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On Saturday, December 6, we’re loading up the guitar and piano and heading into downtown Lincoln for a three-hour acoustic hang at Copper & Oak Bourbon and Craft Beer Bar. If your idea of a solid Saturday is live music, good people, and a serious bourbon and craft beer lineup, this one’s for you.

We’ll be playing as Bell & Field from 5:00-8:00 PM while you explore their bourbons, whiskeys, and rotating craft beers. Expect classic songs from the ’60s through the ’90s, stripped down to guitar, piano, and two voices, in a bar that clearly cares about what’s in your glass.

When, Where, and What We’re Doing

• When: Saturday, December 6, 5:00-8:00 PM
• Where: Copper & Oak Bourbon and Craft Beer Bar – 227 N Kickapoo St, Lincoln, IL 62656 (right in the heart of historic downtown and the Route 66 Plaza)
• Who: Live acoustic set by Bell & Field
• What to Expect: Classic melodies from the ’60s-’90s, a deep bourbon and whiskey list, and plenty of distinctive craft beers to ease you into the weekend.
• Website: Copper & Oak Bourbon and Craft Beer Bar

What Bell & Field Sounds Like in a Room Like This

We’re an acoustic duo that plays the songs we grew up on: ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s favorites that people actually know the words to. We keep the setup simple-guitar, piano, and two voices-and let the songs carry the weight.

Our sets are built for spots like Copper & Oak. You can still hear the lyrics, you don’t have to shout across the table, and when your favorite chorus hits, you’ll feel it even if you’re mid-conversation. We like to read the room as we go: easing in with slower tunes while everyone gets their first drink, then nudging the tempo up as the night rolls on and the bar fills out.

Bourbon Shelves, Craft Taps, and Route 66

Copper & Oak sits in the new Route 66 Plaza in historic downtown Lincoln, and it feels like it was put together by people who really care about what they pour. There are shelves of bourbon and whiskey behind the bar, over 21 craft beers on tap, and a speakeasy-style room that makes you want to stay for “just one more.”

It’s the kind of place where one table might be comparing tasting notes on a new whiskey flight while the next is just clocking out from the week with a cold craft beer. We’ll be playing to both: songs you can tap your foot to while you talk, and a few that might make you stop mid-sip because you haven’t heard them in a while.

Come Spend a Saturday With Us in Lincoln

If you’ve seen Bell & Field before, come check us out in a new room. If you haven’t caught a show yet, this is an easy first time-no tickets, no big production, just live music, good drinks, and a Saturday evening in downtown Lincoln.

If hearing us at Copper & Oak gets you thinking about live music for your own thing-a small wedding, a private party, or a night at your bar-you can find details about booking us here: https://www.bellandfieldmusic.com/book-acoustic-duo/.

Planning to come out to Copper & Oak? Drop a comment and let us know: which classic track are you hoping we sneak into the set, and which bourbon, whiskey, or craft beer are you starting with?

This past Saturday we hauled the piano, guitar, and sax down to Central Blvd in Kewanee, IL, for a Hog Days Pre-Parade Celebration at a private home right on the route. It was one of those late-summer afternoons where the sun is warm but not punishing, and you can hear the buzz of the parade crowd starting to build in the distance.

Hog Days from the Front Yard

The house sat just off the street, so we were basically playing from someone’s yard straight out to the parade crowd. Once the clouds finally moved out, we had a clear blue sky, kids running around, lawn chairs lined up, and people drifting in and out to listen between parade prep.

We kicked things off with some familiar tunes to pull people in. Starting with “Mrs. Robinson” and “I Feel Fine” felt just right for a sunny afternoon in Kewanee. With Paul Weddle on sax, the trio sound came together quickly—he has a way of sliding into a song like he’s been in the band for years.

What We Played While the Parade Got Closer

We mixed in a bunch of songs that fit the weather and the mood—some lighter, some a little more driving as the street got busier:

• Setlist highlights:
• Mrs. Robinson
• I Feel Fine
• Summer Breeze
• My Life
• Baker Street
• Spooky
• Piano Man
• American Girl

“Baker Street” with Paul on sax was an obvious crowd-pleaser—any time that riff shows up, heads turn. “Piano Man” had a few people quietly singing along from their lawn chairs, and “American Girl” gave us a nice little push of energy as the parade time got closer.

Guest Vocals, Cabernet, and a Sting Tune

One of the best surprises of the day was when local musician Marshall Jones jumped in with us. He came up to sing “It’s Probably Me” by Sting, and it instantly felt like we’d rehearsed it, even though we absolutely hadn’t. That’s the fun part of these neighborhood-style shows—someone you know from around town steps up and suddenly you’ve got a new version of the band for a song.

As the sun climbed and the shade started to disappear, our host, David Guzzardo, kept us in good spirits with a couple of bottles of Cabernet. Not exactly traditional “hydration,” but it definitely helped keep the mood loose and the between-song banter honest.

Hog Days, Home Turf, and Familiar Faces

Hog Days is a big deal in Kewanee, and even though this was technically a private party, it felt very much like being in the middle of the whole thing. The parade route was just a few steps away, and you could feel the build-up as floats and groups started lining up down the street.

For Tom, who lives just a block away, playing this show is basically like hosting a backyard jam for the whole town—only with more people walking by and more pork-related decorations.

Having family around made it even better. Greg’s daughter came by with her boyfriend, Jake, and Greg’s wife showed up too, along with their high-energy dog, Leo, who did laps around the yard like he’d been hired as our unofficial hype man. It’s always easier to relax into a set when you can look out and see people you know mixed in with the crowd.

As the Parade Turned the Corner

Eventually the parade made its way to our stretch of Central Blvd, and we paused the music so everyone could watch. The sound of drums, engines, and cheering rolled past, and just like that, our little front-yard stage became part of the background of Hog Days instead of the main event.

We wrapped up with that nice, tired-but-happy feeling you get after playing outside all afternoon. If you’d like this kind of live acoustic duo setup—piano, guitar, harmonies, and the occasional guest sax—for your own gathering, you can book Bell & Field for your next event.