music

Bryan Rives is Director of UIS Performing Arts Services at UIS Performing Arts Center at the University of Illinois Springfield. Bryan has over 30 years experience in event management as well as performing arts center management. He talks about this and more with Community Voices' Bea Bonner and Randy Eccles.

Dr. Craig Russo is a neuroradioligst in Springfield, IL. He is also the leader of the Craig Russo Latin Jazz Project, a group whose focus is Latin and Afro-Carribbean music. During the NPR Illinois Winter Drive, he talks about this and more with Community Voices' Bea Bonner.

A few months ago we had the pleasure of speaking with celebrity photographer Michael Grecco about his career. Now we're so happy to welcome him BACK to the Front Row to talk about his brand new book "Punk, Post Punk and New Wave" and the incredible never-before-seen photographs that populate this incredible record of one of the most iconic periods in music and cultural history. 

FEATURING: Jeremy Goeckner, Craig McFarland & Michael Grecco

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It's time to take a deep dive into the movie of the Summer! Lou, Scott and Special Guest Jeremie Bailey from Lincoln's Legends get together to discuss a movie almost 30 years in the making - Bill & Ted Face The Music!!

Featuring: Lou Hare, Scott McFarland, & Jeremie Bailey

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Every Monday brings the latest news blitz in #TheRundown. This week AMC theaters are reopening, #DCFandome is set to take over the world and a slew of new movie and TV trailers. Let’s get caught up!

FEATURING: Jeremy Goeckner

#HamiltonWeek continues on the Front Row Network! You heard part 1 a few days ago where we started our ranking of all 46 songs on the #Hamilton soundtrack. We'll we're proud to bring you Part 2 where we give you the top 24 songs in Hamilton. This ranking was hard but we're standing behind it!

FEATURING: Jeremy Goeckner & Sara Baltusevich

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It's #HamiltonWeek on the Front Row Network! We've got a ton of coverage coming for you leading up to the release of the #HamilFilm on July 3rd. We're kicking off our coverage with Part 1 of a comprehensive ranking of EVERY SINGLE SONG IN THE SHOW! That's right, all 46 songs on the soundtrack ranked! Who will come out on top? Listen to find out!

FEATURING: Jeremy Goeckner & Sara Baltusevich

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The Network is proud to welcome celebrity photographer Michael Grecco to the Front Row! Michael has led a truly incredible life on his way to becoming one of the foremost celebrity photographers in the world. Whether it's his origins in the punk music scene to his time with the biggest magazines in the world, Michael has always had his camera out and ready to capture every moment in front of him. We talk about everything from his origins to his amazing list of celebrity subjects. Join us for a truly wonderful look at life through Michael Grecco's lens.

For the third month in a row we're breaking out the bracket to decide a champion! This time it's our #MayMusicMadness as the bracketmaster Lou has given us the chance to crown the Greatest 90s Song of All Time. Join our all-star panel as they make the picks and crown the champion of 90s music!

FEATURING: Louis Hare, Donna Hare, Tiffany Topol, Steve Ponzo & Calivero

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It's time to take the disco floor and be crowned the dancing queen..... AGAIN! GUILTY PLEASURES is back with our friends from the Disneyland Foodies Amanda & Kara to talk about one of the rarest things in Hollywood: a successful musical SEQUEL! It's time to break out the bell-bottoms and low v-cut jumpsuits. We're talking Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again. 

FEATURING: Louis Hare, Amanda & Kara Hasaka (Disneyland Foodies)

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Members of a unique band based in Poland came to the United States for the first time earlier this month. Their first destination was Springfield.

In the wake of police shootings of black men and other incidents, there is a resurgence of young activists speaking out across the country.

Two Springfield artists, Ayo Abitogun and Sammy Flores, seek change through spoken word and music.  Jacqualine Simone Williams sat down to talk with them about their work. 

When you think of a barbershop chorus, you probably picture men performing.  But plenty of women also join in the fun. The Sweet Adelines International Organization has been around for 70 years now.  One of the choirs, based in Springfield, has been hitting all the right notes:

One sunny September afternoon, one of my friends and I were searching the farthest reaches of our brains for some activity to keep us occupied. We often played the guitar together, but since the fall weather was so unusually pleasant, we could not just sit in some dingy basement and play to the termites in the rafters. We decided to take our music to the great outdoors; specifically, our town square.

Chicago Singles Club probably sounds like a dating site - but it actually is an operation that records and releases free singles, of the musical variety. Chicago Singles Club is in its second year and features some of Chicago's best and most unique independent artists. We spoke with one of the founders, Jeff Kelley, to find out more:             

During my freshman year of high school, my circle of friends was fairly limited.  I had three friends who I associated with daily, and I was perfectly content with this.  In place of expanding my social standing and friend group, I spent a good number of my days walking home after school and doing nothing besides laying in my room listening to music.  This might sound lonely to some, but I was happy doing it, so I felt no need to change.  Music was and is one of the greatest companions I’ve had, and one of the best tools I feel people can use to connect with themselves, and even others.