Jason Hudy has performed worldwide, and on Saturday, Sept. 14, he will perform at the Kirkland Fine Arts Center. He spoke to Community Voices about his 20-year career, from working with Disney Cruise Lines to his TEDx Talk, “The Secret Behind a Magic Show”, and his experience catering to different audiences.

Max Beckman talks about his appearance at Sept. 13 UIS Date Night event and his music with Waxwell Weckman and others. The Date Night performance will feature an electric bass quintet in a way you might not imagine.

Ben's creativity overfloweth. Ben Bedford is a Springfield-based internationally recognized folk musician. Ben stages his first art exhibit of his pen and ink work at Perspectives Art Gallery with an opening reception Sept. 7, noon to 5 p.m.

Petersburg’s Adam and Boomer Galassi are brothers and filmmakers. They spoke to Community Voices about their creative processes, their films, and their experiences as a part of the Blue Man Group.

Jake Friefeld, director of the UIS Center for Lincoln Studies, alongside Kate McKenzie, director of development at NPR Illinois, spoke with Community Voices about the upcoming Mary and James Beaumont Endowed Lincoln Legacy Series. This event will include talks from NPR Morning Edition’s Steve Inskeep, and Sarah Anderson, Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of California Santa Barbara Bren School. It will take place on Thursday, Sept. 12, at 6:30 p.m. at the University of Illinois Springfield Student Union Ballroom.To register visit: https://web.cvent.com/event/ba2aa356-f660-48f1-a601-b7aa0c5e1a36/summary

Erika Holst, Curator of History, and Amanda Bryden, Registrar of History and State Historic Sites at the Illinois State Museum, spoke to Community Voices about their current Route 66 Oral History Project. Commemorating the centennial of the road, they discussed the process of collecting 100 oral histories from those who experienced Route 66 in its prime.

Stella Cole is releasing a new album containing jazz standards and more! She spoke to Community Voices about her social media following, performing in jazz clubs and touring with Postmodern Jukebox.

Matt Pryer is a maintenance engineer at Sacred Heart Convent and a local metal artist. He spoke to Community Voices about how he got into metal art, his most recent metal art projects, and the passion he has for his work at Sacred Heart Convent. Matt also talks about an upcoming craft show happening in late September in collaboration with Springfield Carriage House.

Finnegans Wake is a band formed in 1974 at the County Cork Pub in Springfield, Illinois. John C. Van Orman, William J. Furry, and Bill Rintz joined together bound by a love of traditional American and British Isles music. They research many of the traditional songs in their repertoire. Even though they now live in different states, they get back together to perform and tour. They perform August 24, 2024, 7:30 p.m. at Salem on Seventh in Petersburg.The three multi-instrumentalists join Community Voices to discuss their music, vocals, and friendship.

Ron Silver is a composer and performer currently teaching at the University of Illinois Springfield. He spoke to Community Voices about his experience with experimental music, as well as his time as producer and director at New Music New College in Sarasota, Fla.