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TIME FLIES! Seems like yesterday that Tricia Buskirk took over THE most LEGENDARY venue in Peoria musical history, what was once the SECOND CHANCE at 3300 Willow Knolls Road. She revered and restored the place with such love and care that when we did the 'Return To The Second Chance" live show out there three years ago everyone was totally amazed that the venue was 100% intact. What's even more important, thanks to Tricia's own personality and love of what she was doing, the place FELT the same, bands walking onto that stage were dumbfounded by the sheer joy of it. The stage that had hosted Van Halen, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Humble Pie, John Mayall, Joe Cocker, Golden Earring, the Romantics, Mountain, Pat Travers, Budgie, Mitch Ryder, and so many others, not to mention a non-stop stream of local, area, and touring bands from all over like Jade 50's, Big Daddy Sun, Screams, The Elvis Brothers, and so many many more. Major events like 3 years of fund raising tribute shows 1980-1982 following the death of John Lennon, radio station promotions and local band spotlights. Dan Fogelberg's birthday party, and so much more. From 1975 through 1983 the Second Chance was THE venue both to play on that stage and/or to be in the audience. ALL of that history has been in the care and keeping of Tricia Buskirk whose spirit and love for the venue - and the people who came and the bands that played then and now - permeated the entire place. Health issues and questionable promoters (whom she treated with respect until they proved to be unworthy) couldn't keep her from operating the venue with gusto and care. The time has finally come, however, when she needs to pay attention to other aspects of life and family and work and time. ALL OF US who have worked with her are basically devastated to lose her, that perpetual optimism and willingness to listen to all of our wild ideas for this or that show, and treating even the most obscure local band with respect and giving them all a shot at setting foot on that revered stage. On February 28, more than two dozen professional musicians from the area, all of whom have played on that stage over the past 45 years and more. Rich Teegarden, Chris Delbridge, Dave Moe, Jeff Hyde, Matthew James, Rachael Cavallini, Vinny Capello, Randy Nelson, Mark Moretto, Trevor Imm, John Riley, Tom Stoner, Jim Curless, Greg Locke, Carl Bopp, Craig Moore, Josh Bradshaw, Ryan Rose, Jon Hill, Curt Caudill, Jimmy Willis, Matthew Warren, Tom Satterfield, and more, representing bands like The Nikbeats, Jonny Quest, Super 88, Kool Ray & The Polaroidz, Ready Steady Go, The New Imposters, Tambora, Monster Lane, Players Club, Speechless, The Ligonaires, Balderdash, Raging Waters, including veterans of major musical events such as "The Long & Winding Road - Tribute To the Beatles", "It's Only Rock 'n Roll - Tribute To The Rolling Stones, "50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong - The Music Of Elvis Presley", "The John Lennon Memorial Show", "Return To the Second Chance", We invite you to join us for an all-out rock 'n roll fantasy trip through time and music, all to pay our respects to the young lady who single-handedly SAVED Peoria's greatest, most legendary musical venue.
We want to wish Tricia our very best, and as for the venue THANK YOU TRICIA, long may the Rock Palace you gave back to our community continue with the same spirit you have embued it with, like no one else ever could have.
TRICIA, WE WILL MISS YA!
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
3300 Event Center, 3300 W Willow Knolls Dr, Peoria, IL 61614-8101, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
