© 2026 NPR Illinois
For your right to be curious.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Join the NPR Illinois team!

Community Voices is seeking a co-host/editor to join Jeff Williams and Randy Eccles in getting to know our neighbors and more. Apply by May 25, 5 p.m.

The news department is seeking part-time fill-in anchor/reporters who are available either weekdays from 5:30 to 9 a.m. and/or 3:30 to 6 p.m. Apply by June 5, 5 p.m.

HISO Brings Hip-Hop + R&B To Springfield's South Town

from L - R: Bruce Clark, Jayy Wills, Ayo Abitogun & Matt Wingo

A new artist collective has moved into Springfield. Located in South Town, it recently planted roots in a local bar, Bourbon Street. The group, called HISO, hopes to make it more of a venue and studio space for musicians. 

Sammy Flores, Ayo Abitogun & Matt Wingo onstage at Black Sheep

In this story, we visit the venue and get to know more about HISO's founder, Ayo Abitogun. We also talk with Jayy Wills, a young man with the group, and Bruce Clark, who runs Bourbon St. and hopes to see it expand into a more dynamic venue now that HISO has located there. We also hear about efforts to get more instruments into the hands of needy kids, and talk about how to "Stop the Violence." Tune in:

You can find HISO's page here, and follow them on Facebook here.

Rachel Otwell of the Illinois Times is a former NPR Illinois reporter.
Related Stories