Author John Milward connects American music legends like The Carter Family and Hank Williams with today's big stars including Jason Isbell and Brandi Carlisle.

Darius Exorcized Demons On New Album 'Left Alone'

Jun 18th, 2021 6m 47s

Bloomington-based hip-hop artist Darius Williams says his new album was self-therapy during a difficult time. He says it's his most personal work to date.

Old Smoke Band Finds Purpose, New Dynamic During Pandemic

Apr 16th, 2021 6m 13s

Like many bands, the Bloomington-based quintet Old Smoke used downtime during the pandemic to write and record a new album.

Dan Hubbard's New EP A Family Affair

Mar 24th, 2021 8m 51s

Family took center stage on Dan Hubbard's new five-song EP “Fall in Love Again (Quarantine Lullabies)”.

Bloomington-Normal Music Planners Optimistic About Return Of Live Music

Mar 17th, 2021 5m 43s

The COVID-19 vaccine rollout has many optimistic a return to something resembling “normal” is approaching. That includes a Bloomington Normal live-music scene gutted by the pandemic. Most music organizers in the Twin Cities said they are shooti

Thoughts Detecting Machines Finds Coping Mechanism In New Album

Mar 4th, 2021 8m 51s

Rick Valentin says dreary central Illinois winter weather is why he began writing and recording new music in January 2020. But that exercise for his solo vehicle, Thoughts Detecting Machines, evolved into an album that acted as a coping mechani

V8 Vast Change Says Passion Is The Key To 'Life'

Feb 18th, 2021 6m 55s

Dominique Stevenson is a very visible Twin City activist who uses his music to spread a message of unity and encouragement. He was on the front lines of social justice marches last summer and even founded the youth-based advocacy group Next Gen

Brett Conlin's New EP Explores Our Turbulent Year

Feb 12th, 2021 5m 53s

Bloomington singer/songwriter Brett Conlin said a three-month isolation at home with his family last spring became the fodder for his just released acoustic EP "The Great Divide."

New Bloomington Rock Band Finds Purpose During Pandemic

Feb 3rd, 2021 11m 3s

Singer/songwriter/guitarist Joe Borbely said creating the debut album for the Bloomington-based Progressive Space rock outfit CAPS LOCK was almost literally a life-saver.

Peoria Unlikely Home For New Flamenco Band 'Tambora'

Jan 22nd, 2021 6m 19s

Peoria may not seem fertile ground for birthing a Flamenco band. But a side jam during the making of a compilation CD among area musicians grew into one of Peoria’s newest outfits.

How Central Illinois Musicians Have Adapted To The Pandemic

Dec 18th, 2020 5m 43s

The pandemic has hit full-time performing musicians especially hard. There are very few places to perform and in-person audiences are sparse, at best.

Leah Marlene Defies Expectations On Debut LP

Dec 3rd, 2020 6m 59s

Singer-songwriter Leah Marlene's first full-length album is quite a curveball for those that came to her through her 2018 up-tempo, hook-laden debut EP “Arrows.”

WGLT's Blues Doctor Frank Black Dies At 79

Nov 16th, 2020 10m 7s

Listen at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, for an hourlong special dedicated to Delta Frank, our legendary blues host. Listen on 89.1 FM or stream at WGLT.org.

Blackberry Smoke Feeling Fantastic To Be Back On The Road

Sep 24th, 2020 5m 59s

Musicians and concert promoters are working their way back into larger live music events. Blackberry Smoke headlines one of two shows this weekend at the Corn Crib in Normal.

V8 Vast Change Brings His Social Justice Message To His New Album

Sep 17th, 2020 11m 28s

Dominique Stevenson has been a very public figure in Bloomington-Normal this year. He founded the youth-based Next Gen Initiative. The social-justice group initiated several marches and education forums in the Twin Cities this summer.

Grill Billyenz Digs Into Darkness On New Album

Sep 3rd, 2020 8m 2s

Rapper and visual artist Grill Billyenz of Normal says the darker industrial sound on his latest album "Metamorph" comes from the ghost-town feeling he gets working the third shift at his "day job."

Hoosier Daddy: Finding Comfort In Collaboration

May 19th, 2020 5m 13s

Releasing a new album during the coronavirus pandemic has a silver lining for the bluesy Peoria roots-rock trio Hoosier Daddy.

Edward David Anderson Releases 'Live And Solo' Album; Geeked About Backyard Tire Fire

Mar 10th, 2020 5m 47s

Bloomington Americana singer/songwriter Edward David Anderson says his new "Live and Solo" album intentionally tried to capture where he's at in his current iteration.

Ana Popovic Still Blazing 20 Years On

Mar 9th, 2020 5m 10s

Blues guitarist and singer/songwriter Ana Popovic said she mentally worked to overcome doubt when she crashed the male-dominated blues scene two decades ago.

Lara Driscoll Weaves Dreams Into Songs

Mar 6th, 2020 5m 23s

Chicago jazz pianist and educator Lara Driscoll credits University of Illinois piano professor Chip Stephens for inspiring the title to her debut album "Woven Dreams."

Jared Grabb Found Meaning In Home While On The Road

Mar 3rd, 2020 5m 8s

Peoria native Jared Grabb knew art would be a major part of his life from a young age. But once he arrived in college to study comic book art, he discovered his love of music trumped visual art.

Music Helps Soul Artist Neal Francis Work Out The Changes

Feb 26th, 2020 5m 26s

Oak Park native and organ aficionado Neal Francis infuses his original music with the classic soul vibe of the 1960s and 70s. His debut album “Changes” is accompanied by lyrics that document his work to overcome addictions and other demons. A y