Every Wednesday at Six Strings, check out some talented local musicians performing on stage.

If you're a musician who would like to play. Come on in, and sign up that night.

Doors: 7PM        Sign Up: 8PM        Show: 8:30PM

Skip the ceremony and start the party! Hailing from Chicago, via Gas City Indiana, Wedding Banned has become “the greatest wedding band on Earth.” Wedding Banned plays 80’s and 90’s music, throwing in some other guilty pleasures, that will take you back to great times and moments. Their unique performance combines music, audience interaction and comedy. Wedding Banned selects a bride and groom to get “married” on stage at most shows. Wedding Banned plays over 100 club shows, weddings, corporate events and festivals a year. If you want to have one of those, “you should have been there nights,” come and see Wedding Banned!

$5 Cover / $3 with Student ID

Doors: 7PM                Show: 10PM

For the past eight years, Ryan Ideus & the Feudin Hillbillys have taken their brand of country all over Central Illinois, opening up for the likes of 2012 ACM Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan (2008 and 2009), Neal McCoy, LoCash Cowboys, Tim McGraw, and several other artists. Our style and professionalism are unmatched.

We are THE hardest working band out there with a strict focus on raising expectations of what a live band should bring everytime they play a show. We guarantee the bar will be raised after we play in terms of professionalism, entertainment quality, and production.

$5 Cover / $3 with Student ID

Doors: 7PM        Show: 10PM

Ben Miller, who grew up in rural Washington state before attending art school in Philadelphia, had been working as an open-mike night host in his adopted home of Joplin, Missouri when he met and began playing music with Doug Dicharry and Scott Leeper. Miller fronts the band on guitar (styles include both slide and fingerpicking), banjo, harmonica, and lead vocals. He's also proven to be an accomplished songwriter. Dicharry is primarily a percussionist, though he also plays trombone and mandolin. Percussion-wise he handles drums, washboard, and electric spoons. Leeper gives the band its backbone, keeping rhythm on his homemade one-string washtub bass. The bass is constructed from a weed-eater string that runs from the end of a stick that sits upon an inverted washtub, to the washtub itself, which presumably houses an elaborate pickup system that gives the instrument's deep resonant sound a lot more volume than you'd expect. Occasionally, Leeper also keeps rhythm on the side of an old-school fire bell that he's transformed into an interesting-sounding drum. Dicharry and Leeper both add backing vocals as well.

The band plays a gritty, modern mixture of various types of old American heritage music, including blues, bluegrass, folk, and country. Originally, the band members called their sound "Ozark Stomp" as a tribute to the influences from their geographical region, but now refer to it as "Mudstomp" in reference to their label, which focuses on similar music, but in a wider regional area.

The Ben Miller Band is not only curious and inventive musically, but also instrument and equipment-wise. Leeper's homemade one-string bass has been mentioned, but Miller and Dicharry have some interesting gadgets of their own. Miller sings into two microphones; one is your typical mike, while the other is the receiver from an old land-to-land telephone. The telephone mike offers a distorted sound and is run through a trunk, which Miller keeps beat on with his right foot using a drum pedal. Attached to Miller's left foot is a tambourine and he alternates between the pedal and the tambourine. Dicharry, meanwhile, has a suitcase full of distortion pedals, which he uses to great effect when playing washboard and electric spoons.

WSG....John Till

$10doors

Doors: 7PM                Show: 8PM

Brushville is INTENSE…they are EXPLOSIVE…think matches and barrels of gasoline…with an unrelenting pressure on the audience of high energy…Brushville has been igniting stages all over the Midwest for the past 4 years. Being sought out by the BIGGEST and BEST events that the industry has to offer, including Chicago’s COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL, COUNTRY FEST and COUNTRY THUNDER in Wisconsin…as well as premiere venues like, 2 Time ACM NIGHT CLUB OF THE YEAR WINNER, JOE’S BAR in Chicago, Illinois and SPINNAKER BEACH CLUB in Panama City Beach, FL for SPRING BREAK!!

To prove just how much of an impact Brushville can have, they decided to enter the BATTLE FOR THE SADDLE at Nashville, Tennessee’s legendary WILDHORSE SALOON in early 2012. Out of the over 300 national bands that entered, Brushville came out on top and was selected the winner by a panel of top industry professionals including Michael Knox (the man credited with “discovering” talents such as Jason Aldean, John Rich and Gretchen Wilson).

To further add to Brushville’s resume…they have shared the stage with some of Country Music’s MEGA-STARS including:

- KEITH URBAN - ALAN JACKSON - BRAD PAISLEY - LADY ANTEBELLUM - JAKE OWEN - THE BAND PERRY - PHIL VASSAR - LOVE & THEFT - LO-CASH COWBOYS - BIG & RICH -JUSTIN MOORE - and MANY MORE!!!

Brushville blends five extremely talented musicians, with incredible harmonies, an explosive stage show and a fresh, dynamic sound produced by an array of instruments to create an unforgettable experience for the audience. Brushville has been expanding their assault throughout the nation and is sure to be lighting up your area very shortly.

This isn’t just a band…

It’s an experience..

Doors: 7PM

Once you see Smoke ‘n Guns in action, you’ll be left with an experience you will never forget. The phrases “high energy” and “dynamic duo” hardly do these girls justice. Alecia Arnall’s blues/rock ‘n roll tone pairs magically with Lindsay Bowman’s pop/country voice. Alecia Arnall (Osage Beach, MO) and Lindsay Bowman (Seaford, VA) formed Smoke 'n Guns in 2011 after meeting in Nashville, TN.

In a few short years, they have built a fan base across the US, performing at venues in Alabama, Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida, to name a few. The duo has also had the privilege to open for many national acts, such as Dustin Lynch, The Oak Ridge Boys, Mark Wills, Blackberry Smoke, and Collin Raye.

$5 Cover / $3 with Student ID

Doors: 7PM                Show: 10PM

Lick Creek is a meshing of 6 rock and country musicians. Putting their love for both genres into one sound, that has been making a buzz since the first show. They have performed in their hometown of Springfield, IL, all over the state, and into Iowa & Missouri.

Started by Lance Stone, Lick Creek was formed in December of 2013. Originally formed as a cover band, the eventual goal was to do originals. Within two months of starting, their unique sound had them opening for acts such as Ray Scott, Keith Anderson, David Nail, Billy Bob Thornton, David Lee Murphy, and other national acts. They were voted 2014 “Best New Band” in Illinois Times and 2015 “Reader’s Choice Best Band” in State Journal Register.

In 2015 the band was drawing lots of attention and they decided to start playing originals. That was when “Bend” was introduced to the fans. In early 2016, a couple of new players were introduced to help Lick Creek reach the next level. During this transitionary period the originals were put on hold. After the dust settled they decided to work on their first EP. The originals on the EP include Bend, The Line, Don’t Start, My Liver, and Let Me Be. They have introduced those songs to some smaller market radio stations such as KS95.1 at Osage Beach, Mo & WFMB104.5 in Springfield, IL with great feedback.

Lick Creek brings a unique sound to today’s pop country dominated world. They add some classic 70’s rock/southern rock and mesh it with a swampy blues and country sound. They are paying homage to the greats who pioneered outlaw country, and new artists like Eric Church and Blackberry Smoke. Add to that, powerful male and female vocals with fast paced stage energy and you get what folks call one of the best country bands they’ve seen.

“Each song I’ve heard so far is an eclectic mix of bluegrass, southern rock, and 90’s-style country that really brought the genre to the popularity it has today. I’m so freaking impressed right now because, save for a few artists, country music has lost that.” - Jay Skube Springfield, IL Lick Creek has become a family. We are a group of musicians that love music and performing. We want to enjoy the success we’re having and see how far it goes. You only live once. Neglecting to find out how far our path leads would be a mistake. Making music that makes people dance, laugh, and live, is what makes us happy…….. makes us, Lick Creek.

$5 Cover / $3 with Student ID

Doors: 7PM                Show: 10PM

Raised in Downers Grove, Illinois, Scott is the third of eight children in the six girls/two boys Marek clan. Scott likes spending time with family and friends and especially enjoys bringing people together for outdoor BBQ's, sporting events, and to work on anybody's ailing car. Coming from a large, close family, he always knew whatever his dream was his family would be there to support him!

Scott started teaching himself how to play his dad's guitar in first grade and has been parading around the house playing a guitar and singing ever since. Although he can play and sing many music genres, it became apparent early on that he loved the greats of country music.

Scott's first public performance was at the church his family attended. In high school he participated in local talent shows and school contests. He has recently appeared as a finalist in two major country competitions: the Colgate Country Showdown and American Country Showcase. Currently Scott is one of the house band's for The World Famous Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville and playing venues throughout the midwest.

He has already had the privilege of opening for major country artists including Tim McGraw, Dierks Bently, Rodney Atkins, Diamond Rio, Bucky Covington, Keith Anderson, Colt Ford, Chely Wright, Jaron and the Long Road to Love, and many more. He has also had the honor of playing for many benefit celebrations that have supported St. Jude, American Cancer Society, team Layne, the Humane Society, Wounded Warriors, First Book of Mclean County, Jammin for Hammit and Save-a-Vet.

Until now, Scott has fine-tuned his skills and gained experience on-stage alone. He has searched long and hard for a handful of talented, dedicated, exciting musicians to complete his country music vision. Finally, one of the best male country voices in Illinois has teamed up with three fantastic musicians (Cody Gaesser, Kevin Yarger and Marty Kudla) to form one of the most talented Top 40 Country bands in Illinois. Check out the website for a show near you!

$5 Cover / $3 with Student ID

Doors: 7PM                Show: 10PM