Brian Grilli: A new video, big gigs & a Midwest return

Virginia Beach artist drops nostalgic video, acoustic rework, and announces Steger/Lansing shows

Since the release of his latest album, Brian Grilli has kept the revival of his music career gaining momentum.

“Great Big Sky” was released on Jan. 9. In the three months since, Grilli has:

• Released a video

• Dropped a reimagined album track

• Added tour dates (including a festival headlined by Blackberry Smoke)

• Launched a TikTok

Also, Brian Grilli is coming to the northern point of the Decatur Triangle — for shows at the Austin Community Tavern in Steger and a homecoming gig in Grilli’s hometown of Lansing!

Here’s what’s next for Grilli — from a family-filled video to festival stages:

Grilli’s nostalgic ‘Little Things’ video

One of the most poignant songs from Great Big Sky — “Little Things” — got an equally impactful video, complete with photos and videos from Grilli’s childhood and his wife and kids. Click here to watch it.

“Little Things” features Levi Lowrey (connections to both Zac Brown Band and Blackberry Smoke) on fiddle, guitar, mandolin and background vocals.

“This song has so much meaning not only to me but to anyone who has a family, kids, friends, significant others, pets, whatever!” Grilli said in a Facebook post. “It’s a very personal song about my journey, however it’s striking a chord with many people!

“It has my family in it! They mean everything to me and I’m so proud of them! Needed to show them off!”

Behind the acoustic version

The second-to-last song on Great Big Sky — “Right Has Gone Wrong” — was one of the strongest songs on the album: A smoldering, bluesy lament featuring strings.

But with last month’s acoustic release (click here), Grilli topped the original. The new version has Grilli on double bass and Lowrey on fiddle, which is particularly effective in a sizzling solo featuring interplay with Grilli’s lead guitar.

“When we were mixing the album version of the song, we were listening to the three-part harmonies and were like, ‘Man, we need to really showcase these,’” Grilli said. “So then we just did an acoustic version with me playing stand-up bass and then Levi doing the call-and-answer thing with my guitar solo and it came out so pure that I decided I wanted people to hear this version of it.”

Festival first: Grilli joins Blackberry Smoke

This year’s Band Aid Music Festival in Virginia Beach will feature, on Saturday, May 31, Blackberry Smoke, The Band FEEL and — for the first time, despite it being in his backyard — Grilli!

The event, in its sixth year, features camping, food trucks, art, bourbon and cigar lounges and cornhole. The night before, Friday, May 30, will feature Josh Turner.

Proceeds benefit the nonprofit Coastal Authority Care Foundation, which benefits service-connected injuries including PTSD and chronic pain.

For tickets, click here.

Coming up

Friday, April 11 @ 9 p.m. — The Hunt Room, Virginia Beach, Virginia

Saturday, April 12 @ 7 p.m. — Baron's Pub & Restaurant, Portsmouth, Virginia

Friday, April 18 @ 7 p.m. — Lockside Bar and Grill, Chesapeake, Virginia

Friday, April 25 @ 7 p.m. — Austin Community Tavern, Steger, Illinois

Saturday, April 26 @ 3 p.m. — Fort Wayne Guitar Exchange, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Sunday, April 27 @ 3 p.m. — Lynnie Ques, Lansing, Illinois

Thursday, May 1 @ 7 p.m. — Green Line Brewery, Canton, Georgia

Saturday, May 3 @ 6 p.m. — The Holler, Canton, Georgia

Saturday, May 10 @ 9 p.m. — Rockwood, Gainesville, Virginia

Saturday, May 17 @ 3 p.m. — Paradise Ocean Club, Hampton, Virginia

Friday, May 30 @ 7 p.m. — Lockside Bar and Grill, Chesapeake, Virginia

Saturday, May 31 @ 5 p.m. — Band Aid Music Festival, Virginia Beach, Virginia

Friday, June 13 @ 7 p.m. — 7th Street Oceanfront Stage, Virginia Beach, Virginia

For more on Brian Grilli from the Illinois Drifter

Check out this feature story in the Northwest Indiana Times — you can access the full online version here (subscription required).

Also, check out the companion piece:

Check out the Illinois Drifter Facebook page

To help spread the word more, I’ve started an Illinois Drifter Facebook page on which I’ll share my posts but also other content you won’t find on the Substack. Check it out here: Illinois Drifter Facebook page.