Therapy New Art Legacies Public Library RJs Computer Schnucks St. E’s Medical Center Suburban Inn Subway Super 8 Towne Lounge Vetta Sports Walgreens Wood Bakery YMCA

Sauget Sauget Diner SW IL Welcome Center Scott Air Force Base Chicago Chicken & Fish Ralph’s Barber Quick Mart Subway Shiloh Bank of Edwardsville David Anthony Barber Dierberg’s Golden Corral St. Louis Bread Quizno’s Walgreens Wings of Shiloh Smithton All Mart Century 21 Advantage No-Jacks Tom’s Supermarket Swansea Big Time Beads Concept Shoe Repair CVS Schnucks Dobbs Gas Mart Tourism Bureua of IL S. Wild Birds Unlimited Troy Inksane Asylum Randy’s House of BBQ Speedy Scrappers Troy Public Library ZX Fuel Waterloo BoBecks Sports Bar & Grill City Hall Gallagher’s JV’s Bar and Grill Karban’s Knotty Pines Knotty Pines Papa Vito’s Schorr Lake Vineyard St.Louis Cmty Arts & Movement Concrete Ocean Gallery Healing Arts Center

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Business Profile Business Feature

April 2014 November 2013

‘Try Me’ — Miscellanea House

by Callib Carver

The Metro East area, specifically Belleville, is a kind of refuge for small businesses. And while Belleville has its big box stores and name brands throughout the town, it is a haven for small, family businesses.

One of the newest businesses to open in Belleville is a family owned and operated coffee shop called Miscellanea House. Miscellanea is at 1111 West Main Street, occupying the former Bear Book and Candle building in downtown Belleville.

Why the name Miscellanea? “You never know what to expect,” said Michelle McIntosh, owner and co-manager with her mother, Sharon Egler. This small coffee house sells and serves 106 (count them) different coffees and teas. 40 small-batch, air-roasted coffees by Hartford Coffee Company of St. Louis and 66 teas from around the world. “Go ahead and start out big,” Egler told her daughter. So she went all out when she opened Miscellanea House - with the help of her mother and family members like Stephen Eddington, who is Miscellanea House’s resident artist. Stephen’s artwork, like other local artisans, is on display and available.

The small coffee house also sells Vitale breads and Bissinger’s handcrafted chocolates, things one would otherwise have to drive across the river to St. Louis to purchase. And there is such a wide variety of menu items lovingly prepared at Miscellanea: gyros, lasagna, chef salads, crepes, soups, sandwiches, pizzas, build-your-own cheesecake slices, pastries (just to name just a few).

Their foods are made to order and their service is superb. The staff is extremely (like family) friendly. They know their customers, even those who don’t come in every day. They know their orders, and they have created an environment that reflects their personalities and, in turn, welcomes their customers to stay as long as they want. It is a full-service restaurant but it’s like coming home for a family meal. Oh, if your mom could cook like that…

A very unique Miscellanea House feature is the “Try Bar”, a sampling table that is always stocked with fruits and cheeses, pastries and coffees and teas and an ever-changing variety of taste-temping items. All are offered free of charge. A tip jar stands nearby for those who wish to reward their Miscellanea House providers for such awesome treats.

“Old school café,” said McIntosh and Egler. This is what they envisioned when they set out to open a coffee house. “I want to have an old atmosphere, that says you can stay as long as you want,” McIntosh said. “Bigger coffee houses don’t have that.” Even the building itself has that older, right-at-home feel. The brick building has large windows that let in plenty 41

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of sunlight. Wood floors that, while worn, give additional warmth and character.

The ceilings are the original pressed tin with beams and fans. Built in 1904, the building does what it was originally designed to do. It houses not only the family business on the first floor, it is residence to business owner, McIntosh and her family, on the second floor above the coffee house. And that certainly helps facilitate the 7am to 10pm, seven-daysa-week hours.

“I’m a single mom of three kids. When I’m not here, A handmade triple berry pie, that like all the my mom helps out,” McIntosh food at Miscellenea House is freshly made said, “She comes in at 5 am and every day. makes the beignets and opens up.” Egler is one of the several family members who help out at Miscellanea House.

Two years ago, McIntosh was selling an assortment of spices at local flea and farmers markets to supplement her income, while also putting herself through college to earn a degree in journalism. “I outgrew selling my spices at flea markets,” McIntosh said. After she started offering Vitale breads, her business grew and pushed it beyond what small markets and her out-of-her-home business could accommodate and prompted this new enterprise.

Over the coming months, McIntosh and the rest of Miscellanea House family are planning to make a number of additions. They are installing a new canopy on the front of the building. They will be adding additional local artwork and sponsor live artist demonstrations events. They will be turning one corner of the coffee house into a stage area for musical and spoken word performances. And with the coming warm weather, outdoor patio seating will be added.

Starting April 1, Miscellanea House will start hosting recurring daily specials. On specific days, 10% of the day’s proceeds will go towards a cause or charity. Like

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April 2014 November 2013 Monday’s donations towards a no-kill animal shelter. Tuesday’s donations towards the Washington School District Parent Teacher Organization. Wednesday’s donations to the Autism Speaks Foundation. Thursday’s donations towards St. Mary / St. Augustine Energy Club. Fridays will be college days and Saturdays High School days where students get 10% off on their purchase with their school ID. And every Sunday, anyone in uniform, such as active military, firefighters, police, EMTS and other first responders, will receive 10% off their purchase.

Miscellanea House also offers live entertainment events. In early March, Matt Wynn, who was one of the top 100 contestants on Season 12 of American Idol, preformed at Miscellanea House for an Autism Speaks St. Louis benefit. Miscellanea House donated 10% of all proceeds from the event to the Autism Speaks St. Louis Foundation. According to McIntosh, Wynn plans to return once a month to perform at Miscellanea House as one of his regular venues.

And the entertainment calendar continues to broaden. On April 11, Matt Wynn returns to Miscellanea House and will be performing from 7-10 pm. And on April 26, Miscellanea will host the acoustic sounds of Scott Frisius from 6-8 pm. Follow Miscellanea House daily on Facebook to discover what other entertainment, features, new products and specials will surely arise.

What: Miscellanea House Where: 1111 West Main Street, Belleville Who: Michelle McIntosh and Family When: 7am – 10pm every day Why: Because everything there is wonderful How: Call 618-416-7808

Visit www.facebook.com/ miscellanea62220

A made to order seafood creepe.

Grilled veggie sandwhiches

Flatbread pizza

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Culture

April 2014

The Parade of Two Centuries

by Robyn L. Kirsch

A big family event is coming to Belleville on Friday, April 25. It is another feature in the string of events and activities planned for the year-long Belleville Bicentennial 200 celebration. And it is the Belleville Bicentennial “Float” Parade and 5k race.

The City of Belleville was founded in 1814. Now, in 2014 with a population of nearly 45,000, Belleville has reached a major milestone on its 200th birthday anniversary mark.

Mayor Mark Eckert said he is proud to be at the forefront of the yearlong Belleville Bicentennial 200 year celebration efforts. “The Belleville 200 Committee has been working since last summer to organize events and activities, including a parade and 5k run, a gala, fireworks and “The Weekend” of September 19, 20 and 21, featuring great food, great music and fun for all ages,” Eckert said.

Bringing the marching fun to Main Street that evening is the Belleville’s Bicentennial Committee, the City of Belleville, the Ainad Shriner’s and the Belleville Optimists Club.

Joyce Krueger, of the Belleville Optimists Club, said float registrations are still steadily coming in. According to the parade organizers, a limit of 200 participants will be accepted. Entries must provide a representation or display that reflects the City’s Bicentennial history and celebration in some way.

“Efforts are in progress, and we won’t know how many floats there’ll be until the April 1st deadline,” Krueger said. “Starting at 6pm will be a 5k run beginning and ending at the same spots as the parade.”

The parade and the 5k run begin at the corner of 17th and West Main Streets spanning down to Oak and East Main Streets. All participants who register by April 10th will receive custom athletic performance shirts to keep as a memento. Historic participant medals will be given to all race finishers. Top three overall male and female finishers and top three male and female top finishers in each age group will receive medals and/or trophies. To pre-register for the event, as well as peruse other upcoming event details, visit the Belleville200 website.

Scott Schmelzel of Big Daddy’s 618 said the bar and grill is having a big party to commemorate the Belleville 200 Bicentennial Parade and 5k event. “We’re going to have Steve Reeb performing live on our patio from 5 to 8 pm on Friday night,” Schmelzel said. “We’re also going to have a DJ pumping music in front of our building along the parade route and having a good time while promoting the events.”

Mike Koeneman, of the Ainad Shriner’s organization, said he and other Shrine members help organize the annual Ainad Shriner’s Circus Parade every May. “This year, we’ve committed to helping organize and 6

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assist with planning and logistics for the Belleville Bicentennial 200 Parade (on April 25th),” Koeneman said.

According to Krueger, spearheading a successful parade is nothing new for the Belleville Optimists Club, as she explained their charge in the Santa’s Parade every winter. So, with enthusiasm, she glowed with expectations for this new, upcoming parade that she and her club have also dedicated time and energy to. “We are hoping that the crowds and participants will share the history of Belleville collectively,” Krueger said.

Scott Schmelzel, owner of Big Daddy’s 618, added that a lot of people are coming together to help stimulate the local economy and he said it’s great to see it all happening. “I’m impressed by the amount of effort of those who really support Belleville 200 like Chick Fritz Distributing, all the corporate folks that are buying advertising and donating funds to make for a big celebration, but more importantly, I’m impressed with the civic pride.”

Brian Fritz, of Chick Fritz Distributing and a Belleville 200 Committee member, also said it’s great that so many people of the community are doing so much to bring this whole 2014 celebration full circle. “It’s (going to be a) great parade with a great flow of families and people getting together to enjoy (themselves) while supporting a wonderful mark of history for the city of Belleville.”

For more information about the Belleville 200 and other 2014 celebratory events, visit Belleville200.org.

What: Belleville Bicentennial Float Parade and 5k Run Where: Main Street Downtown Belleville When: April 25, 2014, run at 6pm / parade at 7pm

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Business Profile

April 2014

618 Equals 9

by Robyn L. Kirsch

What was once a dwindling downtown strip of shops with a high turnover rate, Belleville’s Big Daddy’s 618 at 315 East Main Street will be celebrating its nine-year anniversary in the now bustling shop, bar and restaurant hub.

Belleville’s Big Daddy’s 618 owner Scott Schmelzel said he can hardly contain his excitement for what’s soon to come -- the establishment’s anniversary weekend party Friday, April 18 through Saturday, April 19.

“We first opened in April 2005, so this will be our ninth year and we are going to celebrate and have fun with our friends and (patrons) all weekend, and it’s going to be special,” Schmelzel said.

With the first Big Daddy’s location opening in the Soulard neighborhood in St. Louis, Schmelzel said Big Daddy’s 618 is the second one to open in the region.

Growing up in Fairview Heights and Belleville, Schmelzel said that spurred his initial interest in opening a Big Daddy’s in Belleville years ago, and it’s been truckin’ along great ever since.

“Nine years ago when we first opened, we felt Belleville’s Downtown Main Street was underdeveloped and we saw a great opportunity,” Schmelzel said. “Big Daddy’s was successful in Soulard for many years before we decided to open up in Belleville.”

Big Daddy’s Manager, Andrea Mowerer, said the Lacleade’s Landing location was the third to open and the fourth, in Edwardsville, just had its five year anniversary recently.

According to Schmelzel, a lot of venues have spiced up the downtown Belleville area creating a unique atmosphere.

“It became desirable to be a downtown Belleville establishment,” Mowerer added.

“All of the Big Daddy’s locations maintain a close, tight niche group of workers, which has worked well so far,” Schmelzel said. “The one thing that’s really grown since we’ve been here, around the Belleville location, has been the number of restaurants, bars and sandwich shops starting.

After we opened up, the business trend climbed for sure.”

Schmelzel said ‘Old Salt Union’ will be headlining from 7 to 10pm on Friday, April 18 for the booming anniversary party.

“We’re kicking off the weekend with local band ‘Old Salt Union’,” Schmelzel said. “To go along with our live entertainment we’re going to have great drink specials,” Schmelzel said. “Coors Light is sponsoring our

ninth anniversary weekend too. Chick Fritz Distributing Inc. has been a great supporter, and have helped (bring our success to a reality).”

“’Old Salt Union’ has played here before and they are an excellent band. We’re so excited to have ‘Old Salt Union’ ... playing,” Mowerer said.

On Saturday, April 19, the fun will only get better and tastier with Big Daddy’s 618’s smokin’ BBQ, Schmelzel said. Big Daddy’s 618 will have a spread of BBQ pork steaks, our ‘famous’ wings, pulled pork and much more straight out of the smoker on its patio all day.

“We’re not only having our BBQ throughout the day, but we will also have two bands playing Saturday night,” Schmelzel said. “Our first band with members from the Belleville and Waterloo area, a mature group called ‘Highway 15’, will have a bluegrass sound from 4 to 6pm. Another local cover band called ‘Covering Fire’, which has played here before with great reception, will be playing from 7 to 10pm.”

Mowerer said ‘Covering Fire’ presents a wide array of music from classic to modern rock.

“We will have DJ Bennie playing on the patio too from 6pm and on into the night,” Mowerer said. “We won’t close our doors until 2am”

Schmelzel said he chose local bands to celebrate the anniversary to keep local business and music at home, right where it counts.

“All our entertainment will be out on the patio, weather permitting of course,” Schmelzel added. “Which, hopefully by mid-April, we’ll have some great weather, which will make for a great party.”

Who: Big Daddy’s 618 What: Ninth Anniversary Party When: April 18 and 19 Where: 315 East Main Street, Downtown Belleville How: Live local bands, food and drink specials Check them out:

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Facebook at Facebook.com/pages/618-Big-Daddys/190751914270251

The web at Belleville.BigDaddySTL.com

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April Calendar of Events

April 2014

April 1st (Tuesday)

6pm

7:30pm

Bike Surgeon (Shiloh) - Tuesday Night Metro East Road Ride; Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Pitchers Pub (Belleville) - Tenacious Trivia; 8pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke The Hett @ McKendree University (Lebanon) - Student Recital;

April 2nd (Wednesday)

Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz, Cigar/Scotch Night Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Karaoke Every Wed Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Jay & Waylon; 6pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Hidden Lake Winery (Aviston) - Free Dance Lessons with Jeff & Marcia Wuebbles; 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. The lessons will teach you to dance all night at a wedding. 7pm Mike’s Ten Pin (Alton) - Mondinband; 9:30pm-1:30am Pop’s (Sauget) - Bun B & Kirko Bangz; w/ tba; $15 adv, $18 dos, $2 minor surcharge; 7pm PSOP/SWIC (Belleville) - Line Dancing; Our instructor, Carol Schwartz, will show you new line dances and techniques each week. This is a great group to dance with, so sliiiide on over. Cost is $2 per session. 1:303pm Randy’s House of BBQ (Troy) - Open Mic Jam; 7-11pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Open Mic with AfterHours Entertainment & your host Banyon Hanner; 7-11pm Schmidt Gallery @ SWIC (Belleville) - Gateway East Artist Guild meeting; 6pm SeVen (Belleville) - Open Mic with Matt Diekemper; 7-11pm Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Open Mic Night Villa Marie Winery (Maryville) - Wine All You Want Wednesdays; “Group Therapy”; leave the men at home, ladies, for an evening of guaranteed fun; every first Wednesday; 6-9pm Wild Country (Collinsville) - The Taping of St. Louis Country With WIL gang, Derrick, Danny, Bo & Judy! $5 for everyone, FREE w/ valid College ID! 7pm-1am Wood River Roundhouse (Wood River) - Imperial Swing Dance Lessons; 6:30-9pm

April 3rd (Thursday)

Bee Hollow Market (Mascoutah) - Sip n Paint; Call now for reservations, limited seating. Fee $27; 6-9pm Bike Surgeon (Shiloh) - Group Ride Pro Wrench Course; 6-8:30pm Bubby and Sissy’s (Alton) - Karaoke Dance Party; 9:30pm-1:30am Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz Columbia City Saloon (Columbia) - Open Mic Jam Night; 8pm Downtown (Belleville) - The Belleville Running Club holds group runs in downtown Belleville every Thursday night at 6pm and Saturday morning at 8am. Thursday night runs meet at the parking lot at A and Jackson (Baja Cali).

EVUCC Church (Highland) - Art of Soul; hands-on artistic fun for all; 7-9pm

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Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - American Idle; 7pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Class Act Karaoke Pitchers Pub (Belleville) - Open Mic Night hosted by Kimmy V (of EarthSol) and Tony V (of Vitamen A); all musicians, poets and performance artists welcome; every Thursday; 9pm-12am Pop’s (Sauget) - Emmure; Mike Judy presents; with Volumes, Thy Art Is Murder, Gideon, Sworn In, The Engineered; $18 advance, $20 day of show, $2 minor surcharge; 6pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Bike Night with Live Music SeVen (Belleville) - Jessie Farrar Duo; 7-11pm Silver Creek Saloon & Grill (Belleville) - Well Hungarians; Every Thursday Night Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live Music The Abbey (Belleville) - Singer/Songwriter Thursday; Every Thursday night from 7-10pm The Hett @ McKendree University (Lebanon) - The Intergalactic Nemesis - Book One: Target Earth; A 21st century mash-up of comic books, sci-fi and radio adventure drama for the kid in everyone.

Family friendly and totally fun! Recommended for ages 8 and up; 7:30pm Wild Country (Collinsville) - Free Dance Lessons w/ Joyce Warren; 7:30-10pm

April 4th (Friday)

Belle Clair Expo Center (Belleville) - Children’s Consignment Sale; a children’s clothing (sizes 0-16 & Juniors), toy, furniture, and baby equipment consignment sale; 8am-3pm Belle Clair Fairgrounds (Belleville) - Stock Car Races Friday Nights through September Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Live Music Edison’s (Edwardsville) - Hot Flash Duo; 8pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Spin the Bottle; 8pm Gateway Center (Collinsville) - St. Louis CK Scrapbook Convention; Join other scrapbookers for shopping the hottest products & latest brands, cropping with your friends, taking classes from the industry’s top teachers, and of course, a weekend full of fun! Adults/Children 10+: $10 (Door); $7 (Coupon) $6 (Early Online Purchase); Two-Day Pass: $13; Children 9 & Under: FREE; Seniors: $7; Military/Teachers: $5; 10am-6pm Governor French Gallery (Belleville) - Contemporary Midwestern Images from the Department of Art and Design at SIUE; featuring Steve Brown, Kimia Emami, Heather Kniffel and Dustin Lucas; opening artist reception; 6-8pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Class Act Karaoke Knights of Columbus Watering Hole (O’Fallon) - Gentlemen Bandits; 8pm-12am Liberal Arts Theater @ SWIC (Belleville) - SWIC Faculty Film Screening; an evening of works produced by college faculty (see “April is Local Film Month” in this edition); 7pm Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke Papa Vito’s (Belleville) - Ryan Spriggs; 7pm Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton) - Open Mic Night every Friday night from 7-11pm

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April 2014 Pop’s (Sauget) - Battle For Pointfest: Session 2 Finals; featuring: The Judge, Parted By Illusion, Arythma, DNA, Seven Year Nightmare, Facing Infamy, Nothing Set In Stone, Hollow Point Heroes, & Evading Azrael; $5 advance, $8 day of show, $2 minor surcharge; 6pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Live Music SeVen (Belleville) - Pat Liston; 7-11pm Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live Music The Abbey (Belleville) - Friday Night Jazz; Every Friday night from 7-10pm The Weingarten (Belleville) - Chris Beldon; 6-10pm

April 5th (Saturday)

All City Museums (Belleville) - Museum Open House Day for all Belleville museums Barnes & Noble (Fairview Heights) - Special Storytime With Janet Yaeger; Author Reading; Meet local author Janet Yaeger as she reads and signs her amazing children titles: Matilda’s Upside Down Smile and Matilda Takes Ballet; 11am Bicentennial Park (Belleville) - Meeting of the Minds; Welcoming ideas for betterment of self, others and community / society as a whole; potluck food and drink (if you can); 12pm-?

Big Daddy’s 618 (Belleville) - Fundraising event for YMCA of Southwestern Illinois; 5:30-8:30pm Belle Clair Expo Center (Belleville) - 15th Annual Brewery Collectible Show; largest brewery collectible show and sale in the Midwest; 9am-3pm Belle Clair Expo Center (Belleville) - Children’s Consignment Sale; a children’s clothing (sizes 0-16 & Juniors), toy, furniture, and baby equipment consignment sale; 8am-3pm BoBeck’s (Waterloo) - Live DJ every Saturday night; 9pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Karaoke Night Columbia City Saloon (Columbia) - Live Music; 9pm Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Live Music Downtown (Belleville) - The Belleville Running Club holds group runs in downtown Belleville every Thursday night at 6pm and Saturday morning at 8am. Saturday morning runs meet at the parking lot behind the St Louis Bread Company.

Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Red Rock, 3pm; Spin the Bottle, 8pm Gateway Center (Collinsville) - St. Louis CK Scrapbook Convention; Join other scrapbookers for shopping the hottest products & latest brands, cropping with your friends, taking classes from the industry’s top teachers, and of course, a weekend full of fun! Adults/ Children 10+: $10 (Door); $7 (Coupon) $6 (Early Online Purchase); Children 9 & Under: FREE; Seniors: $7; Military/Teachers: $5; 9am-5pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Knights of Columbus Watering Hole (O’Fallon) - “Mister Radio” Steve Koritta; 8pm-12am Laurie’s Place (Edwardsville) - Every Sat-Jam Session w/ Mo’ Pleasure; 2-6pm Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke Lindenwood University Auditorium (Belleville) - Sounds of Harmony Chorus presents “A Lifetime of Song”; Sounds of Harmony men’s

a capella chorus; Bases Loaded Quartet; Rivertown Sound du-wop quartet; Steve Davis “Memories of Elvis”, 7pm Moose Lodge (Edwardsville) - Hospice of Southern Illinois Trivia Night; $125 per table/team up to 8 people; cash prizes for top 2 tables; prizes for 2 best decorated tables; baked goods raffle; 50/50; mulligans; heads and tails; doors at 6pm; games at 7pm No-Jacks Bar & Grill (Smithton) - DJ & Karaoke Every Saturday; 9pm Papa Vito’s (Belleville) - Ryan Spriggs; 7pm Phil’s Bar & Grill (Wood River) - Karaoke/DJ; 9pm-2am Pitchers Pub (Belleville) - Bob “Bumblebee” Komanske; 9pm-1am Schatze’s (Belleville) - Live Music SeVen (Belleville) - Scott Miller Band; 7-11pm Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Spectators Sports Bar and Grill (Alton) - Country Karaoke; 9pm1am Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live Music The Cyclery and Fitness Center (Edwardsville) - Saturday Morning East Side Road Ride; 7am The Hett @ McKendree University (Lebanon) - La Bohème (Puccini): Met at the Hett; Join a worldwide audience from your “better than front row seat” for the New York Metropolitan Opera’s Emmy award-winning Live in HD series of high-definition simulcast transmissions. Presented with subtitles; $18 adults, $15 seniors, $10 student/ child; 12pm The Weingarten (Belleville) - Ross Kincaid; 6-10pm The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - Pettycash Junction: A Tribute to Tom Petty and Johnny Cash; 8pm Whiteside Elementary School (Belleville) - Kids 2 Kids Resale; Children’s clothing from Newborn to 16, Maternity and nursing clothing Lots of baby gear and furniture, Toys for all ages, Books, Movies and More! 8am-12pm

April 6th (Sunday)

Belle Clair Expo Center (Belleville) - Children’s Consignment Sale; a children’s clothing (sizes 0-16 & Juniors), toy, furniture, and baby equipment consignment sale; 9am-12pm Columbia City Saloon (Columbia) - Mike Lacey; 3-6pm Dutch Hollow Barn (Belleville) - Every Sunday Jam Session; 7pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Scott N Karl, 2pm; Acoustic

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April Calendar of Events

April 2014

Asylum, 7pm Hidden Lake Winery (Aviston) - Music by Roland Kreke; 2-6pm Mike’s Ten Pin (Alton) - Mondinband; 9:30pm-1:30am Mudbugs (Caseyville) - Every Sunday Open Mic Blues Jam; 7-11pm Pop’s (Sauget) - G-Eazy; These Things Happen Tour; with special guest Rockie Fresh, Tory Lanez, Kurt Rockmore; $16 advance, $18 day of show, $2 minor surcharge; 7pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke SeVen (Belleville) - Brad Noe; 7-11pm St Paul’s United Church of Christ (Belleville) - Masterworks Children’s Chorus Concert; 3pm Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Open Mic Night The Weingarten (Belleville) - Doc Reitz; 2-6pm The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - Rush Studio of Dance Spring Concert; 4:30pm

April 7th (Monday)

Bike Surgeon (Shiloh) - Group Ride Hero Wrench Course; 6-7:30pm Columbia City Saloon (Columbia) - The piano artistry of Pat Joyce; 1-4pm Discovery Garden at LaVista Park (Godfrey) - Garden Workday; 9am–12pm Katy Cavins Center (O’Fallon) - Auditions for the Missoula Children’s Theater production “Blackbeard the Pirate”; 3:30pm Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) - Art Exhibit Opening; 8am Pop’s (Sauget) - Mindless Self Indulgence w/ Death Valley High, The Bunny The Bear; $22 adv, $24 dos, $2 minor surcharge; 7pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke St. Paul’s Lutheran Gym (Troy) - Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center Blood Drive; 3:30-6:30pm

April 8th (Tuesday)

6pm

Bike Surgeon (Shiloh) - Tuesday Night Metro East Road Ride;

CARD Building (Collinsville) - Collinsville Area Camera Club Special Competition – Best Five Photo Shoots; 7pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Pitchers Pub (Belleville) - Tenacious Trivia; 8pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke

Schwartz, will show you new line dances and techniques each week. This is a great group to dance with, so sliiiide on over. Cost is $2 per session. 1:303pm Randy’s House of BBQ (Troy) - Open Mic Jam; 7-11pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Open Mic with AfterHours Entertainment & your host Banyon Hanner; 7-11pm Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Open Mic Night Wild Country (Collinsville) - The Taping of St. Louis Country with WIL gang, Derrick, Danny, Bo & Judy! $5 for everyone, FREE w/ valid College ID! 7pm-1am Wood River Roundhouse (Wood River) - Imperial Swing Dance Lessons; 6:30-9pm

April 10th (Thursday)

Bubby and Sissy’s (Alton) - Karaoke Dance Party; 9:30pm-1:30am Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz Columbia City Saloon (Columbia) - Open Mic Jam Night; 8pm Cutters (Belleville) - “Putting on the Glitz” Girls Night Out; sponsored by The Junior Service Club of St Clair County; dress up and dance to Straight Six Band; auction and other great activities; 6-9pm Downtown (Belleville) - The Belleville Running Club holds group runs in downtown Belleville every Thursday night at 6pm and Saturday morning at 8am. Saturday morning runs meet at the parking lot behind the St Louis Bread Company.

Downtown (Lebanon) - Sip & Shop Night; 4-8pm EVUCC Church (Highland) - Art of Soul; hands-on artistic fun for all; 7-9pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Radio Star; 7pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Class Act Karaoke Mama Gusto’s (Lebanon) - Rogers and Nienhaus; 7-11pm Pitchers Pub (Belleville) - Open Mic Night hosted by Kimmy V (of EarthSol) and Tony V (of Vitamen A); all musicians, poets and performance artists welcome; every Thursday; 9pm-12pm Pop’s (Sauget) - Mike Judy Presents The Underachievers; w/ Denzel Curry, Dillon Cooper; $15 adv, $20 dos, $2 minor surcharge; 7pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Bike Night with Live Music SeVen (Belleville) - Paul Konya; 7-11pm Silver Creek Saloon & Grill (Belleville) - Well Hungarians; Every Thursday Night

April 9th (Wednesday)

Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz, Cigar/Scotch Night Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Karaoke Every Wed Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Doubletake Duo; 6pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) - Doug Byrkit on Guitar; Brown Bag Series; Music Building; 12pm Liberal Arts Theater @ SWIC (Belleville) - SWIC Student Film Screening; new films and videos produced by film department students (see “April is Local Film Month” in this edition); 7pm Mike’s Ten Pin (Alton) - Mondinband; 9:30pm-1:30am PSOP/SWIC (Belleville) - Line Dancing; Our instructor, Carol

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April 2014 Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live Music The Abbey (Belleville) - Singer/Songwriter Thursday; Every Thursday night from 7-10pm The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - Friends of The Wildey present Edwardsville High School Music Showcase; 7pm Wild Country (Collinsville) - Free Dance Lessons w/ Joyce Warren; 7:30-10pm

April 11th (Friday)

Argosy Music Hall (Alton) - Open Mic Karaoke; Take the stage at Argosy as we present Karaoke! Free for everyone; 8pm Belle Clair Fairgrounds (Belleville) - Stock Car Races Friday Nights through September Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Live Music Edison’s (Edwardsville) - Irony Rains; 8pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Planet Boogie; 8pm Gateway Center (Collinsville) - Anime St. Louis 2014 Convention; For pricing and registration info: http://animestl.net Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Jacoby Arts Center (Alton) - The Legendary Mustang Sanctuary Exhibit and Fundraiser opening reception with Art Talk; through May 2; 5pm Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Class Act Karaoke Knights of Columbus Watering Hole (O’Fallon) - Tim the DJ; 8pm-12am Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke Milburn Auditorium OTHS (O’Fallon) - Missoula Children’s Theater production “Blackbeard the Pirate”; 8pm Papa Vito’s (Belleville) - Ryan Spriggs; 7pm Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton) - Open Mic Night every Friday night from 7-11pm Pop’s (Sauget) - Reckless Life a tribute to Guns N’ Roses presented

by The Beard; with Burning Sky a tribute to Bad Company , TBA; $8 advance, $10 day of show, $2 minor surcharge; 6pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Live Music SeVen (Belleville) - Noe and Diekemper; 7-11pm Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live Music The Abbey (Belleville) - Friday Night Jazz; Every Friday night from 7-10pm The Weingarten (Belleville) - Adult Easter Egg Hunt with Mark Gordon Duo; 6-10pm

runs in downtown Belleville every Thursday night at 6pm and Saturday morning at 8am. Saturday morning runs meet at the parking lot behind the St Louis Bread Company.

Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Hoosier Daddys, 3pm; Planet Boogie, 8pm Fezziwig’s Marketplace (Lebanon) - Casual Saturday Wine Tasting; 2-3:30pm Gateway Center (Collinsville) - Anime St. Louis 2014 Convention; For pricing and registration info: http://animestl.net Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Hidden Lake Winery (Aviston) - Music by Randy Webb; 7-11pm Knights of Columbus (O’Fallon) - 35th Annual George Portz Fiddle Contest and Bluegrass Show; 5pm Laurie’s Place (Edwardsville) - Every Sat-Jam Session w/ Mo’ Pleasure; 2-6pm Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) - Fundraiser for 5 A’s Animal Shelter; Nashville Productions; Hatheway Hall Auditorium Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke Milburn Auditorium OTHS (O’Fallon) - Missoula Children’s Theater production “Blackbeard the Pirate”; 1pm Moody Park at Longacre (Fairview Heights) - HERO INSIDE Outdoor Family Festival; live music; car show; games & rides; food and drinks (alcohol free); 12-9pm No-Jacks Bar & Grill (Smithton) - DJ & Karaoke Every Saturday; 9pm Papa Vito’s (Belleville) - Joe Truttman and Ron Wooley Duo; 7pm

April 12th (Saturday)

Argosy Music Hall (Alton) - Elevation; Don’t miss the familiar music of U2 and Bono with the live band Elevation. Free with your Argosy Preferred Card; 7pm BoBeck’s (Waterloo) - Live DJ every Saturday night; 9pm Trivia Night; Bring your own snacks & drinks. Silent auction to benefit Powell Archaeological Society and Cahokia Mounds Museum Society; 7-10pm Casino Queen (East St Louis) - FatPocket; 8pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Karaoke Night Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Live Music Downtown (Belleville) - The Belleville Running Club holds group

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April Calendar of Events

April 2014

Phil’s Bar & Grill (Wood River) - Karaoke/DJ; 9pm-2am Pop’s (Sauget) - Skiddalz; F.T.I. Army & Pop’s Nightclub Present: SKIDDALZ! With special guests Kold Kace, Stogie, Heethen XL, Pe Ze, Repatalleon, Zook, Lil Hitta, Brian G; $5 advance, $8 day of show, $2 minor surcharge; 7pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Live Music Scottish Rite Parking Lot (Belleville) - Belleville Ale Fest; The Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce, will host the 2014 Belleville Ale Fest; The one-day festival will feature food, live music and more than 50 different beers from over 30 of America’s finest craft breweries; From the lightest pale ale to the darkest stout, there will be something for the novice and craft beer aficionado; To stay in compliance with Illinois liquor law, the Belleville Ale Fest will be a ticketed event. Tickets are $25 (general admission). Designated driver tickets are available for $10 or purchase your VIP tickets, which include a $10 food voucher, for $45. VIP tickets are for a private tasting of exclusive craft beers only available for 1 hour prior to event; Proceeds from the event benefit the Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce. 3-8pm SeVen (Belleville) - Clark Rowden; 7-11pm Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Spectators Sports Bar and Grill (Alton) - Country Karaoke; 9pm1am Spirits Lounge (Alton) - Con Artist; an exhibition featuring art created by parolees or persons currently incarcerated St Clair Country Club (Belleville) - St Clair County Historical Society Fashion Promenade & Luncheon; 11am Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live Music The Cyclery and Fitness Center (Edwardsville) - Saturday Morning East Side Road Ride; 7am The Weingarten (Belleville) - Silverback; 6-10pm The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - Pure Prairie League; For over 40 years Pure Prairie League has been entertaining audiences around the world. Known for their hits songs Amie, Two Lane Highway and Falling In And Out of Love, their strong vocals and harmonies are still drawing crowds; 8pm Wings (Shiloh) - Singer/songwriter Rev. Ken; Acoustic Rock & Vocals; 9pm-12am

April 14th (Monday)

Bike Surgeon (Shiloh) - Group Ride Hero Wrench Course; 6-7:30pm Columbia City Saloon (Columbia) - The piano artistry of Pat Joyce; 1-4pm Discovery Garden at LaVista Park (Godfrey) - Garden Workday; 9am–12pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke

April 15th (Tuesday)

Bike Surgeon (Shiloh) - Tuesday Night Metro East Road Ride; 6pm Gateway Center (Collinsville) - Collinsville Area Women’s Connection; $13.00 Ticket-includes a delicious meal, beverages, program and gratuity; Reservations necessary - Must be honored or cancelled; Please call Barbara @ 344-7967 or Mavis @ 346-1331; All women are invited to attend; 12:15-2pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Pitchers Pub (Belleville) - Tenacious Trivia; 8pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke

April 16th (Wednesday)

Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz, Cigar/Scotch Night Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Karaoke Every Wed Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Jay & Waylon; 6pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Hidden Lake Winery (Aviston) - Free Dance Lessons with Jeff & Marcia Wuebbles; 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. The lessons will

April 13th (Sunday)

Belle Clair Expo Center (Belleville) - Motorcycle Swap Meet; featuring over 300 booths of new and used parts and accessories; 7-10am Dutch Hollow Barn (Belleville) - Every Sunday Jam Session; 7pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Hoosier Daddys, 2pm; American Idle, 7pm Gateway Center (Collinsville) - Anime St. Louis 2014 Convention; For pricing and registration info: http://animestl.net Hidden Lake Winery (Aviston) - Music by Doc Reitz; 2-6pm Mike’s Ten Pin (Alton) - Mondinband; 9:30pm-1:30am Mudbugs (Caseyville) - Every Sunday Open Mic Blues Jam; 7-11pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke SeVen (Belleville) – Gavin; 7-11pm Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Open Mic Night The Weingarten (Belleville) - Trish Prager; 2-6pm

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April 2014 teach you to dance all night at a wedding! 7-8pm Mike’s Ten Pin (Alton) - Mondinband; 9:30pm-1:30am Pitchers Pub (Belleville) - Comedy Night with Brad Tassell; plus Rob Durham; 8pm PSOP/SWIC (Belleville) - Line Dancing; Our instructor, Carol Schwartz, will show you new line dances and techniques each week. This is a great group to dance with, so sliiiide on over. Cost is $2 per session. 1:303pm Randy’s House of BBQ (Troy) - Open Mic Jam; 7-11pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Open Mic with AfterHours Entertainment & your host Banyon Hanner; 7-11pm Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Open Mic Night The Hett @ McKendree University (Lebanon) - Film Art Series; “Manon of Spring”; a beautiful shepherdess takes revenge on the men whose conspiracy to acquire her father’s land caused his death. In French with subtitles. Rated PG; 113 min. 7pm Wild Country (Collinsville) - The Taping of St. Louis Country with WIL gang, Derrick, Danny, Bo & Judy! $5 for everyone, FREE w/ valid College ID! 7pm-1am Wood River Roundhouse (Wood River) - Imperial Swing Dance Lessons; 6:30-9pm

April 17th (Thursday)

Bubby and Sissy’s (Alton) - Karaoke Dance Party; 9:30pm-1:30am Cahokia State Historic Site (Collinsville) - Cahokia Archaeological Society Meeting; Come at 6:30pm to help wash artifacts.

Program and meeting, 7:30pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz Columbia City Saloon (Columbia) - Open Mic Jam Night; 8pm Downtown (Belleville) - Downtown Diva Night; an exciting ladies night out! Start at Ben’s Crafts, after-party at Club Escapade; 5-8pm Downtown (Belleville) - The Belleville Running Club holds group runs in downtown Belleville every Thursday night at 6pm and Saturday morning at 8am. Saturday morning runs meet at the parking lot behind the St Louis Bread Company.

Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Spin the Bottle; 7pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Class Act Karaoke McKendree Gallery of Art (Lebanon) - All Student Show opens; reception April 24 Pitchers Pub (Belleville) - Open Mic Night hosted by Kimmy V (of EarthSol) and Tony V (of Vitamen A); all musicians, poets and performance artists welcome; every Thursday; 9pm-12pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Bike Night with Live Music SeVen (Belleville) - Diva Night with Joe Camel; 7-11pm Silver Creek Saloon & Grill (Belleville) - Well Hungarians; Every Thursday Night Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live Music The Abbey (Belleville) - Singer/Songwriter Thursday; Every Thursday night from 7-10pm The Hett @ McKendree University (Lebanon) - John Pizzarelli Quartet; The world-renowned jazz guitarist and singer reinvigorates the Great American Songbook with the cool jazz flavor of his brilliant guitar playing and vocals. 7:30pm

Wild Country (Collinsville) - Free Dance Lessons w/ Joyce ren; 7:30-10pm

War-

April 18th (Friday)

Belle Clair Fairgrounds (Belleville) - Stock Car Races Friday Nights through September; 7pm Big Daddy’s 618 (Belleville) - 9th Anniversary Weekend Party events Friday and Saturday; Old Salt Union; 7-10pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Live Music Edison’s (Edwardsville) - Real Street Duo; 8pm Edwardsville Arts Center (Edwardsville) - Drawn and Fired II: Works of Robert Archambeau; Runs through May 30th Edwardsville Arts Center (Edwardsville) - Main Gallery: Thom Bohnert; DeToye Student Gallery: Primary Schools; Through May 30th; Opening Reception 6pm-8pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Scott N Karl, 3pm; Wiskey Dixon, 8pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Historic Mid-Town Restaurant (Alton) - Mondinband; 10pm-2am Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Class Act Karaoke Knights of Columbus Watering Hole (O’Fallon) - Tom Nickeson; 8pm-12am Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke Papa Vito’s (Belleville) - The Funatics – fun-lovin music with Steve Koritta and Tip Belz; 7pm Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton) - Open Mic Night every Friday

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April Calendar of Events

April 2014

night from 7-11:00pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Live Music SeVen (Belleville) - Dayton and Joey; 7-11pm Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live music with EarthSol The Abbey (Belleville) - Friday Night Jazz; Every Friday night from 7-10pm The Weingarten (Belleville) - Adult Easter Egg Hunt with John Baker; 7-11pm Towne Lounge (O’Fallon) - Blue Fruit Snacks; 9pm-1am

April 19th (Saturday)

Argosy Music Hall (Alton) - Rickie Lee Tanner; See a rising country star in the making. Free with your Argosy Preferred Card; 7pm Belle Clair Expo Center (Belleville) - Belleville Flea Market; Southern Illinois’ Premier Indoor/Outdoor Market – Over 600 tables and 300-400 vendors selling antiques, collectibles, merchandise – old and new.

Indoor/ Outdoor Year Round. Free admission; 8am-5pm Big Daddy’s 618 (Belleville) - 9th Anniversary Weekend Party events; Highway 15 and Covering Fire; starting at 4pm BoBeck’s (Waterloo) - Live DJ every Saturday night; 9pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Karaoke Night Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Live Music Downtown (Belleville) - The Belleville Running Club holds group runs in downtown Belleville every Thursday night at 6pm and Saturday morning at 8am. Saturday morning runs meet at the parking lot behind the St Louis Bread Company.

Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Acoustic Asylum, 3pm; Champagne Fix, 8pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Laurie’s Place (Edwardsville) - Every Sat-Jam Session w/ Mo’ Pleasure; 2-6pm Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) - Alton Symphony Orchestra Concert; Hatheway Hall Auditorium; 7pm Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke No-Jacks Bar & Grill (Smithton) - DJ & Karaoke Every Saturday; 9pm Phil’s Bar & Grill (Wood River) - Karaoke/DJ; 9pm-2am Pop’s (Sauget) - Puff Puff Pass Juggalo Bash 2014 presented by The Beard Productions & Whoop X2; with ABK, Big Hoodoo, Bake Lo, POW, Freakz R Us, Kold Kace, Hazmat FTG, NuttinXNyce, Chainsaw McGavin, Repatalleon; $12 advance, $14 day of show, $2 minor surcharge; 5:30pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Live Music SeVen (Belleville) - Greg Silsby; 7-11pm Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Spectators Sports Bar and Grill (Alton) - Country Karaoke; 9pm1am Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live Music The Cyclery and Fitness Center (Edwardsville) - Saturday Morning East Side Road Ride; 7am The Weingarten (Belleville) - Bud Summers; 6-10pm The Wildey Theater (Edwardsville) - Younger Than Yesterday; Michael Curtis, Terry Jones Rogers, Scott Nienhaus and Tim Politte; A tribute band to The Byrds, Younger Than Yesterday puts out nonstop

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four-part vocal harmonies flawlessly throughout their entire show. 8pm

April 20th (Sunday)

Belle Clair Expo Center (Belleville) - Belleville Flea Market; Southern Illinois’ Premier Indoor/Outdoor Market – Over 600 tables and 300-400 vendors selling antiques, collectibles, merchandise – old and new.

Indoor/ Outdoor Year Round. Free admission; 8am-5pm Dutch Hollow Barn (Belleville) - Every Sunday Jam Session; 7pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Acoustic Asylum; 2pm Hidden Lake Winery (Aviston) - Easter Brunch with music by Stephen Koritta; Reservations required; 9:30am-2pm Hidden Lake Winery (Aviston) - Music by Roland Kreke; 12-4pm Mike’s Ten Pin (Alton) - Mondinband; 9:30pm-1:30am Mudbugs (Caseyville) - Every Sunday Open Mic Blues Jam; 7-11pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke SeVen (Belleville) - Matt Diekemper; 7-11pm Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Open Mic Night

April 21st (Monday)

Bike Surgeon (Shiloh) - Group Ride Hero Wrench Course; 6-7:30pm Columbia City Saloon (Columbia) - The piano artistry of Pat Joyce; 1-4pm Discovery Garden at LaVista Park (Godfrey) - Garden Workday; 9am-12pm Public Library (Mascoutah) - Civil War Speakers Presentation Series, third Monday of the month; The 117th Civil War Infantry;

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April 2014 Dr Patrick Folk, McKendree University; 7pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke The Hett @ McKendree University (Lebanon) - David J.R. Frakt Speaks; David J.R. Frakt, an expert in the field of international war crimes and military law, is an attorney, law professor and lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps Reserve. 7:30-9pm

April 22nd (Tuesday)

6pm

Bike Surgeon (Shiloh) - Tuesday Night Metro East Road Ride;

CARD Building (Collinsville) - Collinsville Area Camera Club; End of Year Competition; 7pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) - Fingerprinting; 9am Lincoln Theater (Belleville) - World Premier of feature film “Belleville – The Movie” (see “April is Local Film Month” in this edition); Red carpet arrival, 6pm; Premier Screening; Starring: Ted Trent, Tim O’Leary, Cooper Shaw, Kate Barton, Ted Jordan, Andrea Harkins; Not rated; 7:30pm; second screening, 10pm Pitchers Pub (Belleville) - Tenacious Trivia; 8pm Pop’s (Sauget) - Double Vision Tour; presented by Pop’s & The Beard; with Hypercrush, TYR, JFK, Kevo, DJ Ramification; $20 advance, $25 day of show, $2 minor surcharge; 6:30pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke St. Paul United Church of Christ (Lebanon) - Blood Drive; Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center Blood Drive; Sponsored by the Lions Club; 3-7pm

April 23rd (Wednesday)

Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz, Cigar/Scotch Night Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Karaoke Every Wed Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Scott N Karl; 6pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) - Music Collaboration Project; Brown Bag Series; Music Building Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) - Movie: “No I mpact Man”; 3pm Lincoln Theater - Theater 1 (Belleville) - Parenting a Creative Child Workshop; Diane Ewald (mother of Belleville – the Movie director Dan Steadman) on following your dream and help your children do the same; 10:15am Lincoln Theater - Theater 2 (Belleville) - Be on Reality TV Workshop; Belleville – the Movie director Dan Steadman; how to get into the crazy world of Reality TV; 10:15am Lincoln Theater - Theater 1 (Belleville) - TV and Film Production Workshop; Belleville – the Movie director Dan Steadman; with plenty of Q&A time; 12:30pm Lincoln Theater - Theater 2 (Belleville) - Acting in Film and TV; Belleville – the Movie producer and star Ted Trent; from Reality TV to feature films; 12:30pm Mike’s Ten Pin (Alton) - Mondinband; 9:30pm-1:30am PSOP/SWIC (Belleville) - Line Dancing; Our instructor, Carol Schwartz, will show you new line dances and techniques each week. This is

a great group to dance with, so sliiiide on over. Cost is $2 per session. 1:303pm Randy’s House of BBQ (Troy) - Open Mic Jam; 7-11pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Open Mic with AfterHours Entertainment & your host Banyon Hanner; 7-11pm Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Open Mic Night Wild Country (Collinsville) - The Taping of St. Louis Country with WIL gang, Derrick, Danny, Bo & Judy! $5 for everyone, FREE w/ valid College ID! 7pm-1am Wood River Roundhouse (Wood River) - Imperial Swing Dance Lessons; 6:30-9pm

April 24th (Thursday)

Bubby and Sissy’s (Alton) - Karaoke Dance Party; 9:30pm-1:30am Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz Columbia City Saloon (Columbia) - Open Mic Jam Night; 8pm Downtown (Belleville) - The Belleville Running Club holds group runs in downtown Belleville every Thursday night at 6pm and Saturday morning at 8am. Saturday morning runs meet at the parking lot behind the St Louis Bread Company.

Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Whiskey Dixon; 7pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Class Act Karaoke Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) - Bob Seger Tribute Band; Hatheway Hall Auditorium; 6:30pm Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) - “An Evening of Ensembles”; Music Building Atrium; 7pm Liberal Arts Theater @ SWIC (Belleville) -Joint SWIC / Webster University Student Film Screening; showcasing some of the best student films from both schools (see “April is Local Film Month” in this edition); 7pm Lincoln Theater - Theater 1 (Belleville) - Parenting a Creative Child Workshop; Diane Ewald (mother of “Belleville – the Movie”

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Law Office Of Michael J. Rousseau Attorney At Law

Specializing in Criminal Defense 10 South Jackson, Suite 300

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April Calendar of Events

April 2014

director Dan Steadman) on following your dream and help your children do the same; 10:15am Lincoln Theater - Theater 2 (Belleville) - Be on Reality TV Workshop; Belleville – the Movie director Dan Steadman; how to get into the crazy world of Reality TV; 10:15am Lincoln Theater - Theater 1 (Belleville) - TV and Film Production Workshop; Belleville – the Movie director Dan Steadman; with plenty of Q&A time; 12:30pm Lincoln Theater - Theater 2 (Belleville) - Acting in Film and TV; Belleville – the Movie producer and star Ted Trent; from Reality TV to feature films; 12:30pm McKendree Gallery of Art (Lebanon) - All Student Show artist reception; This special reception is in coordination with McKendree University Academic Celebration Day events. Work representing other areas of study within the Visual and Performing Arts division will also be on display. Prepare for a delightful evening in the gallery! 4-7pm Pitchers Pub (Belleville) - Open Mic Night hosted by Kimmy V (of EarthSol) and Tony V (of Vitamen A); all musicians, poets and performance artists welcome; every Thursday; 9pm-12pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Bike Night with Live Music SeVen (Belleville) - Gavin Duo; 7-11pm Silver Creek Saloon & Grill (Belleville) - Well Hungarians; Every Thursday Night Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live Music The Abbey (Belleville) - Singer/Songwriter Thursday; Every Thursday night from 7-10pm The Governor French Academy via MVRBC Donor Bus (Belleville) - Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center Blood Drive; 2-5pm The Weingarten (Belleville) - Spring Fashion Show; doors 5:30pm; show begins 7pm Wild Country (Collinsville) - Free Dance Lessons w/ Joyce Warren; 7:30-10pm

April 25th (Friday)

Alton Square Mall (Alton) - Alton Youth Art Festival featuring students of Alton public schools Alton-Wood River Sportsman Club (Alton) - Adam Tucker Argosy Music Hall (Alton) - Open Mic Karaoke; Take the stage at Argosy as we present Karaoke! Free for everyone; 8pm Bee Hollow Market (Mascoutah) - Wine Tasting; 4-7pm Belle Clair Fairgrounds (Belleville) - Stock Car Races Friday Nights through September Big Daddy’s 618 (Belleville) - Belleville is continuing the yearlong 200th celebration with a parade beginning on W. Main & 17th St at 7pm. Celebrate 200 years of Belleville partying before the parade with DJ Bennie & Steve Reeb LIVE on our patio; 5-8pm Cahokia State Historic Site (Collinsville) - Spring Indian Market; Indian artists and vendors display and sell crafts, artwork, clothing, jewelry etc; Free; 12-5pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz Corner Keg Pub (Highland) - Clusterpluck; 9pm Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Live Music Dean’s (Collinsville) - Last Friday of the Month Wine Tasting;

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5-8pm

Downtown (Belleville) - Bicentennial 5K Fun Run/Walk; starts at 17th and West Main and ends at Oak and East Main Streets; 6pm Downtown (Belleville) - Bicentennial “Float” Parade; starts at 17th and West Main and ends at Oak and East Main Streets 7pm Edison’s (Edwardsville) - The Waters Trifecta; 8pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Spun, 3pm; Legends Undercover, 8pm Fezziwig’s Marketplace (Lebanon) - Premier Wine Tasting; 6-7:30pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Hidden Lake Winery (Aviston) - Dueling Piano Bash; all day Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Class Act Karaoke Knights of Columbus Watering Hole (O’Fallon) - Terry Beck; 8pm-12am Lincoln Theater (Belleville) - Auditions for “Expect Delays”, a Christmas movie feature film by Ted Trent Studios and Circa 87; open call for singers, actors and storytellers; local filming begins on April 28; 9-11am Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke Papa Vito’s (Belleville) - Joe Truttman and Ron Wooley Duo; 7pm Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton) - Open Mic Night every Friday night from 7-11pm Pop’s (Sauget) – Twiztid; w/ Blaze Ya Dead Homie, Smokehouse Junkiez, Freakz R’ Us, John Boi; $20 adv, $22 dos, $2 minor surcharge; 7pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Live Music SeVen (Belleville) - Konya & Caradonna; 7-11pm Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Mondinband; 10pm-2am The Abbey (Belleville) - Friday Night Jazz; Every Friday night from 7-10pm The Hett @ McKendree University (Lebanon) - Earth Week electronics and appliance recycling; look for the tractor-trailer; donations are tax deductable; 9am-4pm The Weingarten (Belleville) - Clark Rowden; 6-10pm The Wildey Theater (Edwardsville) - Dave Mason Traffic Jam Tour; The “Traffic Jam” concert will feature hits and deep album cuts from 1967’s Mr. Fantasy and 1968’s Traffic albums plus new material and a selection of classic Dave Mason music. 8pm

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April 2014 April 26th (Saturday)

Alton Square Mall (Alton) - Alton Youth Art Festival featuring students of Alton public schools Belle Clair Expo Center (Belleville) - 40th St. Louis Antique Festival; 100 Quality Dealers from 32 states; $6 admission good for Sat & Sun; 10am-5pm BoBeck’s (Waterloo) - Live DJ every Saturday night; 9pm Cahokia State Historic Site (Collinsville) - Spring Indian Market; Indian artists and vendors display and sell crafts, artwork, clothing, jewelry etc; Free; 9am-5pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Karaoke Night Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Live Music Downtown (Belleville) - The Belleville Running Club holds group runs in downtown Belleville every Thursday night at 6pm and Saturday morning at 8am. Saturday morning runs meet at the parking lot behind the St Louis Bread Company.

Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Hoosier Daddys, 3pm; American Idle, 8pm Fezziwig’s Marketplace (Lebanon) - Casual Saturday Wine Tasting; 2-3:30pm Fischer’s Restaurant (Belleville) - Chariti Home presents the 5th annual Seeds of Promise luncheon and silent auction; “Standing Tall Through it all”; special guest - Toni L. Coleman Carter, human resources consultant, public speaker, author, humanitarian, former deputy mayor; tickets: $40 per person or $280 for a table of 8; 12pm First Christian Church (Belleville) - Belleville Philharmonic Spring concert; 2pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Hidden Lake Winery (Aviston) - Music by Roland Kreke; 7-11pm Holy Trinity Catholic Church (Fairview Heights) - Midwest Salute to the Arts Trivia Night; benefiting the Midwest Salute to the Arts; doors at 6:30pm; games begin at 7pm Knights of Columbus Watering Hole (O’Fallon) - Falling Martins; 8pm-12am Laurie’s Place (Edwardsville) - Every Sat-Jam Session w/ Mo’ Pleasure; 2-6pm Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) - Liverpool Legends Concert; Hatheway Auditorium; 8pm Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke No-Jacks Bar & Grill (Smithton) - DJ & Karaoke Every Saturday; 9pm Papa Vito’s (Belleville) - Joe Truttman and Ron Wooley Duo; 7pm Phil’s Bar & Grill (Wood River) - Karaoke/DJ; 9pm-2am Schatze’s (Belleville) - Live Music SeVen (Belleville) - Scott Miller Band; 7-11pm Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Spectators Sports Bar and Grill (Alton) - Country Karaoke; 9pm1am Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live Music The Cyclery and Fitness Center (Edwardsville) - Saturday Morning East Side Road Ride; 7am The Hett @ McKendree University (Lebanon) - Così Fan Tutte

(Mozart): Met at the Hett; Join a worldwide audience from your “better than front row seat” for the New York Metropolitan Opera’s Emmy award-winning Live in HD series of high-definition simulcast transmissions. Presented with subtitles; $18 adults, $15 seniors, $10 student/child; 12pm The Weingarten (Belleville) - Social Remedy; 7-11pm The Wildey Theater (Edwardsville) - Rock the Cure featuring Deaf Mefford with Friends for Benefits; Music From the Past, Giving For the Future; All proceeds benefit the Siteman Cancer Center; 7:30pm

April 27th (Sunday)

Alton Square Mall (Alton) - Alton Youth Art Festival featuring students of Alton public schools Belle Clair Expo Center (Belleville) - 40th St. Louis Antique Festival; 100 Quality Dealers from 32 states; $6 admission good for Sat & Sun; 10am-4pm Cahokia State Historic Site (Collinsville) - Spring Indian Market; Indian artists and vendors display and sell crafts, artwork, clothing, jewelry etc; Free; 9am-4pm Dutch Hollow Barn (Belleville) - Every Sunday Jam Session; 7pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Hoosier Daddys, 2pm; American Idle, 7pm Hidden Lake Winery (Aviston) - Music by Ronny Lee; 2-6pm Mike’s Ten Pin (Alton) - Mondinband; 9:30pm-1:30am Mudbugs (Caseyville) - Every Sunday Open Mic Blues Jam; 7-11pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke

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April Calendar of Events

April 2014

SeVen (Belleville) - Brad Noe; 7-11pm St Paul’s United Church of Christ (Belleville) - Metro East Community Chorale; 3pm Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Open Mic Night The Weingarten (Belleville) - Randy Webb; 2-6pm The Wildey Theater (Edwardsville) - Wounded Warriors Benefit; The Robert Perry Band, Butch Moore and Alan White, The Jack Twesten Quartet and The Mondin Band will play an afternoon of music to raise money for our Wounded Warriors. 1pm

April 28th (Monday)

Bike Surgeon (Shiloh) - Group Ride Hero Wrench Course; 6-7:30pm Columbia City Saloon (Columbia) - The piano artistry of Pat Joyce; 1-4pm Discovery Garden at LaVista Park (Godfrey) - Garden Workday; 9am–12pm Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) - Free Pizza, Bowling, and Pool; 1pm Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) - “An Evening of Jazz”; 7:30pm Lincoln Theater (Belleville) - Party on the Pipes PSOP (Belleville) - Seniors Passport To Wellness; a tour of your health; complete health screenings plus continental breakfast, lunch and prizes; 9am-12pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke

April 29th (Tuesday)

6pm

PSOP/SWIC (Belleville) - Line Dancing; Our instructor, Carol Schwartz, will show you new line dances and techniques each week. This is a great group to dance with, so sliiiide on over. Cost is $2 per session. 1:303pm Randy’s House of BBQ (Troy) - Open Mic Jam; 7-11pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Open Mic with AfterHours Entertainment & your host Banyon Hanner; 7-11pm St. Elizabeth’s Hospital Millennium Room at the Prairie Heart Institute (Belleville) - Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center Blood Drive; 11am-3pm Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Open Mic Night Wild Country (Collinsville) - The Taping of St. Louis Country with WIL gang, Derrick, Danny, Bo & Judy! $5 for everyone, FREE w/ valid College ID! 7pm-1am Wood River Roundhouse (Wood River) - Imperial Swing Dance Lessons; 6:30-9pm

May 1st (Thursday)

Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Hallelujah Girls; Hilarity abounds when the feisty females of Eden Falls, Georgia, decide to shake up their lives. By the time the women rally together to overcome obstacles and launch their new, improved lives, you’ve got a side-splitting, joyful comedy that will make you laugh out loud and shout “Hallelujah!” 7:30pm Bubby and Sissy’s (Alton) - Karaoke Dance Party; 9:30pm-1:30am Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz Columbia City Saloon (Columbia) - Open Mic Jam Night; 8pm Downtown (Belleville) - The Belleville Running Club holds group

Bike Surgeon (Shiloh) - Tuesday Night Metro East Road Ride; Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Pitchers Pub (Belleville) - Tenacious Trivia; 8pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke

April 30th (Wednesday)

Belle Clair Expo Center (Belleville) - Adam’s Auction; 5-7pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz, Cigar/Scotch Night Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Karaoke Every Wed Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Jay & Waylon; 6pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) - Band; Hatheway Hall Auditorium; 8am Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) - “Springfest”; 11am Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) - Jamie Mills, “Spring Song”; Music Building Atrium; 12pm Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) - SIUE Steel Band; Benjamin Godfrey Memorial Chapel; 7pm Mike’s Ten Pin (Alton) - Mondinband; 9:30pm-1:30am National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows (Belleville) Springboard to Success, A Women’s Forum; registration opens at 8am; Belleville Memorial Hospital’s Wellness Vehicle will be offering screening mammograms. An advanced appointment is required; 8:30am-1pm Pop’s (Sauget) - Pop Evil & Escape The Fate; with Avatar, Glamour of the Kill; $20 adv, $22 dos - $2 minor surcharge; 6:30pm

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April 2014 runs in downtown Belleville every Thursday night at 6pm and Saturday morning at 8am. Saturday morning runs meet at the parking lot behind the St Louis Bread Company.

Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Featherstone Drive; 7pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Class Act Karaoke Laurie’s Place (Edwardsville) – Aaron Kamm and the One Drops Pitchers Pub (Belleville) - Open Mic Night hosted by Kimmy V (of EarthSol) and Tony V (of Vitamen A); all musicians, poets and performance artists welcome; every Thursday; 9pm-12pm Pop’s (Sauget) - Hip Hop Hazard $3 Throwdown featuring: Johnny Madness, Kush Cloud, Krazie Flo, Sonoxide, Jeuce, Johnny Clockwork, So’N’So; XIII Tha Dev5+8a; $3 advance, $5 day of show, $2 minor surcharge; 6:30pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Bike Night with Live Music Silver Creek Saloon & Grill (Belleville) - Well Hungarians; Every Thursday Night Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live Music The Abbey (Belleville) - Singer/Songwriter Thursday; Every Thursday night from 7-10pm Wild Country (Collinsville) - Free Dance Lessons w/ Joyce Warren; 7:30-10pm

May 2nd (Friday)

Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Hallelujah Girls; Hilarity abounds when the feisty females of Eden Falls, Georgia, decide to shake up their lives. By the time the women rally together to overcome obstacles and launch their new, improved lives, you’ve got a side-splitting, joyful comedy that will make you laugh out loud and shout “Hallelujah!” 7:30pm Bee Hollow Market (Mascoutah) - Wine Tasting; Patio Nights every Friday in May; 4-7pm Belle Clair Fairgrounds (Belleville) - Stock Car Races Friday Nights through September; 7pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Live Music Edison’s (Edwardsville) - Hot Flash Duo; 8pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Prestige World Wide, 3pm; Millennium, 8pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Hidden Lake Winery (Aviston) - Music by Randy Webb; 7-11pm Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Class Act Karaoke Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke Mama Gusto’s (Lebanon) - Rogers and Nienhaus; 7-11pm Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton) - Open Mic Night every Friday night from 7-11pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Live Music Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live Music The Abbey (Belleville) - Friday Night Jazz; Every Friday night from 7-10pm The Wildey Theater (Edwardsville) - Shameless: The Garth Brooks Experience featuring Nathan Orr; 8pm

May 3rd (Saturday)

Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Hallelujah Girls; Hilarity abounds when the feisty females of Eden Falls, Georgia, decide to shake up their lives. By the time the women rally together to overcome obstacles and launch their new, improved lives, you’ve got a side-splitting, joyful comedy that will make you laugh out loud and shout “Hallelujah!” 7:30pm Argosy Music Hall (Alton) - Spin The Bottle; Not your typical rock ‘n roll band, see Spin The Bottle. Free with your Argosy Preferred Card; 7pm Bee Hollow Market (Mascoutah) - Specialty Liquor and Cocktail Tasting; 12-4pm BoBeck’s (Waterloo) - Live DJ every Saturday night; 9pm Cahokia State Historic Site (Collinsville) - Storytelling Tim Tingle will be the featured Native American storyteller this year. The event is sponsored by the University of Missouri - St. Louis and the 34rd Annual St. Louis Storytelling Festival; Free; Limited seating; 2pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Karaoke Night Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Live Music Downtown (Belleville) - The Belleville Running Club holds group runs in downtown Belleville every Thursday night at 6pm and Saturday morning at 8am. Saturday morning runs meet at the parking lot behind the St Louis Bread Company.

Downtown (Lebanon) - Annual May Market Home and Garden Show; the brick street will be filled with all kinds of vendors displaying and selling arts, crafts, spring flowers, and more; 9am-5pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Hoosier Daddys, 3pm;

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April Calendar of Events

April 2014

Millennium, 8pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Hidden Lake Winery (Aviston) - Music by Ronny Lee; 7-11pm Laurie’s Place (Edwardsville) - Every Sat-Jam Session w/ Mo’ Pleasure; 2-6pm Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke No-Jacks Bar & Grill (Smithton) - DJ & Karaoke Every Saturday; 9pm Phil’s Bar & Grill (Wood River) - Karaoke/DJ; 9pm-2am Schatze’s (Belleville) - Live Music Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Spectators Sports Bar and Grill (Alton) - Country Karaoke; 9pm1am Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live Music The Cyclery and Fitness Center (Edwardsville) - Saturday Morning East Side Road Ride; 7am

May 4th (Sunday)

Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Hallelujah Girls; Hilarity abounds when the feisty females of Eden Falls, Georgia, decide to shake up their lives. By the time the women rally together to overcome obstacles and launch their new, improved lives, you’ve got a side-splitting, joyful comedy that will make you laugh out loud and shout “Hallelujah!” 2pm Dutch Hollow Barn (Belleville) - Every Sunday Jam Session; 7pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Hoosier Daddys, 2pm; Ultraviolets, 7pm Gateway Center (Collinsville) - Anderson Hospital Baby Fair; Over 100 Vendor Booths; Children’s Safety Section; Car seat demonstrations by Glen Carbon Fire Department; Enjoy Free Samples & Gifts; Meet Local Physicians & Pediatricians; FREE Admission; 1-4pm Hidden Lake Winery (Aviston) - Music by Doc Reitz; 2-6pm Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) - Alton Youth Symphony Concert; Hatheway Hall Auditorium; 2pm Lindenwood University Auditorium (Belleville) - Belleville Philharmonic; Belleville Bicentennial Tribute Concert; 3pm Mike’s Ten Pin (Alton) - Mondinband; 9:30pm-1:30am Mudbugs (Caseyville) - Every Sunday Open Mic Blues Jam; 7-11pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Open Mic Night The Hett @ McKendree University (Lebanon) - Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra; The region’s finest young musicians, ages 12 to 22, represent 35 schools throughout greater St. Louis and beyond; FREE! 3pm The Wildey Theater (Edwardsville) - D.A.R.E. presents “Stringray”, “Stingray” is a 1978 action-comedy filmed in Edwardsville featuring a Corvette Stingray and a couple of unsuspecting buddies who unknowingly get wrapped up in criminal activity resulting high speed chases. 2pm

Discovery Garden at LaVista Park (Godfrey) - Garden Workday; 9am–12pm Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) - Spring Choral Concert; 7:30pm Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) - Live Band – Outside of Reid Café; 11am Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke

May 6th (Tuesday)

9am

Bike Surgeon (Shiloh) - Tuesday Night Metro East Road Ride; 6pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) - Fingerprinting; Pitchers Pub (Belleville) - Tenacious Trivia; 8pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke

May 7th (Wednesday)

Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz, Cigar/Scotch Night Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Karaoke Every Wed Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Prestige World Wide; 6pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Hidden Lake Winery (Aviston) - Free Dance Lessons with Jeff & Marcia Wuebbles; 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. The lessons will teach you to dance all night at a wedding! 7pm

May 5th (Monday)

Bike Surgeon (Shiloh) - Group Ride Hero Wrench Course; 6-7:30pm Columbia City Saloon (Columbia) - The piano artistry of Pat Joyce; 1-4pm

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Comics

April 2014

“Potatoes and Onions� by Brian Gardner

Follow Str8Up on Facebook for daily updates on the arts, music and culture of the Metro East...

Str8 Up Magazine is accepting submissions of artwork, photography, poetry, creative writing, etc. for possible publication in print and on the web. To have your work considered, send hard copy or disc to P.O. Box 412 in Belleville, IL 62222. Digital submissions should be 300dpi and can be e-mailed to editor@straightupmagazine.net.

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The Arts

April 2014

April is Local Film Month!

by Dan Cross

Local film events are rare in the Metro East, but this April will feature no fewer than FOUR different screenings of work by filmmakers with ties to the Belleville area.

and open to the public, though the films may not be appropriate for younger viewers.

When: April 4, 7:00 pm Where: The Liberal Arts Theater (LAC 1370) at Southwestern Illinois College, 2500 Carlyle Avenue, Belleville IL, 62220.

April 9: SWIC Student Film Screening New films and videos by students in the film program at Southwestern will be presented. Works will include “Sanity,” by Brandon McNutt, a film about a man with multiple personalities seeking psychiatric help. McNutt not only wrote and directed, but he plays all five characters as well. “I’m really excited to have the chance to screen my movie for people other than my friends and family,” McNutt said. Also screening will be “Players” by Ron Lucas, an urban drama about a man getting duped into helping a friend collect a bad debt. The show will also include works by students in SWIC’s Visual Effects class, featuring many interesting low-budget DIY special effects. The event is free and open to the public, though some films may not be appropriate for younger viewers.

April 4: SWIC Faculty Film Screening For the first time ever, Southwestern Illinois College will present an evening of works by faculty in its film department. Included in the show will be “Go South for Animal Index”, an experimental silent film (set to 35 musical tracks ranging from dreamy acoustic songs to upbeat rock and roll) about the history of uranium mining and the atomic bomb. The film is based on a poem by St. Louis writer Stefene Russell. The poem was set to music by the St. Louis arts collective Poetry Scores, and the musical CD was then adapted for the screen by producer and director Chris King. The movie was shot over a two-year period in locations around St. Louis including the Atomic Cowboy nightclub, Crystal City Underground, and rural settings in St. Charles and Cuba, MO. SWIC film instructor Dan Cross originally signed on to the project as an extra (a zombie miner, to be precise). He ended up as co-director of photography and edited the entire film. Also screening will be “Made in China,” a new dramatic short film by SWIC film instructor Stacy Singh. Directors King and Singh and editor/co-Director of Photography Cross will be on hand to discuss the films and take questions from the audience. The event is free 22

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When: April 9, 7:00 pm Where: The Liberal Arts Theater (LAC 1370) at Southwestern Illinois College, 2500 Carlyle Avenue, Belleville IL, 62220.

April 22-27: The Premiere of “Belleville: The Movie” The biggest film news of the Metro East this year (or maybe ever) is the feature film “Belleville”, produced by and starring Belleville native Ted Trent. The movie tells the story of Willie, a widowed and withdrawn farmer who is pulled out of his depression by an unusual kind-hearted visitor, Neila. The film was shot over a three-week period in Belleville, Freeburg, and New Athens last October, and dozens of people from the Metro East played roles in the film and on the crew. With everyone dying to see the finished product, Trent and director Dan Steadman have planned a glitzy premiere worthy of Hollywood, complete with a red carpet, press corps, and limousines.

The premiere will be Tuesday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the historic Lincoln Theater in downtown Belleville. Tickets for the premiere are already sold

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April 2014 “Belleville - the Movie” additional events / showtimes and conversaout, but tickets remain for many other scheduled screenings of the film at tions with the cast & crew at the Lincoln Theater: the Lincoln from April 22-27. Every screening will be hosted by one or more members of the cast and crew who will introduce the movie and share Wednesday, April 23 interesting behind-the-scenes facts and stories.

Trent and Steadman are also hosting several free workshops April 23 and 24 in conjunction with the film’s debut. Topics will include how to break into reality TV, how to raise a creative child (hosted by Steadman’s mother, Diane Ewald), and how to find work on film productions. More information about the workshops and the screenings can be found at their official website, BellevilleTheMovie.com.

Before the curtain on the “Belleville” premiere has barely come down, Trent and Steadman will begin shooting another new feature film, “Expect Delays”, in and around Belleville. These folks have really energized the people of the Metro East and made everyone excited about making movies here. Please come out and support their great work!

When: April 22 through April 27, various times Where: The Lincoln Theater, 103 East Main Street, Belleville, IL, 62220.

April 24: Joint SWIC/Webster Student Screening Film faculty at Southwestern Illinois College and Webster University have recently worked together to create an exciting transfer agreement to make it easier for film students to earn a B.A. in film with two years of study at SWIC and two years at Webster. To help celebrate this agreement, faculty have organized a joint screening to showcase some the best student films to come out of each schools. The event will feature two hours of films (half from SWIC, half from Webster) showing a wide range of student projects including narrative films, short documentaries, and music videos. The same program will also screen at Webster’s Winifred Moore Auditorium on Sunday, April 27. The screening at SWIC is free and open to the public, though some films may not be appropriate for younger viewers. The same program will also screen at Webster’s Winifred Moore Auditorium on Sunday, April 27 at 7:30pm.

When: April 24, 7:00 pm Where: The Liberal Arts Theater (LAC 1370) at Southwestern Illinois College, 2500 Carlyle Avenue, Belleville IL, 62220.

Str8Up staff writer Dan Cross teaches film and directs the film program at Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville. He was “imbedded” with the film crew of Belleville during their work in the Metro East and served as set photographer. He also works on other local films, including the recent feature “Go South for Animal” Index, on which he served as editor, assistant director, and co-director of photography. Cross also plays in two local bands, Earthsol and the Vinyl Frontier.

12:15 p.m. Hosted by Rick Jey, Alie Morgan, Vincent Gaither, and acting coach Ted Jordan, who worked with Forrest Whitaker on “Hurricane.” (FREE WITH TICKET PURCHASE TO FILM) 2:25 p.m. Bob Snyder shares how he got the role in “Belleville” and what it’s like to be the first face to appear on screen! (FREE WITH TICKET PURCHASE TO FILM) 4:40 p.m. Antonio St. James tells how he went from auditioning and being featured in a BND article to booking a role on NBC’s “Chicago P.D.” (FREE WITH TICKET PURCHASE TO FILM) 7:15 p.m. Actor Ron Klein and camera operator David Lubbers will talk about life on the set of “Belleville.” (FREE WITH TICKET PURCHASE TO FILM)

Thursday, April 24 12:15 p.m. Actors Susan Blakey and Wayne Ault will talk about following your dreams at any age. (FREE WITH TICKET PURCHASE TO FILM) 2:25 p.m. Bill Conklin and Ron Klein will talk about playing bowlers and best friends in “Belleville.” (FREE WITH TICKET PURCHASE TO FILM) 4:40 p.m. Eric Dean White and Keith Nussbaum will talk about their sizable on screen roles. (FREE WITH TICKET PURCHASE TO FILM) 7:15 p.m. Cathleen Lindauer, will share City tip of movie logistics. (FREE WITH TICKET PURCHASE TO FILM)

Friday, April 25 12:15 p.m. Actors Rose Marie Fitzgerald and Ann Jacobs talk about shooting on location. (FREE WITH TICKET PURCHASE TO FILM) 2:25 p.m. Susie Werle Larkin shares the specifics of being an on-set production assistant & Aerial Hawkey will talk about the audition process. (FREE WITH TICKET PURCHASE TO FILM) 4:40 p.m. Bob Snyder shares how he got the role in “Belleville” and what its like to be the first face to appear on screen! (FREE WITH TICKET PURCHASE TO FILM) 7:15 p.m. Hosted by lead actress Kate Barton (Jana in “Belleville”) and radio hosts of “The John & Kane Show” (IndioRadio.com) (FREE WITH TICKET PURCHASE TO FILM) 9:30 p.m. Script supervisor and actor Logan Short talks about balancing two roles on a film set - behind the scenes and in front of the camera. (FREE WITH TICKET PURCHASE TO FILM)

Saturday, April 26 12:15 p.m. Hosted by voiceover artist, print model, actress, and mom Jessica Ambuehl. (FREE WITH TICKET PURCHASE TO FILM) 2:25 p.m. Hosted by actress Jennifer Blomstrom, who plays the pivotal role of the Gary’s Restaurant waitress in “Belleville.” (FREE WITH TICKET PURCHASE TO FILM) 4:40 p.m. Production assistants Keith Nussbaum and Mike Cowan talk about pulling off the tricky water fountain scene in the movie. (FREE WITH TICKET PURCHASE TO FILM) 7:15 p.m. Hosted by lead actress and St. Louis acting coach Cooper Shaw, who plays the villainous Arlene! (FREE WITH TICKET PURCHASE TO FILM) 9:30 p.m. Cooper Shaw and Eric Dean White tell stories from the set of “Belleville.” (FREE WITH TICKET PURCHASE TO FILM) Sunday, April 27 12:30 p.m. Hosted by actors Shawn Chevalier (Jana’s friend) and Margery Handy, the woman who intervenes at Belleville’s the water fountain. (FREE WITH TICKET PURCHASE TO FILM) 2:45 p.m. Hosted by Andra Harkins, who plays the very funny bookstore owner in “Belleville.” (FREE WITH TICKET PURCHASE TO FILM) 5:00 p.m. Hosted by Bill Finkbiner, who plays the police officer who confronts Willie on his farm. (FREE WITH TICKET PURCHASE TO FILM) 7:15 p.m. Wardrobe and Prop Specialist Rachel Farrell will share her experiences pulling off “Belleville” on a budget. (FREE WITH TICKET PURCHASE TO FILM)

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Music

April 2014

Things Happen for a Reason: A Look at Old Salt Union’s Recent Past

by Mark Johnson After a twenty-two hour drive from a gig in Kansas City, the band’s yellow and green converted shuttle bus, named Rosemary, reaches the security line at the Daytona 500 and stops for clearance. The guard looks at them and says, “Nope.”

A man in a golf cart behind the security line notices the bus and says one word: “Yep.” A wave and the bus holding the five members of Old Salt Union pulls into the sprawl of tents behind the race. At the start of this tour, the band had no idea they’d end up here; but that all changed in a night.

A few weeks prior, the band was about to go on stage in Atlanta, playing a set that was thirty minutes earlier than they had expected and for an almost non-existent crowd. As they warmed up backstage, Ryan Murphey thought he heard his mom’s voice, so he poked his head out into the hall.

“They weren’t going to let me back here but I told them ‘I’m your mother!’” she said.

Ryan’s mom, his aunt and a few other people had come down to surprise the guys before their show, driving all the way from Belleville and managing to catch them a few minutes before their set. It worked, and the guys brought that extra energy with them when they got on stage, despite the small crowd. That little bit more might have been what sealed the deal for someone else listening that night.

“It’s just one of those things; we were busting our ass and positive things happen. We did the show for next to no people, but someone was there from Coca-Cola and they dug us, and the next thing you know we’re exchanging emails with them about playing at the Daytona 500,” Jesse Farrar said.

Back in Belleville, in a garage splattered with posters and band t-shirts on the west end, the five members of Old Salt Union sat down to talk with me again. We last met in August after a show at Pitcher’s Sports Pub in downtown Belleville, hiding from the humidity in Rosemary just out front.

They’ve been an increasingly rare sight in Belleville since then, traveling over many roads to new cities and taking new steps forward as a band.

For those who haven’t heard Old Salt Union, they’re a five-piece band comprised of John Brighton on violin, Dustin Eiskant on guitar, Jesse Farrar on standup bass, Ryan Murphey on banjo and Justin Wallace on mandolin. Borrowing the traditional bluegrass instrumentation, they transpose that sonic foundation and use hybridized song structures borrowed from pop, classical, jazz, rap and many other genres to create accessible, infectious music that’s equal parts tux, t-shirt, business casual and denim overalls. As musicians, they combine decades of training, practice, performance and talent in an act that can break you down and build you back up in two songs flat, and their gregarious personalities pour off stage through their banter in the breaks between songs.

So, here we are in their practice garage, the five of them lined up facing me. Behind Jesse and John, smack in the center of the back wall, is a dry erase board filled with chord charts, a tone map for their upcoming second 24

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album. Since we last met they’ve been anxious to record it – their first album, Western Skies, was recorded before they had really meshed together as songwriters and some of the songs composed before the band had all the members.

That said, it was still nominated for Best Album by the Indie Music Channel, so their excitement about what comes next speaks volumes about how far they’ve come together since forming about a year and a half ago.

Part of the push towards getting the new album recorded resulted in a Kickstarter campaign after they realized they wouldn’t have the financing to record and do the new material justice. The campaign ran for a month and they hoped they’d reach $10,000 before time ran out. That total came in a few days, and by the end they had $16,190 in backing from fans from selling copies of the second album, artwork Justin created, custom-designed shirts and a couple of private concerts.

Even after besting their expectations on raising funding, the band will still put more money out of their own pockets towards recording, and some of the money they hadn’t originally expected to bring in will now be set towards hiring a publicist to promote the new release. Sixteen grand is nothing to scoff at, and the band certainly isn’t taking their next album lightly.

“We’re not taking this money for granted,” Ryan said. “We have a responsibility to make the most professional album we can.”

The new tracks have been honed over a long period of time and they’ve spent a lot of time making sure they find the right studio and recording engineer to capture the new work, which they’re excited to share.

“I think we’ve all explored what works and what hasn’t, and we’ve dabbled in making it a more musical thing,” Jesse said. “There are a lot more dramatic chord changes, and we’re getting away from the stereotypical bluegrass vibe, but not completely.”

“With the first album, a lot of the core songs were written before Jesse and I had even joined the band,” John said. “With this one, all five of us have essentially written every song together, and I think you can feel us

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April 2014

playing off each other’s strengths in that way.”

Old Salt Union will finish recording the album in April and slate it for a June release. Along with that comes touring, something that’s become a much bigger part of the band’s lives. When we last spoke with them, Ryan had recently quit his job to dedicate his time towards the band to act as their manager. Since then, nearly every other member has quit their job as well, a step that’s allowed them to perform more and change Old Salt Union into a way of life and how they make their living.

Making that step wasn’t the easiest choice but it’s proven to be easier than they had anticipated.

“We all have close relationships with our parents,” Justin said. “Having that support from our parents is such an ease on my mind. When people who, I never thought in a million years would, are telling me to quit my job and that this is what I need to do.”

“That’s the foundation, having that support from your family,” Dustin said.

“And if other people can believe in it that heavily, then it makes it easier to believe in yourself,” Ryan said.

With more time to travel and play abroad, the band has established new goals for themselves as they develop networks in new areas. One of those is how often they’re playing shows each month: “Ideally we’re gigging 15 to 20 times a month,” Ryan said.

Old Salt Union recently signed with Atomic Music Group, a booking agency that has gotten them shows across the United States. After the band has played a few shows in a new area, they revisit it a few months later and create a tour circuit they can repeat throughout the year.

With so much traveling, the band spends a lot of time in Rosemary. The road trip to Kansas City, then Daytona and back had them driving 40 hours in five days, with the brunt of it jammed into the last jaunt to Florida and then home. The band doesn’t always have the money to spend on hotels so they’ve often find themselves staying at stranger’s homes, something that happened recently when a friend of a friend of a friend heard they’d be in Plano, Texas and invited them to their home for the three days they were in town. Experiences along with many others have expanded the group’s network of friends hugely, and kindnesses like that have kept their dream rolling.

“I’ve been meeting so many people and building my friend base up so

much -- it’s surreal. It’s nothing I ever would have expected,” Ryan said.

“That’s what makes it all possible, and that’s been the highlight so far,” Dustin said. “This is all going so fast that we really haven’t had time to reflect.”

Without that reflection, the band is still getting used to the new realm of possibilities they’ve opened themselves up to and the world of new experiences that will come with it. That’s perhaps most obvious when they were checking in at their hotel in Daytona, a luxurious, four-star beachfront spa called The Plaza Resort & Spa that Coca Cola arranged. Travel-worn and tired they walked inside to check in, sweatpants and beards, still not entirely sure that the whole arrangement for Daytona wasn’t a dream.

“Are you sure you’re not supposed to be at the Plaza Ocean Club?” someone behind the counter asked, mentioning the cheaper hotel next door as they tried to get their room.

“Maybe there’s an envelope,” Ryan told the man.

“Old Salt Union? Sorry, sir,” the man replied.

That niggling doubt was still there, a doubt which has injected so much surprise into the last few months of these five guys’ lives. Surprising themselves, surprising new listeners – when talent and dedication meet it’s hard to be certain of exactly how life will unfold itself. But following through with belief and perseverance is key, and even after checking into their hotel in Daytona, driving to the race for the show provided another test when the security guard said “Nope.” Quickly they found that the follow through requires one more thing that, luckily, the band has found within themselves and pouring out from their new friends and all the people who support them: “We definitely had to verify that all that was real,” Dustin said about the arrangements for Daytona.

“How did you verify?” I said.

“Faith,” Jesse said.

You can check out Old Salt Union on their website at www.oldsaltunion. com and they’re also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. You can get their music at their website and also on iTunes, and they also have an iOS app that’ll keep you updated with all the latest OSU news.

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Submissions

April 2014

Gary Olds Artist Statement: Like many artists, my activity sways in a few different directions, though in my own mind I feel they all connect. My main art focus for years has remained fiber and textiles, principally weaving. From that I also move into and through periods involving projects of clay, metal and handmade paper.

All of my work is inspired by three recurring themes reflected in objects I create---family heritage, time, and relationships. My heritage is from a mining family, copper and tin, and the various occupations surrounding a mining community. Much of my weaving is composed of colors used in homage to this underground mining background: black, copper, and jewel tones. My obsession with time is reflected in metal work and to some degree clay sculpture. A favorite poem of mine written by Theodor Suess Geisel (Dr. Suess) reads: “How did it get so late so soon? It’s night before it’s afternoon. December is here before it’s June. My goodness how the time has flown. How did it get so late so soon?” My copper metal box titled “Reflections of Time” was specifically created with this poem in mind. The importance of relationships for me is more complicated. By nature I see myself as quiet, reserved and preferring a background role. Of course there are situations that push me into other scenes--outgoing, conversational--but in general I bend inward. I’ve always been intrigued by the quiet nature of many people who lead amazingly active, accomplished lives but who never boast of their achievements. I’m dating myself, but there would be those who beg the question “who WAS that masked man?” or, the Bruce Waynes of life. It is these people who inspire me to create sculptures in paper or clay---those seemingly everyday people who quietly, humbly accomplish amazing feats.

“Space-Time-Relationship“

More about Gary Olds: Gary is a member of the O’Fallon and Fairview Heights arts commissions and a committee member of the Midwest Salute to the Arts art festival. He also assists from time to time arranging exhibitions at local galleries. He works as the Programs Coordinator at the Scott AFB Arts and Crafts Center---a wonderful facility and morale building benefit for our active duty military, veterans, civil servants, and family members. Scott Arts and Crafts Center consistently offers the largest number and widest selection of classes in the Air Force. Automotives, glass, textiles, fibers, health/beauty, framing, pottery, music, painting, drawing, basketry, cooking, and dozens of other subjects are available. 375fss.com/artscrafts.htm Gary also is a Juried Illinois Master Artisan. See website for workshops, classes, gallery of works: GaryOlds.com. Find him also on LinkedIn.com as “Gary Olds, Art and Fine Craft”.

Contact Gary: art@garyolds.com Facebook.com/garyoldsartofmine

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Music

April 2014

Superfun Yeah Yeah Rocketship with painting demo by “Danger” Zeke Gunard

Straight Up Magazine & Pitchers Pub Concert on Mar. 29th Photos by Mark Polege 10th Annual Herstory Week-end

Kim Massie

EarthSol

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April 2014

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