For updates, useful links and buttons, and to see the video, please see the post on our website:
https://offsquaremusic.org/2025/06/sundays-on-the-square-features-kevin-purcell-and-the-root-doctors-august-24/
Following is the post content without updates, links, buttons or video showing capability:
Sundays on the Square features Kevin Purcell and the Root Doctors! This “smokin’ hot blues band” plays their brand of Southern country blues rock to sell-out crowds. This FREE performance is 5:00 – 7:00 pm CDT, and there’s more … read on!
One of the best things about summer in Woodstock — Sundays on the historic Woodstock Square, Cass & Van Buren Streets, Woodstock, IL 60098.
Five FREE summer concerts to enjoy outdoors on the Square with friends! These FREE concerts are 5-7 pm on the following Sundays:
June 29 – The Special Consensus
July 6 – Small Town
July 27 – Arranmore
August 10 – Meg and the Wheelers
August 24 – Kevin Purcell & The Root Doctors
If we end up with rain, the alternate site will be Unity Spiritual Center, at 225 W Calhoun St, Woodstock, IL 60098. Check back on this site for updates and / or confirmation.
And if you’re not already on our email list, sign up for our monthly emails that keep you up-to-date on all Off Square Music events.
So come on out to enjoy those lazy, crazy days of summer with Sundays on the Square, beginning with Sunday, June 29, 5:00 – 7:00 pm.
Sundays on the Square in 2025 – Food & Hempstock Pharms
In addition to our great lineup of bands playing from 5:00 – 7:00 pm, we have food and other perks for you. For these special Sundays, we have arranged these vendors:
June 29 – Karajo / Chow Down and CannaBus
July 6 – Karajo / Chow Down and CannaBus
July 27 – Sandie Dogs and CannaBus
August 10 – Karajo / Chow Down and CannaBus
August 24 – Sandie Dogs and CannaBus
Restaurants on the Square may be open on these evenings and will have carry-out items, but please confirm with specific places. Of course, you can bring your own food items as well!
Hempstock Pharms Products will be there with the CannaBus all five Sundays, selling a variety of cannabis products. Read what they say about their product HERE. And take a look at some of their products HERE.
Sunday Art in the Square
In conjunction with Off Square Music, a group of local artists will be selling their work on the Square on each of the Sundays listed above, from 4:00 – 7:00 pm.
While you enjoy listening to some amazing music, you will have the chance to browse and buy some beautiful art! The artists will have functional, sculptural work and so much more in between!
Sponsored by the Clayworkers’ Guild of Illinois and the City of Woodstock.
Kevin Purcell and the Root Doctors … About
Kevin Purcell and the Root Doctors perform Southern country blues rock. An article by Jim Summaria, award-winning rock concert photographer, says this in Chicago Country Blues Guide: Your Complete Guide to the Chicago Blues Scene, following a 2024 performance at Hey Nonny:
“The tight band consists of Purcell on vocals and harmonica, bassist Tony Root, Mike Church on guitar, Rob Anderlik playing slide guitar, Tom Bowling on violin, or as Purcell called it – fiddle – and drummer Pete Kruse.
“This was a high energy soulful show, with each song igniting the crowd. Purcell’s gritty bluesy voice was in fine form and his harmonica playing would make Charlie Musselwhite proud. The rest of the band was equally talented and displayed their talents with solos throughout the show . . .
“A personal favorite of the night for me was the Allman Brothers influenced “Good Day for the Blues” which Purcell recorded on his Kevin Purcell & the Nightburners 2007 House of Fire album. The band then turned the Grateful Dead song “Sugaree” into a slow blues jam that I wished lasted an hour. The last song was “Fair Deal” and the crowd got more than that – they got a great deal.”
Read the full article and see the accompanying awesome photos by award-winning rock band photographer, Jim Summaria, HERE.
More on Kevin Purcell and the Root Doctors
From their website:
“Kevin Purcell has always been a seeker. From the back-alley grit of Chicago blues to the moss-draped soul of southern traditions, his musical journey has been a quest to uncover the roots that connect it all. Now, with The Root Doctors, Purcell takes that exploration deeper, stitching together the raw threads of Americana into a vibrant tapestry of sound.
“The Root Doctors are more than a band—they’re a celebration of musical heritage. With a sound grounded in the storytelling of bluegrass, the soul of delta blues, and the sway of Appalachian folk, they’re equal parts front porch jam session and high-energy stage show. At the helm, Purcell channels his deep respect for roots music into every harmonica riff, every lyric, every moment shared with his audience.
The Ensemble
“Known for his electrifying presence as a vocalist and harmonica virtuoso, Purcell leads The Root Doctors with a rare balance of passion and precision. This isn’t a one-man show, though—The Root Doctors are a true ensemble, where harmonica, guitar, dobro, fiddle, and upright bass weave together like an old quilt, warm and familiar but bursting with fresh colors.
“As a songwriter, Purcell digs into the human experience, crafting songs that feel lived-in and timeless. His lyrics resonate with the grit of hard roads traveled and the hope of new horizons. And while his roots run deep, The Root Doctors aren’t afraid to push boundaries, blending bluegrass and blues with a dash of zydeco spice, a hint of country swing, and the unshakable rhythm of gospel.
“Over the years, Purcell has shared stages with legends like B.B. King, Etta James, and Delbert McClinton, but with The Root Doctors, he’s charting new territory. Together, they conjure the spirit of Americana—not as a museum piece, but as a living, breathing thing. Their shows are a communal experience, where barn-burning jams and haunting ballads flow into one another, leaving audiences moved, grooving, and craving more.
“Kevin Purcell and The Root Doctors are here to remind us why roots music matters—because it speaks to who we are, where we’ve been, and where we’re headed. So come take your medicine, let the music heal, and find yourself in the deep rhythms of Americana reborn.”
“Kevin blows up a storm but leaves plenty of room for the rest of the band to show their stuff too. Nobody holds back…these guys kick butt!!”– Twelve Bar Rag, Suncoast Blues Society (FL)
Want to know more? Dig in:
Visit the website for more information, albums, photos, bio — it’s all there!
Check them out on FACEBOOK!
Here’s a music sample from Kevin Purcell and the Root Doctors:
Kevin Purcell and The Root Doctors, at hey Nonny, my baby don't like no cheater 1 / 24 / 19 (Must visit our website to see the video, link above)
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Sundays on the Square
Brought to you by…
These FREE summer concerts are brought to you by Off Square Music, the Woodstock Opera House, the City of Woodstock, and the Woodstock Hotel/Motel Tax Grants to the Arts — as well as your generous donations. It truly takes a village!
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