The Western Illinois Museum quietly announces the Blind Swine Speakeasy will be welcoming guests on Saturday, September 13th -if you know the password. Doors and bar service open at 6:00 p.m. The evening’s musical guest, Turas, will be performing two lively sets starting at 6:30 p.m.
This year, at the Swine, we’ll step back to a time when cocktails were hard to find, but vacuum cleaners, blenders, and sliced bread were all the rage. The 1920s were bursting with technological innovations, snappy fashion, and modern conveniences. Shopping also changed dramatically: the traditional dry goods counter gave way to self-serve grocery stores stocked with pre-packaged cereals, candy, and sodas. Promoted as healthier, more affordable, and convenient, these products reshaped how Americans shopped, shifting emphasis from personal relationships with local shopkeepers to the growing influence of national brands.
Speakeasies mirrored this new consumer culture. Just as packaged food promised convenience and style, speakeasies offered choice, anonymity, and a touch of glamour. Patrons needed the right connection and password to enter a world where buying a drink was as much about the experience as the beverage itself. On September 13, visitors will discover how local dry goods stores evolved into grocery chains, which brands operated in Macomb, and how shopping forever changed what ended up on the dinner table.
Adding to the evening’s atmosphere, we welcome back Turas, a six-piece band whose lively mix of traditional tunes and rich instrumentation will keep the place hoppin’. The ensemble includes:
Mike Bergstrom – vocals, bouzouki, guitar
Sarah Riskind – fiddle, vocals
Jeff Calhoun – vocals, banjo, mandolin, guitar
Lauri Gannon – whistle, bodhrán, accordion, stomp board
Rose Fahey Wright – vocals, flute, whistle, percussion
Want in? Text Swine to 309-837-2613 for the secret password (it changes each event to keep the feds guessing). Slip the gatekeeper at the south door a fin ($5), and you’re in. Don’t be a flat tire—join the fun!
This program is supported in part by the Illinois Arts Council.
The Western Illinois Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating the history, culture, and traditions of McDonough County. Located at 201 S. Lafayette Street, just one block south of the Courthouse Square, the Museum offers exhibits, live music, and community programs in a fully accessible historic building.
For more information and a full schedule of events, visit wimuseum.org, call 309-837-2750, text 309-837-2613, or email
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