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Three Days of Music Coming to Bishop Hill...
The following three concerts will be presented by Crossroads Cultural Connections at Bishop Hill Creative Commons:
Saturday, May 4th – Zach Pietrini & Christopher Gold
Zach Pietrini’s Midwestern, indie americana songwriting aesthetic is the sonic embodiment of a well-worn denim jacket. At the forefront of the Americana resurgence, Pietrini—lead vocalist and guitarist for his namesake band—takes an everyman’s approach to the genre with a knack for honest storytelling and a wistfulness that comes across in both the music and lyrics. The band takes its cues from Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, and David Ramirez, reinterpreting and rejuvenating American roots styles through a contemporary lens. Pietrini’s songs “situate him at the confluence of all that an urban Millennial audience 
finds relatable” (Milwaukee Magazine), performing old-soul themes of ennui, regret, disappointment, and nostalgia with a modern twist.
Christopher Gold is a Kentucky-born songwriter living in Wisconsin. Together with his band The New Old Things he has written and recorded folk songs, country songs, rock & roll songs, and everything in between citing a love for songwriters like Townes Van Zandt, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, John Prine, and anybody else whose work begins with paper and pen. He travels primarily as a solo act, carrying on the folk tradition of performances that blend music, storytelling, and humor.
Sunday, May 5th – The Finns
The Finns are a highly successful folk music duo from Laois, Ireland, brothers Hugh and Ciaran Finn. Their roots lie in traditional Irish music but their original songs have been described as alt-folk roots, or indie folk music, with strong hints of rock. They have incredibly catchy, lovable, and seriously impressive
original songs that are easy to fall for and they cover Irish folk classics and sea shanties like no other band. This has allowed them to travel the world with massive popularity especially in the USA. The Finns have released a host of successful singles off their debut and charting No. 1 album “Creations”, which has turned heads with the highest quality of production involved produced by The Finns. Their second album Remember This Day released in Autumn 2023 is produced by Bill Shanley and is making huge waves through the Irish music industry with so many strong songs. The Finns play banjos, guitars, percussion, bouzouki, tenor guitars and harmonicas making the live set very interesting and with their strong harmonies shining through, the brother vibe is very enjoyable to watch as they entertain very organically.
Monday, May 6th – Stephie James & Sophie Coyote
Stephie James has been a steadfast musical powerhouse since her teens. She’s toured with Anita Baker and Nikki Lane, worked production for Buddy Miller and Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, has written with John Bettis (songwriter for Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, The Carpenters and more) and even shared the stage with Michael Bolton.
Sophie Coyote is a singer/songwriter from the small mid-western town of Waddams Grove, Illinois. Born in an old farm house on seven acres of land surrounded by rolling fields. She was raised on a broad range of musical influences that include classic rock & roll, honky-tonk country and a bit of blues. This open mind of influence has led to a songwriting style that is reminiscent of the raw and honest age of music; lyrically driven with interesting stories, unique twists and word-play.
A potluck, starting at 6:00 PM, precedes each concert, with music beginning at 7:00 PM. All concerts are family-friendly and open to guests of all ages.
Suggested donation is $15-25.
The venue and art cooperative, located at 309 N. Bishop Hill St, Bishop Hill, Illinois, also contains and has for sale the works of local and regional artists, who work in a variety of mediums. It is open Friday through Sunday, 11:00 AM until 4:00 PM.
For more information please visit xroadscc.org.
Sixth Annual Levitt AMP Galva Music Series Lineup Announced...
Grab some lawn chairs and get ready for a summer full of music in Galva. The Galva Arts Council is excited to announce a very talented lineup for the sixth annual Levitt AMP Galva Music Series presented by Regional Media.
Held at Wiley Park in Galva, these Sunday concerts are an opportunity for community members of all ages to enjoy free live music in a picnic-style setting.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase during concerts.
Admission to the concerts is free and attendees are encouraged to invite friends, family, and neighbors for an opportunity to meet new friends and celebrate the summer season.
This year the series will feature eleven concerts instead of the normal ten!
The Levitt AMP Galva Music Series is supported in part by the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation, which partners with changemakers and nonprofits across the country to activate underused outdoor spaces through the power of free, live music—bringing people together, fostering belonging, and invigorating community life. Presenting high-caliber talent and a broad array of music genres and cultural programming, Levitt concerts are welcoming and inclusive destinations where people of all ages and backgrounds come together.
The 2024 lineup includes the following acts:
May 26 – Soultru (Soul, RnB), Sturtz (Folk, Soul)
June 2 – Rachel Brooke (Country), Rye Davis (Country)
June 9 – Sweet Lizzy Project (Rock), Gallivant (Rock)
June 16 – Shanna in a Dress (Folk Pop), Emily the Band (Folk Pop)
June 23 – Creole Stomp with Dennis Stroughmatt (Creole), Black Cat Zydeco ft. Dwight Carrier (Zydeco)
June 30 – Dyer Davis (Rock, Blues, Soul), David Rosales (Americana, Rock)
July 7 – STEAM Irish Quartet (Traditional Irish), Blame Not the Bard (Traditional Irish)
July 14 – LowDown Brass Band (Brass), Kommuna Lux (Ukrainian)
July 21 – Rhythm Future Quartet (Gypsy Jazz), Mozzy Dee w/3 on the Tree (Rockabilly)
July 28 – EmiSunshine (Bluegrass, Folk, Pop), The David Mayfield Parade (Bluegrass)
August 4 – Lone Piñon (Mexican), Sunny War (Gospel, Folk, Avant Garde)
The Levitt AMP Galva Music Series presented by Regional Media is made possible by generous community support. To learn more please visit: galvamusic.com.
About the Galva Arts Council:
The mission of the Galva Arts Council is to enrich the quality of life in our town through the advancement and promotion of the arts, the encouragement of the appreciation of the arts through participation and attendance of art events, the provision of membership services, and advocacy for the arts.
About the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation:
The Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation is a private foundation that exists to strengthen the social fabric of America. Through its support of creative placemaking, the Levitt Foundation empowers communities to transform underused public spaces into welcoming destinations where the power of free, live music brings people together and invigorates community life. The Foundation's primary funding areas include permanent Levitt venues and the Levitt AMP [Your City] Grant Awards, an annual grants competition. During the past decade, the Foundation has awarded more than $20 million in grants to support access to free, high-caliber live music experiences while bringing new life to public spaces.
In 2024, the national Levitt network of music venues and concert sites is presenting 650+ free concerts in 45 towns and cities, with audiences over 750,000. In addition to supporting free concerts, the Levitt Foundation is dedicated to advancing equitable music ecosystems through research and partnerships. www.levitt.org
Blue Star Home Program Announced...
Applications are begin accepted for those that wish to participate in the Blue Star Home Program ("the Program").
Upon completion of an extensive background check, a Blue Star home will be given the opportunity to display a blue star on on their homes indicating that they have chosen to assist any young person that feels threatened in any manner, whether that threat is bullying, suspicious activity or imminent bodily harm.
Any juvenile that is uncomfortable with conditions outside a Blue Star Home may seek refuge from those conditions by ringing the door bell, pounding on the front door or yelling for help.
Blue Star Home participants are limited to assessing the situation, calling the child's parent or guardian absent an immediate threat, reporting all such incidents to the Galva Police immediately after contacting the child's parent or guardian, or in the case of a threatening situation immediately dialing 911.
Further, Blue Star Home participants agree that they will NOT take the law into their own hands, and that they will always have the best interests of the child in mind when offering assistance.
The Galva Police Department reserves the right to reject any application for the Blue Star Home Program for any reason or for no reason at all.
If you would like to participate in the Program, download the Application, fill it out in its entirety, and return it to City Hall. If your application is approved, you will receive a call from the Galva Police Department indicating acceptance into the Program and will be allowed to pick up your Blue Star from City Hall.
Letters from Galva...
Galvan Ryan Olson Featured In Airman Magazine...
When Ryan was a senior at the Air Force Academy, Airman Magazine wanted to do a video on the space program at the Academy. Ryan was the number one cadet in the Astronautical Engineering department and was chosen to do this video.
The Galva Giant Makes It To YouTube...
OSF Announces The Care-A-Van Mobile Health Care Unit...
Gary Metiever Produces Galva Levitt Amp Video...
Eagle Enterprises Publishes New Recycling Standards...
View or Print the Recyclables List
Sons of the American Legion...
The Galva American Legion Post #45 has received their charter for a new Sons of the American Legions Squadron.
The Legion is looking for new members to get the squadron rolling.
If you have a parent, grandparent or great grandparent or step parent or step grandparent that was in the military, you are eligible to join.
If interested, please contact Wayne Glisan at (309) 335 - 2931, Lloyd Anderson at (309) 853 - 7347 or Earl Stuckey at (309) 853 - 7917
