Events

Bruce Moon & The Amplifiers will perform at Bishop Hill Creative Commons on Saturday, October 17, bringing an evening of original music shaped by storytelling, social conscience and a distinctly Midwestern perspective.

Presented by Crossroads Cultural Connections, the all-ages evening will begin with an optional potluck dinner at 6 p.m., followed by the concert at 7 p.m. Guests who would like to participate in the potluck are invited to bring a dish to share. A suggested donation of $20 to $30 will be collected.

Bruce Moon is a singer-songwriter, painter, poet, performance artist, art therapist and longtime educator whose work has been shaped by decades spent listening to people’s stories. The son of a single mother from a small town in Ohio, Moon blends contemporary Midwestern sensibilities with social conscience, humor and reflection.

Moon spent 22 years working as an art therapist in a psychiatric hospital, much of that time caring for children and adolescents who had experienced abuse. He was also an ordained Methodist and later spent two decades as a university professor. Those experiences continue to inform his songwriting.

“Everybody has a story and I hope my work brings honor to the folks I have encountered,” Moon says. He often describes his artistic philosophy by saying that a good song should comfort people who have been afflicted by the world and afflict those who have grown too comfortable.

A concertgoer once described Moon’s performances this way: “Bruce’s songs and stories make me laugh, let me cry, and push me to think about my life.”

Moon has logged decades of stage time, from coffeehouses, churches and college campuses to pubs, street festivals and concert venues. He has performed in settings ranging from Galway, Ireland, and Seattle to Savannah, San Antonio and Bishop Hill.

With The Amplifiers, Moon brings those songs into a fuller band setting. The group features Justin Tirone on lead guitar, violin and keyboards; Brian Rejack on bass and trombone; and Ben Wyman on percussion. The band follows a simple rule: “All original, all the time.”

Together, they create music that draws from folk, rock, roots and singer-songwriter traditions while remaining firmly centered on Moon’s original stories and observations. The band is also working on new material, including a project tentatively titled Malcontents and Mutineers.

Moon’s creative life extends well beyond the stage. He is professor emeritus of art therapy and has authored 12 books used in art therapy programs. He has also received lifetime achievement honors from both the American Art Therapy Association and the Buckeye Art Therapy Association.

Guests are invited to come early for the potluck and stay for an evening of music that aims not only to entertain, but also to connect, challenge and reflect.

Presented by Crossroads Cultural Connections, this concert continues the organization’s mission of bringing meaningful, high-quality live music experiences to Henry County and surrounding communities.

EVENT DETAILS

Who: Bruce Moon & The Amplifiers
When: Saturday, October 17
Potluck: 6 p.m.; bring a dish to share if participating
Concert: 7 p.m.
Where: Bishop Hill Creative Commons, Bishop Hill, Illinois
Admission: Suggested donation of $20–$30
Audience: All ages welcome

Contact:
John Taylor
john.r.taylor@gmail.com
(309) 299-4999