Making a big statement, in lowercase Kirk Wessler October 28, 2023 The basic equation could not be more simple: Ukelele + electric guitar + drums = Fun Music. That simplicity also...
‘Doing sports God’s Way’ Kirk Wessler September 28, 2023 Hall of Fame basketball coach Bob Knight was typically blunt about the notion of friendly competition.“You have competition, you take...
‘More of the different’ Linda Smith Brown September 27, 2023 Where has the time gone? It has been 15 years since Heartland Festival Orchestra (HFO) was formed, bringing innovation, collaboration...
Religion Radio Denise Jackson September 27, 2023 Religious radio has long had a loyal following in central Illinois. For three local Christian radio stations, technological advancements including...
Discovering his jam Katie Faley August 26, 2023 Music flows through Brien Monckton’s veins. Always has.“Looking back at home videos, the common theme was always music. He was...
Keeping it simple with Joe George Phil Luciano August 1, 2023 Like guitar strings, Joe Shadid’s musical roots stretch sturdily from his Peoria family tree.The orchestra has included a piano-tinkling grandma,...
Making the hard work of acting look easy Phil Luciano August 1, 2023 To make things look easy, you’ve got to work hard.Just ask Cole Hauser, the longtime actor known best these days...
‘Geek culture’ has arrived in central Illinois Laurie Pillman June 27, 2023 Fan conventions aren’t a new thing. Starting in the 1930s and gathering momentum since the 1980s, large-scale fan conventions like...
Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow at the HOI Fair Roxy Baker June 27, 2023 The Heart of Illinois Fair isn’t the same as it was when I was a kid.” That phrase has persisted...
‘Outlaw country’ comes to River City Kirk Wessler June 1, 2023 Get ready, Peoria, as country rocker Kurt Van Meter and Yellowstone star Cole Hauser will be in town for a...
It’s summertime, have some festival fun Steve Tarter May 22, 2023 Summer is festival time in Illinois. That’s the time for towns across the central swath of the state to pull...
The block party to beat all block parties Nick Vlahos May 22, 2023 No one puts on an “epic block party” quite like Kelleher’s Irish Pub & Eatery, which is back at it...
Fiddler Below the Footlights Linda Smith Brown April 27, 2023 When the Broadway touring company of the musical Anastasia came to Peoria for two performances in April, there was one...
Introducing Mark Plunkett & The Heartmenders Nick Vlahos March 31, 2023 Dr. Mark Plunkett knows a few things about beats — from the heart and from the soul. Plunkett is chief...
‘Pay the cover,’ let your ‘mind be blown’ Roxy Baker February 28, 2023 What’s that noise coming from Peoria’s Downtown? It’s a live music scene that is balanced, diverse and global with several...
‘I don’t sing anything I don’t feel’ Kirk Wessler February 1, 2023 Like everything else in her life, the way LiV Warfield chooses to spell her first name — the lowercase “i”...
GlobalFest Central Illinois makes its debut Lisa Coon January 30, 2023 Central Illinois is home to many ethnically diverse neighborhoods, and organizers of an upcoming, immersive event want others to experience...
From gridiron to Grand Ole Opry doorstep Kirk Wessler January 1, 2023 Jake Maurer was 26 years old when he delivered the one-two news punch to his parents. One caused rejoicing: Jake...
The Community of Theater Laurie Pillman November 30, 2022 Fifteen years ago, Jeff Driscoll and Rachel Roderick started Arc Light Productions with $20 and a pitch to the Illini...
Christian music takes local singer-songwriter to a higher level Kirk Wessler November 30, 2022 Kadee Allen was in Clarksville, Tennessee this year, playing the first set of a planned three-hour gig. The crowd seemed...
Peoria’s legal eagles ‘Inherit the Wind’ Steve Tarter October 27, 2022 Watching a rehearsal of “Inherit the Wind,” the play performed recently at the Peoria Riverfront Museum, was another reminder of...
‘Art that Moves’ Laurie Pillman October 1, 2022 Wendy Thomasson, executive director of Peoria Ballet, has a clear vision when it comes to her studio’s purpose. The ballet...
Reel-ing in the years at The Barn III Steve Tarter September 1, 2022 The old Barn in Goodfield ain’t what she used to be. Indeed, it’s now the showcase for a musical light...
A Decade of Dance Laurie Pillman September 1, 2022 Visitors entering the studios at 830 W. Main Street in Peoria are greeted by a display of used ballet slippers...
The Reinvention Tour By Kirk Wessler August 1, 2022 We were in a tiny dive called The Sand Bar, two blocks from the Atlantic Ocean on Tybee Island, Georgia....
Neighborhood Café Has Just the Right Touch Kirk Wessler June 24, 2022 Every neighborhood can benefit from a splash of color.Even if it’s simply a Touch of Grey.That’s the music-inspired name of...