Jesse and Ryan Dermody of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, are The Brothers Burn Mountain, who play what they call "rootsy Americana and bluesy bluegrass." They'll be at Memphis on Main tonight from 6 to 8, and they'll give us a live preview on today's edition of the show.
The first annual Illinois New Music Festival opens tonight in Peoria and runs through Saturday, with nightly themed concerts. On today's show, I'll talk with co-artistic director George Stelluto of the Peoria Symphony Orchestra. And we hear about this weekend's concerts by the Greater Decatur Chorale from conductor Jason Garrett.
Luke Winslow-King is a singer, guitarist, songwriter and composer inspired by New Orleans jazz, delta and country blues, gospel, ragtime, folk and classical music. He'll bring his trio-guitar, washboard and tuba-to the Iron Post in Urbana Tuesday night, and he'll join us live in the studio on the Tuesday edition of "Live and Local." NOTE: As you listen to the live performance, no need to check your radio for sound problems. Luke and Esther are singing through a mic and amp system chosen deliberately to recreate an old, "dirty" sound. Hope you enjoy it!
Ashley Riley and Jessica Jolly are musicians working in Decatur who have their own solo gigs but who together make the duo called Somebody's Daughter. They'll be playing on the patio at Jimmy Ryan's in Decatur next Friday after happy hour, and they'll join us for a live hour of music on the Monday edition of "Live and Local.
The World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest has been playing Peoria since 1975, and the 2011 contest will happen Memorial Day weekend, with guest artists, workshops and a sing-along party. Faye Ballard will join me on the Friday edition of "Live and Local" to talk about the event and do a little playing herself. And we'll hear about an evening of indie folk bands in Urbana on Saturday.
What's funny about war, poverty, ignorance, bigotry, homophobia, greed, lust and fear? Ask Roy Zimmerman. He's been writing satirical songs for twenty years and has won warm praise from the likes of Joni Mitchell and Tom Lehrer. Roy will play at the Independent Media Center in Urbana Thursday night, and he'll join us live on the Thursday edition of "Live and Local.
Amasong, Champaign-Urbana's Premier Lesbian/Feminist Chorus, founded by Kristina Boerger in 1990, will celebrate its 20th anniversary with two concerts this weekend. On the Wednesday edition of "Live and Local," I'll talk with Kristina about the group as it was then, and we'll hear the group live as it is now, under the direction of Meagan Smith.
Monty Python's Spamalot is a musical comedy "lovingly ripped off from" the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The show will play at Sangamon Auditorium in Springfield Tuesday night, and I'll talk with the man who plays Sir Dennis Galahad on the Tuesday edition of "Live and Local." We'll also hear about Sunday's concert by the University of Illinois Alumni Band.
The Alleluia Ringers are a well-traveled handbell choir from Concordia University in Wisconsin. Their spring tour will bring them to Decatur Monday night, and I'll talk with their director on the Monday edition of "Live and Local." We'll also hear from Jodi Prosser about a summer youth musical theater camp happening in Champaign during the month of June.
His guitar sounds like a ukulele, his voice like a transgendered punk Bessie Smith, and his style suggests a hobo Pee-Wee Herman." That's what someone wrote about Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three, a roots band from St. Louis. They'll play at the Castle Theatre in Bloomington Friday night, and they'll play for us live in our studio on the Friday edition of "Live and Local.
