Live and Local keeps you informed about local performances by musicians both local and national, with occasional coverage of theater and dance. The program features conversations with the artists and a healthy sampling of their music, frequently played live in our studio. http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/rss/ http://will.illinois.edu/themes/site_themes/images/IPM_i.png http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/rss/ http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/sounds-of-the-prairie-summer-band-and-chorus-and-petkov-brazzel-violin-guit Community Arts Resource in St. Joseph sponsors the Sounds of the Prairie Community Band and Chorus, and both will begin rehearsals next week. I’ll talk with their respective directors on the Friday edition of “Live and Local.” And we’ll hear the Petkov-Brazzel Violin and Guitar Duo, live in our studio. They’re giving a warm-up recital for their summer tour of Bulgaria Saturday night in Springfield. http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/sounds-of-the-prairie-summer-band-and-chorus-and-petkov-brazzel-violin-guit Fri, 24 May 2013 18:31:40 -0500 -- http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/bloomington-center-for-the-performing-arts-upcoming-season-chicago-jazz-mus This is the season for seasonal concert announcements, and the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts has announced theirs for 2013 and 2014. It is, as usual, one of considerable variety and energy, and I’ll talk with director Joel Aalberts on the Thursday edition of “Live and Local.” We’ll also hear from Chicago jazz musician Petra Vannuis, who will visit Decatur with her Recession Seven for a concert Saturday night. http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/bloomington-center-for-the-performing-arts-upcoming-season-chicago-jazz-mus Thu, 23 May 2013 14:16:44 -0500 -- http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/bob-dylan-72nd-birthday-bash-in-champaign-saturday About a year ago, the Champaign-Urbana Singer-Songwriter Collective presented a night-long tribute to folk singer Woody Guthrie on the occasion of his 100th birthday. This week, they turn their attention to one of the most prolific and influential artists of all time, Bob Dylan, who will be 72 on Saturday. Some two dozen local performers are scheduled to participate, and we’ll welcome several to play for us live on the Tuesday edition of “Live and Local.” http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/bob-dylan-72nd-birthday-bash-in-champaign-saturday Tue, 21 May 2013 17:32:27 -0500 -- http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/krannert-center-for-the-performing-arts-2013-2014-season The Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Illinois takes seriously its belief “that creativity is a core human characteristic and that the arts hold uniquely transformative potential.” Director Mike Ross programs accordingly, mixing “the art of the past with the art of our time.” Krannert Center has announced its new season, and Mike will give us a preview on the Monday edition of “Live and Local.” http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/krannert-center-for-the-performing-arts-2013-2014-season Mon, 20 May 2013 18:57:28 -0500 -- http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/andreas-kapsalis-goran-ivanovic-guitar-duo-live Goran Ivanovic is a native of Croatia. Andreas Kapsalis grew up in Chicago to first-generation Greek parents. Together they make a phenomenal guitar duo, combining the sounds of classical, jazz, Gypsy, pop, and various types of world music. They’ll play a house concert in Urbana Friday night, and they’ll play for us live on the Friday edition of “Live and Local.” We’ll also hear about Monday night’s concert by the East Central Illinois Youth Orchestra. http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/andreas-kapsalis-goran-ivanovic-guitar-duo-live Fri, 17 May 2013 17:22:37 -0500 -- http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/justinpalooza-at-mike-mollys-in-champaign Everyone knows someone named Justin. And we’ve all heard of this palooza or that palooza, meaning some extraordinary event. Put the two together, and of course you get Justinpalooza, which is in fact an event that will take place in Champaign Saturday night, with five musical Justins featured on one concert. We’ll host three of them live—Larkin, Rondón and Tanaka—on the Thursday edition of “Live and Local.” http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/justinpalooza-at-mike-mollys-in-champaign Thu, 16 May 2013 17:54:38 -0500 -- http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/weekend-concerts-by-amasong-and-the-baroque-artists-of-champaign-urbana Sunday night in Urbana, the Baroque Artists of Champaign Urbana will perform George Frideric Handel’s popular oratorio Judas Maccabeus, named for one of the greatest warriors in Jewish history. I’ll talk with music director Chester Alwes on the Wednesday edition of “Live and Local.” And we’ll meet the new director of Champaign-Urbana’s women’s chorus Amasong, who will give their spring concerts this weekend. http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/weekend-concerts-by-amasong-and-the-baroque-artists-of-champaign-urbana Wed, 15 May 2013 18:20:26 -0500 -- http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/choral-ensemble-opus-24-spring-concert-in-decatur-tuesday Since its founding, the Decatur choral ensemble Opus 24 has striven to provide a high-quality musical experience for both participant and the listening audience—with great success, judging by the size of the crowds they bring to their twice-annual concerts. They’ll perform Tuesday night, a concert they’re calling “A Feast for the Ears,” and I’ll welcome director Milton Scott to the Monday edition of “Live and Local.” http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/choral-ensemble-opus-24-spring-concert-in-decatur-tuesday Mon, 13 May 2013 18:21:23 -0500 -- http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/bloomington-normal-youth-orchestra-broadway-today-in-decatur-and-the-gordon On today's show, I'll talk with Deanne Bryant, conductor of the Bloomington-Normal Youth Orchestra, who will give their spring concert on Sunday; Jessica Hendy, one of four Broadway singers presenting "Broadway Today" at Millikin University in Decatur on Saturday; and Gary Gordon of The Gordons, who will sing a house concert in Mahomet Saturday. http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/bloomington-normal-youth-orchestra-broadway-today-in-decatur-and-the-gordon Thu, 09 May 2013 18:07:42 -0500 -- http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/previewing-upcoming-concerts-in-champaign-by-the-prairie-ensemble-and-the-c On the Thursday edition of “Live and Local,” I’ll have conversations pertinent to two upcoming concerts in Champaign. First, I’ll talk with Prof. Christina Bashford about Ralph Vaughan Williams, whose Fifth Symphony will be played by The Prairie Ensemble this weekend. And I’ll welcome Julie Beyler, whose ensemble, The Chorale, will give its Young Artist Scholarship Concert on May 12—with one of those artists singing for us live. http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/previewing-upcoming-concerts-in-champaign-by-the-prairie-ensemble-and-the-c Thu, 02 May 2013 17:38:26 -0500 -- http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/fiddler-kate-fritz-live-with-tom-turino Fiddler Kate Fritz grew up in the roots music scene of the San Francisco Bay Area, where she was schooled in the art of Scottish fiddling. She has since learned from many prominent practitioners of Irish, bluegrass, American old-time music and more. Kate will release her debut CD with guitarist and banjoist Tom Turino, and the two will play for us live on the Wednesday edition of “Live and Local.” http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/fiddler-kate-fritz-live-with-tom-turino Wed, 01 May 2013 19:15:49 -0500 -- http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/world-premiere-of-marimba-concerto-by-christopher-theofanidis This has been a season of premieres for the University of Illinois Wind Symphony, and conductor Robert Rumbelow will lead another on Tuesday night. It will be a concerto for marimba and winds by Christopher Theofanidis, who has had performances by many leading orchestras around the world. The work will feature UI faculty soloist William Moersch. I’ll welcome Professors Rumbelow and Theofanidis on the Monday edition of “Live and Local.” http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/world-premiere-of-marimba-concerto-by-christopher-theofanidis Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:46:49 -0500 -- http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/springfield-choral-society-and-balinese-music-dance-ensemble-cudamani Çudamani, a music and dance ensemble from the south Pacific island country of Bali, are visiting Charleston this week, visiting area schools, giving workshops and presenting a public concert Saturday night. Nine members of Çudamani will join us live on the Friday edition of “Live and Local.” I’ll also talk with Marion Van Der Loo, director of the Springfield Choral Society, about their upcoming performance of Rachmaninov’s Vespers. http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/springfield-choral-society-and-balinese-music-dance-ensemble-cudamani Fri, 26 Apr 2013 18:59:41 -0500 -- http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/live-pledge-request-show-with-geoff-poor-david-thies As an exciting feature of our spring radio pledge drive, we've asked Urbana-born buddies vocalist Geoff Poor and pianist David Thies to join us live in the studio for our first-ever call-in request show, hoping to raise lots of money in support of "Live and Local" and Illinois Public Media. Geoff and David specialize in songs from the Great American Songbook. Call in your requests during the show, or get your requests in early by going to our pledge website and clicking on "WILL-FM." In the comments section, say you're supporting "Live and Local" and tell us the song you're requesting. Please join us! http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/live-pledge-request-show-with-geoff-poor-david-thies Thu, 25 Apr 2013 19:24:06 -0500 -- http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/singer-songwriter-steve-poltz-live-in-our-studio I’ve twice had the chance to talk with Southern California—and Canadian-born—singer-songwriter Steve Poltz. He’s funny, satirical and charming. One writer called his live shows “frenzied, aggressive, hilarious and heartbreakingly sincere.” Steve Poltz is a regular at Sleepy Creek Vineyards in Fairmount. He’ll return there Wednesday night, and I’ll be pleased to welcome him live in our studio on the Wednesday edition of “Live and Local.” http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/singer-songwriter-steve-poltz-live-in-our-studio Wed, 24 Apr 2013 19:18:06 -0500 -- http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/champaign-central-high-school-jazz-fest-and-university-of-ilinois-jazz Champaign Central High School has one of the stronger high school jazz programs in our area, and this weekend they’ll host their 44th annual Jazz Festival. We’ll welcome one of Central’s jazz combos live in our studio on the Tuesday edition of “Live and Local.” And I’ll talk with renowned jazz trombonist Jim Pugh about an ambitious performance by the University of Illinois Jazz Band Tuesday night in Urbana. http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/champaign-central-high-school-jazz-fest-and-university-of-ilinois-jazz Tue, 23 Apr 2013 19:00:12 -0500 -- http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/threepenny-opera-in-urbana-and-promises-promises-in-danville Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill’s Threepenny Opera is a milestone of 20th-century musical theater, turning convention on its head. Its opening number, “Mack the Knife,” became one of the top popular songs of the century. The University of Illinois will present The Threepenny Opera next weekend, and we’ll have a live preview on the Monday edition of “Live and Local.” We’ll also hear about Danville Light Opera’s upcoming show, Promises, Promises. http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/threepenny-opera-in-urbana-and-promises-promises-in-danville Mon, 22 Apr 2013 19:02:57 -0500 -- http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/writer-and-banjoist-stephen-wade Last September, the acclaimed folk musician, writer and researcher Stephen Wade published his latest projects, a CD called Banjo Diary: Lessons from Tradition and the book The Beautiful Music All Around Us: Field Recordings and the American Experience. Stephen Wade will be in Urbana this weekend to give a concert and banjo workshop, and he’ll play for us live, and share music from his CD, on the Friday edition of “Live and Local.” More information on the book The Beautiful Music All Around Us: Field Recordings and the American Experience can be found by clicking this link. http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/writer-and-banjoist-stephen-wade Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:49:58 -0500 -- http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/scottish-singer-julie-fowlis-and-scottish-fiddler-alastair-savage The Thursday edition of the show will be an all-Scottish affair. I’ll talk with the delightful Scottish singer Julie Fowlis—who sings almost exclusively in Scottish Gaelic, and will give a concert in Bloomington Sunday afternoon. And live in the studio, we’ll hear Scottish fiddler Alastair Savage, who happens to be in Urbana for a concert Thursday night with the Scottish Ensemble, a classical string orchestra. http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/scottish-singer-julie-fowlis-and-scottish-fiddler-alastair-savage Thu, 18 Apr 2013 17:36:37 -0500 -- http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/into-the-woods-and-the-mystery-of-edwin-drood-in-champaign Our communities boast a remarkable amount of live theater, including especially musical theater. Among the more active community organizations is Parkland Theater, based at Champaign’s Parkland College. They’re putting on The Mystery of Edwin Drood. And there’s wonderful theater in our high schools, including Champaign Central High School, who are producing Into the Woods. We’ll have live previews of both shows on the Wednesday edition of “Live and Local.” http://will.illinois.edu/liveandlocal/program/into-the-woods-and-the-mystery-of-edwin-drood-in-champaign Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:55:28 -0500 --