A look at the big summer music events in the area

The sound of music somehow sounds even better when it's drifting forth from a stage under Mother Nature's canopy.

Not that music doesn't sound sweet inside, too, when temperatures rise.

But, let's face it, Nature's canopy trumps the man-made kind most days of the week.

Happily, there are many days and many weeks ahead of us right now with just the kind of climate suited to al fresco concerts and entertainment.

They range from ISU's Concerts on the Quad series to the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts' CEFCU Summer Stage shows.

For those who prefer more climate-controlled circumstances, venues like the Peoria Civic Center, the U.S. Cellular Coliseum and Bloomington's Castle Theatre are still coming through for us.

Though additions will doubtless be made in the weeks ahead, we can guarantee that the following schedule of area musical events is the most complete you'll find anywhere hereabouts.

For up-to-the-minute additions, consult GO!'s weekly Music Calendar.

• 3: America, the pop band still riding that Horse with No Name 35 years later, 8 p.m., Sangamon Auditorium, Springfield.

• 3: Big James and the Chicago Playboys, Windy City blues favorites, 7 p.m., Castle Theatre, Bloomington.

• 3-12: Peoria Bach Festival, with a full slate of performances, lectures, and more, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Peoria.

• 4: Blaggards and The Shanties, a night of rockin' Irish, 8 p.m., Castle Theatre.

• 5: 'Weird' Al Yankovic, still poking fun at the bands that feed him after all these years, 7 p.m., Prairie Capital Convention Center, Springfield.

• 5-12: 50th Annual International Carillon Festival, bringing carillon players from around the world to the Thomas Rees Carillon in Springfield's Washington Park.

• 10: Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis, the husband-wife country singers with successful solo careers join forces on stage, 8 p.m., Castle Theatre.

• 10: Zac Brown Band, the two-time Grammy-winning Southern rockers serve up both music and Southern cuisine, 7 p.m., Three Sisters Park, Chillicothe.

• 11: Gabriel Iglesias, comedian, 8 p.m., Peoria Civic Center, Peoria.

• 11: WGLT Summer Concert with Carolyn Wonderland, Hot Club of Cowtown and Hip Pocket, where roadhouse blues meet Texas swing meet B-N's own blues vets, 4:30-9:30 p.m., downtown Bloomington square.

• 15: Alejandro Escovedo, a back-by-popular-demand show for the esteemed Texas master, 8 p.m., Castle Theatre.

A Golden Retriever Rescuer speaks up! « Land of PureGold Foundation

As a life long dog lover and volunteer involved in golden retriever rescue, I was very disappointed in this book. I am mostly concerned about the message that Sonny Brewer sends his readers about shelters and rescue groups. His book implies that those involved in rescue work are over zealous thieves of dogs. In reality, rescue groups are a tireless group of people who give hope to dogs of irresponsible and sometimes cruel owners. My rescue group saves around 200 dogs a year. These dogs come to us through owner relinquishments, shelters, and as strays. The atrocities that we see with these dogs does make us somewhat zealous, but all in the best interests of the dogs.

Had Mr. Brewer installed an appropriate fence (electronic fences are unreliable and unfair means of containment), neutered his beloved dog, and spent time with him, rather than just turn him out to his own devices, he would not have lost his dog (not once, but multiple times). But alas, that would not have allowed him to write a book with a golden retriever on the cover so that he could cash in on his irresponsibility as a dog owner.

Mr. Brewer professes his love for his dog and I do not doubt that he does love his dog, but his irresponsibility with his dog and with the telling of this story leave a bad taste in my mouth. Its about time someone wrote a good book about the work of rescue organizations. The money made would be well spent in the continued rescue of needy dogs. Perhaps Mr. Brewer will see fit to send some of the proceeds of this book to the Connecticut rescue that took such wonderful care of his dog.

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