Vol.2, No.1, January 9, 2026
|
|
|
People. Places. Things To Do. |
|
| |
Happy New Year, and welcome back to The Green Room. A new year invites reflection and renewal, and there is no better place to find that sense of connection than in the human voice. Long before instruments or technology, singing has carried stories across generations and geographies, linking people through shared emotion and expression.
This week’s stories lean fully into that idea. From Drury University’s new contemporary a cappella group, Pulse, to the African Children’s Choir’s return to the Ozarks, these performances are built on the human heart and voice. Young singers, shaped by different backgrounds and experiences, come together through harmony, rhythm, and the simple act of singing. Whether on a college campus or traveling the world, the voice remains a global language that cuts through distance and difference.
As we begin the year ahead, The Green Room looks forward to another season of music, creativity, and community. If this week is any indication, 2026 will be filled with powerful voices and the connections they create. Won’t you join me in The Green Room?
|
|
|
| Jimmy Rea
Host, Arts News
KSMU 91.1 - FM
Ozarks Public Broadcasting
|
|
|
The Green Room Arts News Letter is presented by
|
| |
|
Happy New Year from the wonderfully weird, wildly creative humans behind The Green Room. We’re ready to fill your days with great shows, local legends, pop-up performances, gallery nights, and those last-minute “how did I not know about this?” plans you end up loving. Here’s to more music, more color, and more reasons to get out of the house in 2026.
|
|
|
Top Row L-R: Rachel Naab, Jimmy Rea, Shelly Drymon. Middle Row L-R: Ran Cummings, Zoë McGarry.
Bottom Row L-R: Jamie Henline, Mavis Parks, Jess Balisle
|
|
|
African Children's Choir meets with Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom. Photo Credit: African Children's Choir
|
The internationally known African Children's Choir shares songs of hope while spotlighting an education-centered program that has transformed lives for more than 40 years. From humble beginnings to stages around the world, these young singers are using music to spark hope and change...read more.
|
|
|
Pulse A Capella tracks their newest single in the studio. Photo Credit: Pulse A Capella
|
Drury’s newest vocal ensemble is finding its voice through pop-driven a cappella, marking an early milestone with the release of its first single and video...read more.
|
|
|
Band members left to right: Reed Herron, Bart Kelley, Greg Frazier, Skyler Smith and Ryan Wallace. Photo credit: Reed Herron
|
Uncle Knuckle isn’t your typical cover band — this Springfield crew blends originals with local songwriter gems, carving out a fresh, homegrown groove on the Ozarks scene. Discover how they’re redefining what a hometown band can be...read more.
|
|
|
|
Arts News on KSMU is your long-standing source for what's happening in the Ozarks arts scene spotlighting local creators, performances, and cultural events every week. Tune in Fridays at 10 a.m. on 91.1-FM or stream at KSMU.org
|
|
|
👉Got a story, event, or artist I should know about? Share your arts and music tips with The Green Room, and help us shine a spotlight on the creative pulse of the Ozarks! You can email them to me at JRea@MissouriState.edu.
|
|
|
🎶Friends don't leave friends out of the music and arts scene - they share all the local arts and music happenings. Just forward this email to friends!
|
|
|
When I first moved to Springfield in 1998, I was told to stay well away from Commercial Street.
Naturally, one of my first excursions with my now longtime partner was to stroll up to this forbidden land. She lived close to it and reveled in its suspicious nature.
We took in the few shops that were there (mostly vintage and thrift), ducked into some alleys, marveled at the decaying Missouri Hotel and, most daring of all, walked to the middle of the seemingly ancient Jefferson Avenue footbridge. ONLY to the middle though. Never to the neighborhood on the other side. Even she, a native and denizen, didn’t dare go farther than that.
“Beyond here, there be dragons.”
Of course, today, the footbridge is soon to be fully restored and reopened, the foreboding neighborhood beyond I now know to be the absolutely brilliant Woodland Heights, and C-Street itself (as Commercial has become known) is home to some of the best bars, shops, and restaurants in town - every one a 100% local institution.
But C-Street has become known for something else: arguably the best overall destination for live music in Springfield. Matt Baker, the co-owner of the newly opened MoonTown Sound has even declared, unofficially of course, that this stretch of Commercial from Main to National is now known as “The Music District.”
With four major venues holding it down: Lindberg’s, Moon City Pub, Ruthie’s Off C-Street, and the aforementioned MoonTown Sound, plus any number of smaller rooms, pop-ups, and street performances, you would be hard pressed on a Friday night to find a better collection of venues and bands within walking distance of one another in our humble little town.
In the coming weeks, I plan to explore each of these locations in depth. Rest assured, there’s a great story in every single one.
Right now, take a listen to True Dead End by The Good Man Underground (playing at MoonTown Sound this Saturday night), think about taking a stroll to the northside, and we’ll see you next week!
|
|
|
Local Radar with Ran Cummings is a weekly music and conversation radio show on KSMU featuring bands and performances from in and around the Ozarks every Friday night at 9:00 p.m. on 91.1 - FM or stream at KSMU.org.
|
|
|
Studio Live with Melissa Rea and Jess Balisle airs the 2nd Friday of every month on KSMU. Tune in at 12:00 p.m. for an hour of live music and conversation with talented artists. Later that evening, experience the music in person at a FREE performance from 6:00–8:00 p.m. at Springfield Brewing Company.
|
|
|
| February 13 - Joe Dillstrom
March 13 - PomFret
April 10 - The Shandies
May 8 - Little Jones
|
|
|
Uncle Knuckle will be performing today at noon on KSMU's Studio Live. Tune in at 91.1-FM or stream online at KSMU.org. Catch them again tonight at Studio Live Social Hour, a free in-person event 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at BrewCo in downtown Springfield.
|
|
|
In the mood to stay in? Queue up one of these videos handpicked by our staff at Ozarks Public Broadcasting, perfect for a night in when you're skipping the scene but still craving culture.
|
|
|
These favorites from KSMU and OPT are just the beginning—there’s a whole world of storytelling, music, documentaries, and local gems waiting on you to dive in and discover at your local public broadcasting station.
|
|
|
Was this email sent to you by a friend? If you'd love fresh takes, local gems, and behind-the-scenes artsy goodness in your inbox every week subscribe to The Green Room Arts News letter.
|
|
|
|
The Green Room: A Weekly Arts News Letter is a production of Ozarks Public Broadcasting. For more information about our programs and services please visit our website.
|
|
|
Mailing Address:
901 South National Ave.
Springfield, MO 65897
|
| Telephone:
Ozarks Public Television 417-836-3500
KSMU Radio 417-836-5878
|
| |
|
Manage your preferences | Opt Out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.
|
901 S National Ave | Springfield, MO 65897 US
|
|
|
This email was sent to sdrymon@missouristate.edu.
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.
|
| |
|
|
