apples, pigs, and shrimp: a shady mix

The Murphysboro Apple Festival is taking place this weekend, Bloggy. Like a benign and profitable hurricane touching down in the capital of Jackson County. Kudos to the folks there who put on a great show -- a labor of love, with a good web site to show it.

Meanwhile, in the Capital of Southern Illinois (tm), the 8th Annual Pig Out will be forking out the fun in the 710 Parking Lot all weekend, with barbecue, music and wine and beer and other food, as shown in photos from last year. So ya got Live Music, Children's Activities, Kansas City BBQ Contest, Food, SIU Football Pep Rally -- and MORE" (that's right, making special appearance). Unfortunately the web site doesn't convey the atmosphere of Pig Out, but there's a music line up, and a colorful tabloid insert in the Carbondale Times, you'll see around town.

Note to Shady Mix fans, you can hear them tonight at the Liberty Theater in Murphysboro and tomorrow night on stage in the 710 Parking Lot, then head on over to the Golconda Shrimp Fest on Saturday. After that, you can buy one of their cd's and listen to them until they play at the Bluegrass and Bar B Que in Harrisburg next month, or at the Brown Bag Concert in October 13.