The death last February of singer and songwriter Diane Izzo left many on the local music scene reeling. The Chicago expatriate always held a special place in the hearts of many here, and we never got to say a proper goodbye or celebrate her music, legacy, and memory.

Her many friends finally will offer the chance to rectify that this weekend, thanks to what the Hideout is billing as “The First Annual Diane Izzo Memorial Concert.”

Set to perform starting at 5:30 p.m. Sunday are Califone, Souled American, Cheryl Trykv, and Crooked Mouth String Band. Also in store is a tribute by the Friends of Diane Izzo band (Lennie Dietsch, Eddie Carlson, Ned Folkerth, Jim Becker, Amy Warren, Nora O’Connor, Gillian Lisee, Reid Coker, Liz Payne, E.S. Pitcher, and Leah Tschilds), performing her music, and hopefully including the stunning tune “Venice,” from which comes the lyric giving the night its theme: “Yeah we’re pitiful but we’re gods!”

Tickets are $20, and proceeds will be used to to mix, master, and complete the artist’s unreleased material. Fans also are encouraged to share their memories on the concert’s Facebook page… and something about Izzo seems to bring out the poet in everyone.

“I remember how intimidating Diane seemed when I first met her, with her dark voice, dark songs, dark braids, and dark clothes,” says Sally Timms. “Of course, she was nowhere near as scary as she looked, she was a sweetheart (unless crossed!). She bucked the trend in her time and she will be very missed by her close friends and those who loved her music.”

Adds Hideout co-owner Tim Tuten: “Dark, dark, dark; black and Gold and beautiful. Painting Venice in turquoise, black, and gold. Our Georgia O’Keeffe. One record, at the end of the century, that resonates every day. Her sound and eyes were so dark and serious I felt afraid to talk to her. When I did, I told her that I cried when I heard ‘Venice’ and she smiled and told me that she was glad it worked for me.  We laughed so hard.  So serious, so hilarious. So dark that you could see the milky way in her eyes. Only in silence can you hear the wind. Only in darkness can you see the stars. Diane was the haunting wind. Diane is our morning star.”

Well said, folks. But, as always, the best way to remember a musician is the music, and it’s certain to be inspired on this night.