TobyMac, the hip-hop/rock fusion artist formerly of dcTalk fame, headlines Winter Jam Thursday. The annual Christian concert also features Hawk Nelson, Brandon Heath, New Song and Francesca Battistelli, among others.
We talked Friday for a story due out in this week’s Applause. While he chatted about the tour, his family and recent Grammy nomination for the 2008 CD/DVD set Alive and Transported, Toby also had a few things to say about the state of the country. Click to hear tobyMac’s thoughts on President-elect Barack Obama and the things he’d pray for if asked, like author and pastor Rick Warren, at next week’s inauguration.
For more on Winter Jam, go to www.jamtour.com. Tickets are $10 at the door, which opens 6 p.m. Thursday for the 7 p.m. show.
Christian Music News Source
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Musicians Help Keep The Faith
Nearly three decades into its career, one of NewSong's founders says the group still is on "a faith trip."
"He's providing and he's guiding and we're following," says Billy Goodwin. "God has shown favor on us."
In addition to a long string of contemporary Christian hit singles and albums, NewSong also founded the annual Winter Jam tour.
Now in its 14th year, the tour features NewSong sharing the bill with some of Christian music's biggest names as well as some up-and-coming talent.
This year's lineup features TobyMac, Hawk Nelson, Brandon Heath and Francesca Battistelli. Previous lineups have included MercyMe, Steven Curtis Chapman, Newsboys, Jeremy Camp, Audio Adrenaline, Relient K, Tait and Sonic Flood.
"We were trying to come up with creative ways to get people to come out to concerts in winter," Goodwin says. "It started as January Jam and eventually expanded to all the way through mid-March, almost to spring time.
"We've been able to get some of the biggest names in Christian music" for the tour, he says. "As it began to expand, we asked God to direct us. He put it together we've gone along for the ride."
Part of faith for Goodwin is trusting that he's not supposed to know the future.
"We didn't think it could have happened," Goodwin says of himself and his band mates, Eddie Carswell, Matt Butler and Nate Sallie.
"If we had looked down the road we'd have been too scared to continue," Goodwin says. "We had only enough faith to see a little ways up ahead."
That kind of faith is what Francesca Battistelli sings about in "The Letting Go," the first single from her first album, last year's "My Paper Heart."
"I think I a lot of what I've learned to let go of is timing," Battistelli, 23, says. "Nothing happens when I want it to happen but it's always perfect."
When she was a young girl, she was serious about dancing and considered ballet as her profession. She dreamed of going to New York and joining a company.
Problems with her back derailed that dream but the teenager soon discovered theater, a natural choice since her parents met when both were working on a production of "The King and I." Her mother starred in the female lead as Anna; her father was the assistant conductor.
But even that didn't turn out to be her destination.
When she finally started listening to music other than show tunes, she felt compelled to begin writing and performing her own songs.
"I didn't plan to have this desire to be a songwriter and artist," she says. "Now I can't imagine doing anything else."
She was part of the Orlando teen-pop group Bella before striking out on her own.
One of her first big breaks occurred on last year's Winter Jam. Some friends of hers were scheduled to perform on the Orlando date of the tour and had to cancel. At their suggestion, Battistelli was chosen to perform. This year, she's on for the entire tour.
"It's so cool to come full circle a year later," Battistelli says.
Still, she's a little disappointed the tour won't visit Orlando again this year.
It would have been a hometown visit. She attended the University of Central Florida before moving to Nashville.
Alas, last year's Orlando concert was plagued by technical difficulties.
"I want to redeem myself," she says with a laugh. "Maybe everyone who was there will come to the Tampa show."
They won't be deterred by the price, $10 at the door. The low admission price is one of the tour's trademarks.
"The bottom line is encouraging fans to bring friends and family that need to hear what we're saying, the truth of what we're sharing," Goodwin says.
It's a matter of trust for the band to go out with a big show and a small admission price, Goodwin says.
"It's been going 14 years now and we always pay the bills," he says. "It doesn't make any sense but somehow it always happens."
ON TOUR
WINTER JAM
Christian Music News Source
"He's providing and he's guiding and we're following," says Billy Goodwin. "God has shown favor on us."
In addition to a long string of contemporary Christian hit singles and albums, NewSong also founded the annual Winter Jam tour.
Now in its 14th year, the tour features NewSong sharing the bill with some of Christian music's biggest names as well as some up-and-coming talent.
This year's lineup features TobyMac, Hawk Nelson, Brandon Heath and Francesca Battistelli. Previous lineups have included MercyMe, Steven Curtis Chapman, Newsboys, Jeremy Camp, Audio Adrenaline, Relient K, Tait and Sonic Flood.
"We were trying to come up with creative ways to get people to come out to concerts in winter," Goodwin says. "It started as January Jam and eventually expanded to all the way through mid-March, almost to spring time.
"We've been able to get some of the biggest names in Christian music" for the tour, he says. "As it began to expand, we asked God to direct us. He put it together we've gone along for the ride."
Part of faith for Goodwin is trusting that he's not supposed to know the future.
"We didn't think it could have happened," Goodwin says of himself and his band mates, Eddie Carswell, Matt Butler and Nate Sallie.
"If we had looked down the road we'd have been too scared to continue," Goodwin says. "We had only enough faith to see a little ways up ahead."
That kind of faith is what Francesca Battistelli sings about in "The Letting Go," the first single from her first album, last year's "My Paper Heart."
"I think I a lot of what I've learned to let go of is timing," Battistelli, 23, says. "Nothing happens when I want it to happen but it's always perfect."
When she was a young girl, she was serious about dancing and considered ballet as her profession. She dreamed of going to New York and joining a company.
Problems with her back derailed that dream but the teenager soon discovered theater, a natural choice since her parents met when both were working on a production of "The King and I." Her mother starred in the female lead as Anna; her father was the assistant conductor.
But even that didn't turn out to be her destination.
When she finally started listening to music other than show tunes, she felt compelled to begin writing and performing her own songs.
"I didn't plan to have this desire to be a songwriter and artist," she says. "Now I can't imagine doing anything else."
She was part of the Orlando teen-pop group Bella before striking out on her own.
One of her first big breaks occurred on last year's Winter Jam. Some friends of hers were scheduled to perform on the Orlando date of the tour and had to cancel. At their suggestion, Battistelli was chosen to perform. This year, she's on for the entire tour.
"It's so cool to come full circle a year later," Battistelli says.
Still, she's a little disappointed the tour won't visit Orlando again this year.
It would have been a hometown visit. She attended the University of Central Florida before moving to Nashville.
Alas, last year's Orlando concert was plagued by technical difficulties.
"I want to redeem myself," she says with a laugh. "Maybe everyone who was there will come to the Tampa show."
They won't be deterred by the price, $10 at the door. The low admission price is one of the tour's trademarks.
"The bottom line is encouraging fans to bring friends and family that need to hear what we're saying, the truth of what we're sharing," Goodwin says.
It's a matter of trust for the band to go out with a big show and a small admission price, Goodwin says.
"It's been going 14 years now and we always pay the bills," he says. "It doesn't make any sense but somehow it always happens."
ON TOUR
WINTER JAM
Christian Music News Source
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Christian music concert is Saturday at Crown Coliseum
The largest annual Christian music tour, Winter Jam, is coming to the Crown Coliseum on Saturday.
The 6 p.m. concert will be headlined by TobyMac, the 2008 Gospel Music Association’s Artist Of The Year, and will feature performances by NewSong, Hawk Nelson, Brandon Heath, The Afters and Stephanie Smith. Heath is the 2008 GMA New Artist Of The Year.
Billy Goodwin is the lead vocalist and guitarist for NewSong, which has received Grammy and Dove Award nominations. He said he is humble about his role in Winter Jam. NewSong founded the tour in 1995, and the members have served as hosts since then. But he’s not surprised by its success.
“It’s a great concert event, a lot of incredibly talented Christian performers,” Goodwin said. “And it’s in service of a greater purpose.”
The 10-week tour, which concludes in Tennessee on March 15, is a mix of music and message, Goodwin said. It showcases several of the most popular and talented Christian music performing artists. The show also will include special guest speaker Tony Nolan.
From his home outside of Atlanta, Goodwin spoke to Weekender about Winter Jam, life on the road and where the future of Christian music may be heading.
Weekender: NewSong has been the Winter Jam host for, going on, 14 years. That’s longevity.
Goodwin: Thanks. It’s been a blessing to perform and host Winter Jam for so long. But more important, it’s been a tremendous opportunity to reach so many young people and watch Christ touch their lives.
Weekender: What can people expect at Winter Jam this year?
Goodwin: It’s a fast-paced mix of musical styles, different artists and guest speakers sharing testimony and gospel. It’s never boring. There’s a lot of production involved — lights and high energy from beginning to end. Most shows last about two hours, but it goes by so fast.
Weekender: NewSong has had 20 No. 1 singles. Any hints at what’s on the set list?
Goodwin: That’s actually hard to say. Some of those decisions are made the night of the show. But we’re going to play a lot of hits, a lot of fan favorites.
Weekender: Such as?
Goodwin: Most likely, “Arise My Love” and “Defining Moment.” We’ll also play a medley of some of our older stuff.
Weekender: How do you achieve the right mix of message and music?
Goodwin: All the artists on tour have a good heart for ministry. They know that music is the tool we use to open the door to get into someone’s heart to share how a relationship with Jesus can change your life. The concert builds to a short time of sharing at the end, where we let people express themselves and maybe, hopefully, make a decision for God that will change them.
Weekender: You’ll be sharing the stage with a number of talented acts. How does this year’s lineup compare with past Winter Jams?
Goodwin: I think it’s one of the best we’ve ever had, with some of the biggest names in Christian music, along with some new folks we’ve not toured with. I’m looking forward to performing with them.
Weekender: You’re no stranger to touring, how does Winter Jam wear and tear on you?
Goodwin: Oh, we’re road dogs. We’re used to the pace and sleeping on rolling beds. Everyone knows it’s a blessing to tour all year long; we’re just glad to stay busy. God’s been good to us.
Weekender: What’s next for NewSong?
Goodwin: We’re working on a new project. After Winter Jam, we want to get into the studio and get it out next year. We’re really anxious to get the new material out there. And we’ll be back on the road, with an Easter tour and summer dates.
Weekender: You’ve been in a unique position to watch the development of Christian music over the years. Where do you see it heading in the future?
Goodwin: Well, it’s really improved, quality-wise and in quantity, over the years. Some of the best talent out there is now getting involved, and the church has really opened its doors to all styles of music. Christian music is communicating with and involving kids more than ever. I think the best days are ahead.
Winter Jam 2009
Who: TobyMac, NewSong, Hawk Nelson, Brandon Heath, The Afters and Stephanie Smith
When: Saturday, Jan. 10, 6 p.m.
Where: Crown Coliseum
Tickets: $10 at the door
Staff writer Brian Dukes can be reached at dukesb@fayobserver.com or 486-3523.
Christian Music News Source
The 6 p.m. concert will be headlined by TobyMac, the 2008 Gospel Music Association’s Artist Of The Year, and will feature performances by NewSong, Hawk Nelson, Brandon Heath, The Afters and Stephanie Smith. Heath is the 2008 GMA New Artist Of The Year.
Billy Goodwin is the lead vocalist and guitarist for NewSong, which has received Grammy and Dove Award nominations. He said he is humble about his role in Winter Jam. NewSong founded the tour in 1995, and the members have served as hosts since then. But he’s not surprised by its success.
“It’s a great concert event, a lot of incredibly talented Christian performers,” Goodwin said. “And it’s in service of a greater purpose.”
The 10-week tour, which concludes in Tennessee on March 15, is a mix of music and message, Goodwin said. It showcases several of the most popular and talented Christian music performing artists. The show also will include special guest speaker Tony Nolan.
From his home outside of Atlanta, Goodwin spoke to Weekender about Winter Jam, life on the road and where the future of Christian music may be heading.
Weekender: NewSong has been the Winter Jam host for, going on, 14 years. That’s longevity.
Goodwin: Thanks. It’s been a blessing to perform and host Winter Jam for so long. But more important, it’s been a tremendous opportunity to reach so many young people and watch Christ touch their lives.
Weekender: What can people expect at Winter Jam this year?
Goodwin: It’s a fast-paced mix of musical styles, different artists and guest speakers sharing testimony and gospel. It’s never boring. There’s a lot of production involved — lights and high energy from beginning to end. Most shows last about two hours, but it goes by so fast.
Weekender: NewSong has had 20 No. 1 singles. Any hints at what’s on the set list?
Goodwin: That’s actually hard to say. Some of those decisions are made the night of the show. But we’re going to play a lot of hits, a lot of fan favorites.
Weekender: Such as?
Goodwin: Most likely, “Arise My Love” and “Defining Moment.” We’ll also play a medley of some of our older stuff.
Weekender: How do you achieve the right mix of message and music?
Goodwin: All the artists on tour have a good heart for ministry. They know that music is the tool we use to open the door to get into someone’s heart to share how a relationship with Jesus can change your life. The concert builds to a short time of sharing at the end, where we let people express themselves and maybe, hopefully, make a decision for God that will change them.
Weekender: You’ll be sharing the stage with a number of talented acts. How does this year’s lineup compare with past Winter Jams?
Goodwin: I think it’s one of the best we’ve ever had, with some of the biggest names in Christian music, along with some new folks we’ve not toured with. I’m looking forward to performing with them.
Weekender: You’re no stranger to touring, how does Winter Jam wear and tear on you?
Goodwin: Oh, we’re road dogs. We’re used to the pace and sleeping on rolling beds. Everyone knows it’s a blessing to tour all year long; we’re just glad to stay busy. God’s been good to us.
Weekender: What’s next for NewSong?
Goodwin: We’re working on a new project. After Winter Jam, we want to get into the studio and get it out next year. We’re really anxious to get the new material out there. And we’ll be back on the road, with an Easter tour and summer dates.
Weekender: You’ve been in a unique position to watch the development of Christian music over the years. Where do you see it heading in the future?
Goodwin: Well, it’s really improved, quality-wise and in quantity, over the years. Some of the best talent out there is now getting involved, and the church has really opened its doors to all styles of music. Christian music is communicating with and involving kids more than ever. I think the best days are ahead.
Winter Jam 2009
Who: TobyMac, NewSong, Hawk Nelson, Brandon Heath, The Afters and Stephanie Smith
When: Saturday, Jan. 10, 6 p.m.
Where: Crown Coliseum
Tickets: $10 at the door
Staff writer Brian Dukes can be reached at dukesb@fayobserver.com or 486-3523.
Christian Music News Source
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Your guide to Central Illinois arts and entertainment in 2009
What better way to greet a new year than to embrace what it promises? And we don’t mean the bad stuff we all know is part and parcel of every New Year deal. Let us turn, instead, to celebrating what we know will be the good stuff — especially as it relates to the frankly escapist world of GO!.
That would be the arts-and-entertainment possibilities coming our way in the winter weeks ahead.
You know: that weather-outside-is-frightful stretch during which we need all the help we can get.
To that end, we’ve rounded up a preview of all the big-ticket items already scheduled between now and spring.
Plenty more items will doubtless be added to the mix in the weeks ahead, which is why we invented the weekly GO! Calendar listings, the most complete source around for up-to-the-minute happenings.
Theater
Kicking off the season Jan. 8 with some big yucks will be Conklin’s Barn II Dinner Theatre with the Dennis R. Anderson farce Funny Valentines. Following fast on its peals of laughter will be the Barn’s other farcical winter-spring offerings, Michael Cooney’s Cash on Delivery (March 5) and an encore of the Barn’s 2005 hit, Squabbles (April 30).
Also raising the curtains early on the ’09 season are Bloomington’s Community Players, who’ll open their three-weekend run of Mary Chase’s hare-raising comedy classic, Harvey, Jan. 16. To be followed by yet another edition of Squabbles (Feb. 27) and the latest local staging of Urinetown: The Musical (May 1).
At Illinois State University, the season begins on a high dramatic note in Westhoff Theatre with Kia Corthron’s Breath, Boom (Feb. 20), an ISU-Crossroads Theatre collaboration about the life of a hardened female gang member in New York.
It’s followed by The Rover (Feb. 26), a saucy new adaptation of the classic Restoration farce in the Center for the Performing Arts Theatre; Timberlake Wertenbaker’s drama Our Country’s Good (April 3, Westhoff Theatre), about the staging of a play in Aussie prison; Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita (April 3, CPA Theatre); and this semester’s “Free Will” bargain Shakespeare offering, Julius Caesar (April 22, Allen Theatre).
At Illinois Wesleyan University, the main stage season in McPherson Theatre is comprised of a lone offering, Henrik Ibsen’s courtroom drama, An Enemy of the People (Feb. 17). In IWU’s Laboratory Theatre, it’s Chance Muehleck’s “play about the media,” Spokes (April 8), followed by a pair of one-acts, Edna St. Vincent Millay’s Aria Da Capo and Moliere’s The Precious Damsels (May; dates TBA).
At Eureka College, the school’s Pritchard Theatre will be the site of a world premiere, the student-written/performed one-woman show, KD: Two Letters Is All You Need (Jan. 22). It’s followed by Caryl Churchill’s feminist fantasia Top Girls (Feb. 20) and Noel Coward’s comedy of manners, Present Laughter (April 21).
Heartland Theatre Company in Normal has two winter-spring productions on tap, beginning with David Lindsay-Abaire’s drama about a couple coping with their child’s death, Rabbit Hole (Feb. 19), and followed by Olga Mikhailova’s Moscow-set comedy, Russian Dream (April 16).
The Pantagraph’s Holiday Spectacular crew returns with an original Lincoln musical drama, Lincoln’s in Town! (Feb. 13-15, Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts).
Meanwhile, that long-running rite of spring, The American Passion Play, returns to the BCPA for a four-weekend run beginning March 14.
National touring productions passing through the area include: Monty Python’s Spamalot (Jan. 17-18, Peoria Civic Center); An Evening with Martin and Langston starring Danny Glover (Jan. 23, ISU Bone Student Center Brown Ballroom); LeAnne Howe: Chocktalking on Other Realities (Jan. 23-24, U of I Krannert Center, Champaign); Rain: The Beatles Experience (Feb. 3, Sangamon Auditorium, Springfield; Feb. 4, Peoria Civic Center); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Feb. 16, Sangamon Auditorium; March 31-April 1, Peoria Civic Center); The Drowsy Chaperone (Feb. 24-25, Peoria Civic Center; April 10, U of I Assembly Hall); and Movin’ Out (March 10, U of I Assembly Hall, Champaign);
Also: The Reduced Shakespeare Company’s History of America, Abridged (March 13, Sangamon Auditorium); Hairspray (March 16, Sangamon Auditorium); It’s Only Make Believe (March 22, Peoria Civic Center); Anna Deavere Smith’s Snapshots: Glimpses of America in Change (March 31, Krannert Center); Annie (April 13, Sangamon Auditorium); Footloose (April 19, Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts); Anne Bogart’s SITI Company: Who Do You Think You Are and Under Construction (April 25 and 28, Krannert Center); and Pinkalicious: The Musical (May 3, BCPA).
Comedy
With at least three regular comedy clubs at play in Pantagraphland bounds — Bloomington’s Funny Bone and New Treehhouse Lounge, Mason City’s Mason City Limits — no weekend will pass by without laughs. So check out their weekly menus.
On the auditorium front, there’s: country jester Rodney Carrington (Jan. 22, Virginia Theater, Champaign; March 13, Peoria Civic Center); Mo’Nique (Jan. 31, Kirkland Fine Arts Center, Decatur); comedian-ventriloquist Jeff Dunham (Feb. 14, U.S. Cellular Coliseum); “queen of mean” Lisa Lampanelli (Feb. 21, Peoria Civic Center); Second City Touring Company (March 12, Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts); frequent Central Illinois visitor Larry the Cable Guy (April 4, U of I Assembly Hall ); and Vicki Lawrence & Mama: A Two-Woman Show (May 2, BCPA).
Rock-pop-folk
Coming to Twin Cities venues as of press time are: singer-songwriter Susan Werner (Jan. 20, Blue Moon Coffeehouse); Buddy Holly’s Winter Dance Party (Feb. 7, Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts); rockers 3 Doors Down, Seether and Safetysuit (7:30 p.m. Feb. 20, U.S. Cellular Coliseum); folkie Cheryl Wheeler (March 7, Blue Moon); the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (March 7, BCPA); pop long-runners The Lettermen (March 20, BCPA); classic rockers The Doobie Brothers (April 2, U.S. Cellular Coliseum); singer-songwriters Antje Duvekot and Natalia Zukerman (April 4, Blue Moon); The Manhattan Transfer (April 16, BCPA); and folk singer Willy Porter (Blue Moon, May 16).
Elsewhere: old-timers Styx (Jan. 22, Peoria Civic Center); Christian rockers Toby Mac, NewSong and others in the Winter Jam 2009 Tour Spectacular (Jan. 23, Peoria Civic Center); ’80s metal men Skid Row (Jan. 24, Lincoln Square Theater, Decatur); jam rockers the Disco Biscuits (Jan. 25, Canopy Club, Urbana); rock-opera troupe the East Village Opera Company (Jan. 30-31, U of I Krannert Center); Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy (Jan. 31, U of I Foellinger Auditorium, Champaign).
Also: rockers Slipknot, Coheed & Cambria and Trivium (Feb. 2, Peoria Civic Center); guitarist Keller Williams (Feb. 6, Canopy Club); Dove-winning Christian rockers Building 429 (Feb. 13, United Presbyterian Church, Peoria); heavy metal men Clutch (Feb. 15, Canopy Club); Peoria-begat rockers Mudvayne (7 p.m. Feb. 17, Prairie Capital Convention Center); Christian rockers Third Day (March 5, Assembly Hall); Susan Werner Duo (March 6, Sangamon Auditorium); George Thorogood & The Destroyers (March 2, East Peoria Event Center); and veteran folk singer Gordon Lightfoot (March 18, Virginia Theater, Champaign).
Country-bluegrass-gospel
Scheduled for Twin Cities venues thus far are just a couple qualifying concerts: The Bill Gaither Homecoming (March 13, U.S. Cellular Coliseum), and fresh from Denzel Washington’s “The Great Debaters,” the offbeat Carolina Chocolate Drops (March 27, Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts).
Elsewhere: The two-day Y’allapalooza with 14 stars including LeAnn Rimes, Phil Vassar, Jason Aldean, Julianne Hough and more (Jan. 16-17, Prairie Capital Convention Center, Springfield); Toby Keith and (again) Jason Aldean (Jan. 29, Peoria Civic Center); Jay Unger & Molly Mason: An Early Birthday Party for A. Lincoln (Jan. 31, Sangamon Auditorium); Rascal Flatts and Jessica Simpson (Feb. 6, U of I Assembly Hall); bluegrass groups The Gordons, Special Consensus and Poplar Grove Bluegrass Band (April 3, Kirkland Fine Arts Center); and western swing legends Asleep at the Wheel (April 4, Kirkland Fine Arts Center)
Jazz-R&B-World
In B-N, the big names on board so far include: New Orleans a cappella group the subdudes (Jan. 17, Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts); Bob Marley’s band, The Wailers (Jan. 22, BCPA); jazz chanteuse Sara Gazarek, performing this year’s WGLT JazzMasters concert (Feb. 7, ISU Center for the Performing Arts); the Preservation Hall Jazz Band (Feb. 21, BCPA); and the African Children’s Choir (Feb. 27, BCPA).
Elsewhere: female a cappella group Sweet Honey in the Rock (Feb. 10, Kirkland Fine Arts Center); Japan’s drum-crazy Kodo (Feb. 24, U of I Krannert Center); the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis (Feb. 28, Sangamon Auditorium); Aswat: Celebrating the Golden Age of Arab Music (March 15, Krannert Center); the Afro-Cuban All Stars (March 18, Krannert Center); Meredith Monk & Vocal Ensemble (April 4, Krannert Center); Chick Corea & John McLaughlin Five Peace Band (April 7, Krannert Center); Portuguese singer Mariza (April 15, Krannert Center); Bobby McFerrin and Polygraph Lounge (April 24, Krannert Center); and sax man Joshua Redman (May 2, Krannert Center).
Classical
On the Twin Cities front, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra will be busy in the weeks ahead with: Lincoln Bicentennial (Feb. 6), Gershwin at the Pops (March 6), America the Beautiful (April 3) and The Planets (May 1) — all performed in the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.
In addition, the ISO’s subsidiary Illinois Chamber Orchestra performs Beautiful Classics (Jan. 24) and Tall Tales & American Legends (March 21), both in Bloomington’s Second Presbyterian Church.
Elsewhere: pianist Ingrid Fliter (Feb. 3, U of I Krannert Center); the Hugo Wolf Quartet (Feb. 19, Krannert Center); Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra (Feb. 26, Krannert Center); pianist Angela Hewitt (March 5, Krannert Center); Jupiter String Quartet (March 17, Krannert Center); National Philharmonic of Russia (April 14, Krannert); Pacifica Quartet with Erik Ronmark (April 16, Krannert Center); pianist Charles Rosen (April 22, Krannert Center); and violinist-composer Mark O’Connor (May 2, Peoria Civic Center).
Dance
On the local front, the offerings include: Alvin Ailey’s Ailey II (Jan. 30, Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts); IWU’s Dance Concert 2009 (April 7-12, McPherson Theatre); the annual ISU Dance Theatre Spring Concerts (April 30-May 2, ISU Center for the Performing Arts);
Traditional spring performances by the McLean County Dance Center, Twin Cities Ballet and USA Ballet also are in the offing.
Elsewhere: Russian National Ballet Theatre (“Giselle,” Jan. 22, Sangamon Auditorium; “Sleeping Beauty,” Jan. 23-24, U of I Krannert Center); Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance (Feb. 16, U of I Assembly Hall; Feb. 17, Peoria Civic Center); the Mark Morris Dance Group’s Romeo & Juliet (March 13-14, Krannert Center); Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (April 16, Sangamon Auditorium); and Ronald K. Brown: Evidence, A Dance Company (April 21, Krannert Center).
Etc., etc.
In the realm of things not easily pigeon-holed, Twin Cities venues will host the second edition of I.C.E. World Championship Ice Racing (Jan. 24, U.S. Cellular Coliseum).
Outside Twin Cities limits, odds-and-ends attractions include: the Harlem Globetrotters (Jan. 9, U of I Assembly Hall; Jan. 10, Peoria Civic Center; Jan. 13, Prairie Capital Convention Center); WWE Raw/ECW Live (Jan. 30, Assembly Hall); the big-trucks-don’t-cry opus Monster Jam (Feb. 6-7, Peoria Civic Center; Feb. 20-22, Prairie Capital Convention Center); National Acrobats of China (Feb. 8, Sangamon Auditorium; Feb. 10-11, U of I Krannert Center); Ensemble Galilei with NPR’s Neal Conan in First Person: Stories From Around the World (Feb. 21, Sangamon Auditorium); Montreal’s Cirque Eloize (March 3-4, Krannert Center); Chinese acrobatic troupe Jungua, Descendents of the Dragon (March 11, Kirkland Fine Arts Center); and another Euro-circus opus, Cirque Dreams: Jungle Fantasy (April 22, Sangamon Auditorium).
Christian Music News Source
That would be the arts-and-entertainment possibilities coming our way in the winter weeks ahead.
You know: that weather-outside-is-frightful stretch during which we need all the help we can get.
To that end, we’ve rounded up a preview of all the big-ticket items already scheduled between now and spring.
Plenty more items will doubtless be added to the mix in the weeks ahead, which is why we invented the weekly GO! Calendar listings, the most complete source around for up-to-the-minute happenings.
Theater
Kicking off the season Jan. 8 with some big yucks will be Conklin’s Barn II Dinner Theatre with the Dennis R. Anderson farce Funny Valentines. Following fast on its peals of laughter will be the Barn’s other farcical winter-spring offerings, Michael Cooney’s Cash on Delivery (March 5) and an encore of the Barn’s 2005 hit, Squabbles (April 30).
Also raising the curtains early on the ’09 season are Bloomington’s Community Players, who’ll open their three-weekend run of Mary Chase’s hare-raising comedy classic, Harvey, Jan. 16. To be followed by yet another edition of Squabbles (Feb. 27) and the latest local staging of Urinetown: The Musical (May 1).
At Illinois State University, the season begins on a high dramatic note in Westhoff Theatre with Kia Corthron’s Breath, Boom (Feb. 20), an ISU-Crossroads Theatre collaboration about the life of a hardened female gang member in New York.
It’s followed by The Rover (Feb. 26), a saucy new adaptation of the classic Restoration farce in the Center for the Performing Arts Theatre; Timberlake Wertenbaker’s drama Our Country’s Good (April 3, Westhoff Theatre), about the staging of a play in Aussie prison; Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita (April 3, CPA Theatre); and this semester’s “Free Will” bargain Shakespeare offering, Julius Caesar (April 22, Allen Theatre).
At Illinois Wesleyan University, the main stage season in McPherson Theatre is comprised of a lone offering, Henrik Ibsen’s courtroom drama, An Enemy of the People (Feb. 17). In IWU’s Laboratory Theatre, it’s Chance Muehleck’s “play about the media,” Spokes (April 8), followed by a pair of one-acts, Edna St. Vincent Millay’s Aria Da Capo and Moliere’s The Precious Damsels (May; dates TBA).
At Eureka College, the school’s Pritchard Theatre will be the site of a world premiere, the student-written/performed one-woman show, KD: Two Letters Is All You Need (Jan. 22). It’s followed by Caryl Churchill’s feminist fantasia Top Girls (Feb. 20) and Noel Coward’s comedy of manners, Present Laughter (April 21).
Heartland Theatre Company in Normal has two winter-spring productions on tap, beginning with David Lindsay-Abaire’s drama about a couple coping with their child’s death, Rabbit Hole (Feb. 19), and followed by Olga Mikhailova’s Moscow-set comedy, Russian Dream (April 16).
The Pantagraph’s Holiday Spectacular crew returns with an original Lincoln musical drama, Lincoln’s in Town! (Feb. 13-15, Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts).
Meanwhile, that long-running rite of spring, The American Passion Play, returns to the BCPA for a four-weekend run beginning March 14.
National touring productions passing through the area include: Monty Python’s Spamalot (Jan. 17-18, Peoria Civic Center); An Evening with Martin and Langston starring Danny Glover (Jan. 23, ISU Bone Student Center Brown Ballroom); LeAnne Howe: Chocktalking on Other Realities (Jan. 23-24, U of I Krannert Center, Champaign); Rain: The Beatles Experience (Feb. 3, Sangamon Auditorium, Springfield; Feb. 4, Peoria Civic Center); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Feb. 16, Sangamon Auditorium; March 31-April 1, Peoria Civic Center); The Drowsy Chaperone (Feb. 24-25, Peoria Civic Center; April 10, U of I Assembly Hall); and Movin’ Out (March 10, U of I Assembly Hall, Champaign);
Also: The Reduced Shakespeare Company’s History of America, Abridged (March 13, Sangamon Auditorium); Hairspray (March 16, Sangamon Auditorium); It’s Only Make Believe (March 22, Peoria Civic Center); Anna Deavere Smith’s Snapshots: Glimpses of America in Change (March 31, Krannert Center); Annie (April 13, Sangamon Auditorium); Footloose (April 19, Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts); Anne Bogart’s SITI Company: Who Do You Think You Are and Under Construction (April 25 and 28, Krannert Center); and Pinkalicious: The Musical (May 3, BCPA).
Comedy
With at least three regular comedy clubs at play in Pantagraphland bounds — Bloomington’s Funny Bone and New Treehhouse Lounge, Mason City’s Mason City Limits — no weekend will pass by without laughs. So check out their weekly menus.
On the auditorium front, there’s: country jester Rodney Carrington (Jan. 22, Virginia Theater, Champaign; March 13, Peoria Civic Center); Mo’Nique (Jan. 31, Kirkland Fine Arts Center, Decatur); comedian-ventriloquist Jeff Dunham (Feb. 14, U.S. Cellular Coliseum); “queen of mean” Lisa Lampanelli (Feb. 21, Peoria Civic Center); Second City Touring Company (March 12, Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts); frequent Central Illinois visitor Larry the Cable Guy (April 4, U of I Assembly Hall ); and Vicki Lawrence & Mama: A Two-Woman Show (May 2, BCPA).
Rock-pop-folk
Coming to Twin Cities venues as of press time are: singer-songwriter Susan Werner (Jan. 20, Blue Moon Coffeehouse); Buddy Holly’s Winter Dance Party (Feb. 7, Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts); rockers 3 Doors Down, Seether and Safetysuit (7:30 p.m. Feb. 20, U.S. Cellular Coliseum); folkie Cheryl Wheeler (March 7, Blue Moon); the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (March 7, BCPA); pop long-runners The Lettermen (March 20, BCPA); classic rockers The Doobie Brothers (April 2, U.S. Cellular Coliseum); singer-songwriters Antje Duvekot and Natalia Zukerman (April 4, Blue Moon); The Manhattan Transfer (April 16, BCPA); and folk singer Willy Porter (Blue Moon, May 16).
Elsewhere: old-timers Styx (Jan. 22, Peoria Civic Center); Christian rockers Toby Mac, NewSong and others in the Winter Jam 2009 Tour Spectacular (Jan. 23, Peoria Civic Center); ’80s metal men Skid Row (Jan. 24, Lincoln Square Theater, Decatur); jam rockers the Disco Biscuits (Jan. 25, Canopy Club, Urbana); rock-opera troupe the East Village Opera Company (Jan. 30-31, U of I Krannert Center); Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy (Jan. 31, U of I Foellinger Auditorium, Champaign).
Also: rockers Slipknot, Coheed & Cambria and Trivium (Feb. 2, Peoria Civic Center); guitarist Keller Williams (Feb. 6, Canopy Club); Dove-winning Christian rockers Building 429 (Feb. 13, United Presbyterian Church, Peoria); heavy metal men Clutch (Feb. 15, Canopy Club); Peoria-begat rockers Mudvayne (7 p.m. Feb. 17, Prairie Capital Convention Center); Christian rockers Third Day (March 5, Assembly Hall); Susan Werner Duo (March 6, Sangamon Auditorium); George Thorogood & The Destroyers (March 2, East Peoria Event Center); and veteran folk singer Gordon Lightfoot (March 18, Virginia Theater, Champaign).
Country-bluegrass-gospel
Scheduled for Twin Cities venues thus far are just a couple qualifying concerts: The Bill Gaither Homecoming (March 13, U.S. Cellular Coliseum), and fresh from Denzel Washington’s “The Great Debaters,” the offbeat Carolina Chocolate Drops (March 27, Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts).
Elsewhere: The two-day Y’allapalooza with 14 stars including LeAnn Rimes, Phil Vassar, Jason Aldean, Julianne Hough and more (Jan. 16-17, Prairie Capital Convention Center, Springfield); Toby Keith and (again) Jason Aldean (Jan. 29, Peoria Civic Center); Jay Unger & Molly Mason: An Early Birthday Party for A. Lincoln (Jan. 31, Sangamon Auditorium); Rascal Flatts and Jessica Simpson (Feb. 6, U of I Assembly Hall); bluegrass groups The Gordons, Special Consensus and Poplar Grove Bluegrass Band (April 3, Kirkland Fine Arts Center); and western swing legends Asleep at the Wheel (April 4, Kirkland Fine Arts Center)
Jazz-R&B-World
In B-N, the big names on board so far include: New Orleans a cappella group the subdudes (Jan. 17, Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts); Bob Marley’s band, The Wailers (Jan. 22, BCPA); jazz chanteuse Sara Gazarek, performing this year’s WGLT JazzMasters concert (Feb. 7, ISU Center for the Performing Arts); the Preservation Hall Jazz Band (Feb. 21, BCPA); and the African Children’s Choir (Feb. 27, BCPA).
Elsewhere: female a cappella group Sweet Honey in the Rock (Feb. 10, Kirkland Fine Arts Center); Japan’s drum-crazy Kodo (Feb. 24, U of I Krannert Center); the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis (Feb. 28, Sangamon Auditorium); Aswat: Celebrating the Golden Age of Arab Music (March 15, Krannert Center); the Afro-Cuban All Stars (March 18, Krannert Center); Meredith Monk & Vocal Ensemble (April 4, Krannert Center); Chick Corea & John McLaughlin Five Peace Band (April 7, Krannert Center); Portuguese singer Mariza (April 15, Krannert Center); Bobby McFerrin and Polygraph Lounge (April 24, Krannert Center); and sax man Joshua Redman (May 2, Krannert Center).
Classical
On the Twin Cities front, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra will be busy in the weeks ahead with: Lincoln Bicentennial (Feb. 6), Gershwin at the Pops (March 6), America the Beautiful (April 3) and The Planets (May 1) — all performed in the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.
In addition, the ISO’s subsidiary Illinois Chamber Orchestra performs Beautiful Classics (Jan. 24) and Tall Tales & American Legends (March 21), both in Bloomington’s Second Presbyterian Church.
Elsewhere: pianist Ingrid Fliter (Feb. 3, U of I Krannert Center); the Hugo Wolf Quartet (Feb. 19, Krannert Center); Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra (Feb. 26, Krannert Center); pianist Angela Hewitt (March 5, Krannert Center); Jupiter String Quartet (March 17, Krannert Center); National Philharmonic of Russia (April 14, Krannert); Pacifica Quartet with Erik Ronmark (April 16, Krannert Center); pianist Charles Rosen (April 22, Krannert Center); and violinist-composer Mark O’Connor (May 2, Peoria Civic Center).
Dance
On the local front, the offerings include: Alvin Ailey’s Ailey II (Jan. 30, Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts); IWU’s Dance Concert 2009 (April 7-12, McPherson Theatre); the annual ISU Dance Theatre Spring Concerts (April 30-May 2, ISU Center for the Performing Arts);
Traditional spring performances by the McLean County Dance Center, Twin Cities Ballet and USA Ballet also are in the offing.
Elsewhere: Russian National Ballet Theatre (“Giselle,” Jan. 22, Sangamon Auditorium; “Sleeping Beauty,” Jan. 23-24, U of I Krannert Center); Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance (Feb. 16, U of I Assembly Hall; Feb. 17, Peoria Civic Center); the Mark Morris Dance Group’s Romeo & Juliet (March 13-14, Krannert Center); Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (April 16, Sangamon Auditorium); and Ronald K. Brown: Evidence, A Dance Company (April 21, Krannert Center).
Etc., etc.
In the realm of things not easily pigeon-holed, Twin Cities venues will host the second edition of I.C.E. World Championship Ice Racing (Jan. 24, U.S. Cellular Coliseum).
Outside Twin Cities limits, odds-and-ends attractions include: the Harlem Globetrotters (Jan. 9, U of I Assembly Hall; Jan. 10, Peoria Civic Center; Jan. 13, Prairie Capital Convention Center); WWE Raw/ECW Live (Jan. 30, Assembly Hall); the big-trucks-don’t-cry opus Monster Jam (Feb. 6-7, Peoria Civic Center; Feb. 20-22, Prairie Capital Convention Center); National Acrobats of China (Feb. 8, Sangamon Auditorium; Feb. 10-11, U of I Krannert Center); Ensemble Galilei with NPR’s Neal Conan in First Person: Stories From Around the World (Feb. 21, Sangamon Auditorium); Montreal’s Cirque Eloize (March 3-4, Krannert Center); Chinese acrobatic troupe Jungua, Descendents of the Dragon (March 11, Kirkland Fine Arts Center); and another Euro-circus opus, Cirque Dreams: Jungle Fantasy (April 22, Sangamon Auditorium).
Christian Music News Source
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Toby Mac Made to Love
Toby Mac performs during Winter Wonder Slam at the Toyota Center 12-12-08
Christian Music News Source
Christian Music News Source
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
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