Valentine’s Day weekend provided local music lovers with an appropriately bright and romantic concert from the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, continuing its season at its temporary home at the First United Methodist Church. Jazzy dance numbers, a sweeping Russian symphony and a matched pair of soloists all contributed to a lushly burnished and enjoyable evening for […]
Scott Faingold
Scott Faingold is a journalist, educator and musician. He has been director of student media at University of Illinois Springfield, founding editor of Activator magazine, a staff reporter for Illinois Times and co-host of Old School Bleep, a music-centered podcast.
Posted inTurning Points
Dean Williams
Dean Williams worked as a photographer for weddings and other events in the Springfield area for four decades. Over that same period, he also used his skills behind the camera to take thousands of production photos for major motion pictures, including Legally Blonde (2001) and The Blues Brothers (1980) and was a member of the […]
Posted inCommunity & Lifestyle
WQNA returning to local airwaves soon
After six long years of fits and starts, community radio station WQNA is nearly ready to begin broadcasting again, this time from the space in the Myers building in downtown Springfield that most recently housed Prairie State Hemp. In 2019, the Capital Area Career Center unceremoniously pulled the plug on the station which, starting in […]
Posted inMusic Features
Soaring violin and a Beethoven masterpiece
The Illinois Symphony Orchestra’s 2025-2026 season truly got underway Friday, Nov. 7. After debuting last month with the well-attended “Star Wars Greatest Hits” concert, the ISO seems to be settling into its temporary digs at the First United Methodist Church, 2941 S. Koke Mill Road, with its excellent acoustics and comfortable pews. The church has […]
Posted inArts Features
A horror-comedy for your ears
Springfield native Matthew Brookens has written, produced, directed and starred in “Illinois Hell Hole,” a project he describes as a “two-hour, fully scored horror-comedy audio drama.” This oddball extravaganza aired on NPR Illinois (91.9 FM) in three parts Oct. 28-30 as a uniquely flavored Halloween treat, with spooky humor and voice performers ranging from narrator […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Locally made horror-comedy to air on NPR Illinois
Springfield native Matthew Brookens has written, produced, directed and starred in “Illinois Hell Hole,” a project he describes as a “two-hour, fully scored horror-comedy audio drama.” This oddball extravaganza is scheduled to air on NPR Illinois (91.9 FM) in three parts Oct. 28-30 and promises to be a uniquely flavored Halloween treat, with spooky humor […]
Posted inMusic Features
From Star Wars to the prairie state
This Friday, Oct. 10, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra begins its 2025-2026 season with a program of “Star Wars Greatest Hits.” The pops concert featuring John Williams’ soaring scores to the popular space opera continues in the vein of recent well-received programs featuring music from classic cartoons and the Harry Potter films, but it also acts […]
Posted inNews
CWLP adds more solar
Last month, the Springfield City Council approved CWLP’s proposal for a new solar contract. CWLP will enter into a 25-year agreement with Sangamon Solar to spend $13 million to purchase 25 megawatts of energy and capacity, with plans to utilize a new 100-megawatt, 750-acre solar installation to be built to the south of Chatham. The […]
Posted inNews
County Market to permanently close pharmacies
The pharmacies in all three of Springfield’s remaining County Market locations, as well as one in Chatham, will permanently close as of June 12. All ongoing prescriptions have been purchased by CVS. Customers will be able to fill their prescriptions at any CVS location in Springfield, according to a spokesperson for Quincy-based Niemann Foods, which […]
Posted inNews
UIS faculty union seeks new round of bargaining
The UIS United Faculty union (UIS-UF) officially filed a demand on April 14 to bargain with University of Illinois Springfield administration for a new contract. There are 152 faculty members represented by the union, which is part of University Professionals of Illinois (UPI) Local 4100. A press release from UIS-UF calls the latest demand “a […]
Posted inMusic
ISO’s percussive, significant finale
The Illinois Symphony Orchestra’s 2025 season came to a close on May 3 with an energetic and highly rhythmic performance, which in some ways may signify the end of an era. The University of Illinois Springfield Performing Arts Center, where the ISO has performed in Springfield for many years, will be closed for 15 months […]
Posted inNews
A bill to boost beer breweries
A bill currently being considered by the General Assembly is aimed at making life easier – and more profitable – for small craft beer companies throughout the state. “The majority of Illinois liquor law is pretty much from the 1930s, like Prohibition era,” said Brent Schwoerer, owner, founder and brewmaster at Springfield’s Engrained Brewing Co. […]
