The Starving Artists is a grassroots initiative encouraging Central Illinois musicians to hold monthly benefit concerts. A concert at the Coffeehouse in Normal on Jan. 24 is collecting donations for WYSE Food Pantry in West Bloomington.

Upgrades to ISU's aging arts complex have been discussed for decades. The project broke ground Tuesday, with $87 million in state funds helping to get it to the starting line.

The monthly initiative aimed at drawing foot traffic to businesses and art galleries downtown has seen waning participation, driving city staff to rethink their involvement. In addition to city-sponsored First Fridays in Feb., July and Dec., business owners are committed to leading the initiative the rest of the year.

Last May, the grassroots advocacy group commissioned an artist to paint 15 circus-themed murals connecting the Bloomington Public Library and the McLean County Museum of History. The member organization will do the same thing this summer to celebrate the centennial of Route 66.

The contemporary romantic comedy, produced at Illinois Art Station, is the first of three productions in a satellite location while Community Players undergoes renovations.

Dan Hubbard's new EP, his first studio release in 6 years, explores uncharted territory for the singer-songwriter, who dabbled in new sounds and deeply personal themes for "Letting Go."

Jennifer Jordan from Bloomington showed off part of her massive aluminum Christmas tree collection at the "Jane Lynch - A Swingin' Little Christmas" show on Dec. 12 at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.

What Kyle and Shannon Merkle call Santa’s Village has, in just a few years, become one of LeRoy's most magical holiday traditions.

The Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts will welcome Trisha Yearwood and Jake Owen to the stage in March. It's part of a successful track record for country artists at the venue over the last two years.

The production's first national tour stops for two shows in Bloomington on Saturday. Actor Ken Orman, who plays Scrooge, said the story is more relatable than ever.

Santa's elves forged a partnership with Normal Parks and Recreation to schedule calls from Santa on Dec. 8 and 10.

WGLT talks to Samara Jane, winner of our inaugural Highway 309 Studio Sessions Contest, about what inspired her winning entry, "Fine," and what songwriting means to her.