The Why Store offers explanation to Copper Dragon

The Why Store, well known for its hit song Lack of Water, will brings its back-to-basics rock sound and emotion-laden vocals to the Copper Dragon Saturday for what a spokesman expects to be the concert of the year.

Opening the show at 9:30 p.m. will be Mango Jam and their tropical calypso sound.

Tickets for the show are $7 in advance and $8 at the door. For more information call the Copper Dragon at 549-2319.

The Schwag to bring the Dead to life at Hangar 9

Grateful Dead tribute band The Schwag will entertain fans and followers of the Dead when it mellows out the crowd with its jam-inspired covers tonight at the Hangar 9, 511 S. Illinois Ave.

The Schwag is renowned for its long, improvisational jams similar to the style of the Grateful Dead.

The St. Louis area band’s repertoire also includes Phish, The Band, Warren Zevon and Bob Dylan among other cover songs.

Taping is allowed and encouraged at all Schwag shows.

The Schwag will take the stage around 10 p.m. There is no opening act, and there is a $3 cover charge at the door.

Still Dead:Jake’s Leg to bring out the Dead at Copper Dragon

The grooving sounds of the Grateful Dead will fill the Copper Dragon tonight when the tribute band Jake’s Leg takes the stage around 10 p.m.

Jake’s Leg is a St. Louis-area band famous for its rocking renditions of the Dead’s most popular songs.

The show is part of Dead Head Night at the Copper Dragon, 700 E. Grand Ave., and the band will be celebrating with a psychedelic compact disk release party.

There will be no opening act.

Organist to play at Shryock Auditorium

The organist to the City of Birmingham, Thomas Trotter, will display the skills that have sent him on tours worldwide during a free concert at 8 tonight in Shryock Auditorium

Trotter will be performing as part of the Marianne Webb and David N. Bateman Distinguished Organ Recital Series.

His skills at the concert will be funneled through the gargantuan Reuter Pipe Organ in the auditorium balcony.

The British virtuoso has toured throughout the United States, Europe, Australia and Japan. As a recording artist, Trotter’s Messiaen and Mozart releases were included on Gramophone’s Critic’s Choice lists, and his Liszt recording from Merseburg Cathedral won the 1995 Franz Liszt Grand Prix.

Heartland Music Festival to have the blues

Coo-Coo’s nightclub and SI Bowl will be the site of this year’s Heartland Music Festival Saturday. The first act singing the blues will take the stage at noon.

The musical acts featured carry a wide variety of blues styles. The festival will feature acts from the Southern Illinois area, St. Louis and as far away as Detroit.

The Heartland Music Festival lineup is as follows:12 p.m. Tawl Paul and Slappin’ Henry Blue

2 p.m. Morgantown (Tribute to Duane Allman)

3:30 p.m. Trouble Pryor (16-year-old electric guitar prodigy)

4 p.m. Eddie King and the Swamp Bees

The Heartland Music Festival will take place behind the Coo-Coo’s/SI Bowl building, located east of town on Route 13. Beer wagons and food stands will be provided. Coolers are prohibited.

Tickets for the festival are $7.50 in advance and $10 at the gate.

Massive Funk to funk-up Pinch Penny Pub

The funky beat of Massive Funk will groove The Pinch Penny Pub crowd Saturday with its mix of funk, soul and rhythm and blues.

The trio is known around the local circuit for its organic groove and electric rhythm style of funky soul.

Massive Funk’s vibrant songs will get people dancing when they take the stage at Pinch Penny, 700 E. Grand Ave., around 10 p.m. There will be no opening act and no cover charge.

Opening night for Arcadia will be at 8 tonight in McLeod Theater located in the Communications Building. The play, written by famous playwright Tom Stoppard, is being directed by Sarah Blackstone, the chairwoman of the SIUC Theater Department.

She describes the play as a romantic comedy that is about the nature of time. With 14 actors including a live turtle, Blackstone said Arcadia is clever and witty.

Arcadia will be performed tonight and Saturday, as well as on Oct. 10 and Oct. 11. All these shows will be at 8 p.m. And on Oct. 12 there will be a show at 2 p.m. Adult tickets are $10 and student tickets are $5. For more information call the McLeod Theater box office at 453-3001.

Pinch Penny Pub displays some Mercy

Mercy brings its straight-ahead jazz sound to the Pinch Penny Pub Sunday night.

The local quartet is scheduled to take the stage at about 9 p.m. There will be no cover charge.

Students to play solos

For the 15th year, 60 students will perform recitals in the Saluki Sazuki Piano Recital Sunday in the Old Baptist Foundation Recital Hall.

Two recitals will take place at 1 p.m., and another at 2 p.m. Thirty students will perform in each of the recitals. Each student will in turn perform a solo.

Alice Ward, assistant professor in music, said she has been working with students since the beginning of the semester. She said the recital gives students a chance to display their work.

Showcasing students’ talents has been a part of the Youth Music Program for 15 years.

The Old Baptist Foundation Recital Hall is next to Faner Hall. The recital is free of charge.

You Slaid who is coming?

Slaid Cleaves will bring his playful and upbeat singing and music to Cousin Andy’s, 402 W. Mill St., tonight touring on his critically renowned 1997 release No Angel Knows.

Carter and Connelley will open the show with their folk remedies.

Doors will open at 7 p.m., and the music will start at about 7:30 p.m.

The cover charge will be $5 for general admission, and $3 for students and low-income community members. Well-behaved children can attend for free.