Live and Local with Kevin Kelly

Pianist Bill Payne is co-founder of the band Little Feat, and he's played with countless other musicians. He's also a writer and photographer, and he'll participate in a multimedia concert event in Urbana Friday night. Bill Payne will play for us live on the Friday edition of "Live and Local." And we'll get a live preview of this year's DoCha chamber music festival, opening Friday in Champaign.

Shozo Sato is a professor emeritus at the University of Illinois, a theater director and a master of Zen arts. He returns to campus to direct Lady Macbeth: A Kabuki Play, and he'll be my guest on the Thursday edition of "Live and Local." I'll also talk with Larry Ochs of the improvisational group Kihnoua, who will perform on Krannert Art Museum's Sudden Sound Series Thursday night.

Laurence Nugent is an All-Ireland champion of the flute and tin whistle. Patsy O'Brien is an award-winning songwriter and guitarist in many genres. Together they'll play in Urbana on Saturday, and I'll talk with Mr. Nugent on the Wednesday edition of "Live and Local." Plus, a live performance by Fiddlin' Banjo Billy Mathews, who plays a house concert in Champaign on Sunday.

The Illinois Symphony Orchestra has rightly hailed its guest conductors this season as it searches for a new music director, but they have also had some marvelous soloists-including this weekend the superb violinist Vadim Gluzman. He'll be my guest on the Tuesday edition of "Live and Local." And I'll talk with Eugene Power, who will conduct a chamber orchestra concert in Champaign on Sunday.

Mandy Patinkin is a Broadway legend, Nathan Gunn an opera superstar. Brought together by a love of Stephen Sondheim, they'll share the stage for an evening in Urbana next Saturday, and I'll talk with Mr. Patinkin on the Monday edition of "Live and Local." We'll also learn about Ragamala Dance, joining multiple Indian art forms in one production.

Chanson du Soir are soprano Chelsea Camille and classical guitarist David Isaacs, who also happen to be married. They're playing in Springfield Saturday night, and they'll be my guests on the Friday edition of "Live and Local." I'll also talk with cornet player Steve Lilley of the St. Louis Stompers Classic Jazz Band, who will play in Decatur on Saturday.

Jonathan and Jennifer Adams are Montana Skies, a cello-guitar fusion duo whose music ranges from Vivaldi to Pink Floyd. They're coming to Charleston for a concert Thursday night, and they'll join me live on the Thursday edition of "Live and Local." We'll also hear a live preview of Neil Simon's Rumors from Danville's Red Mask Players.

Last weekend the Champaign-Urbana Theatre Company opened The Producers, the musical adapted from Mel Brooks' 1968 film of the same name. Their performances continue at Parkland College in Champaign this week through Sunday, and we'll have a live preview on the Wednesday edition of "Live and Local.

The Red Note New Music Festival at Illinois State University is in its second year under that name, and it runs Monday through Thursday in Normal, with a concert each evening. On the Monday edition of "Live and Local," I'll talk with the festival's director, composer Carl Schimmel, as well as some of the people involved in the opening night concert.

The Soweto Gospel Choir has won Grammies, appeared on talk shows, shared the stage with famous pop stars, raised money for AIDS orphans-and they make some powerful music. They'll perform in Springfield on Sunday, and I'll talk with one of their members on the Friday edition of "Live and Local." We'll also visit with veteran folk singers Sparky and Rhonda Rucker, who perform in Champaign Friday night.