Jimmy Rea
Arts Reporter & HostJimmy Rea is a proud Ozarkian with deep ties to the music community. With 2 decades of creative entrepreneurship underfoot, Jimmy has toured coast to coast and around the world with acoustic acts The HillBenders and Keller Williams. Spearheading numerous musical groups, recording projects, and live music events, Rea’s work in the Springfield music scene is a passion and lifestyle. Happily married to wife Melissa and father to Archie, they enjoy life together with 2 dogs and a cat. In his downtime you can find Jimmy fishing for bass in the crisp rivers, creeks, and streams of the Ozarks.
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Tom Parker talks painting, teaching, banjo and having a drink with Van Morrison. The founder of Wild Arts Learning shares her journey into earth-based arts. The Messiah Project is heading to Greece and is in search of singers. And Gov. Kehoe recommends $3.7 million in arts budget cuts. -
Parker’s work will be featured at a local gallery through the end of February in an exhibition titled “A BRUSH WITH THE TRUTH by Thomas Parker.” -
Wild Arts Learning is a program that emphasizes the importance of folk and natural arts and will have several different classes related to these subjects, including Earth pigment watercolor painting, pressure cooking, hand stitching, botanical printing and book binding. -
The Springfield Youth Symphony String Quartet becomes the first ensemble to perform inside the Arts News studio as the group prepares for its upcoming trip to New York City and Carnegie Hall. We also talk with DOTS, Devising Original Theatre Springfield, about its Fringe Festival, the March 1 submission deadline, and the organization’s growth. The Aetos Center brings Rock and bluegrass to Nixa. Plus, a Sound Check segment with Jess Balisle and Joe Dillstrom. -
Reporter Jimmy Rea speaks with Executive Director Dr. Gretchen Teague and founding member Kristin Farr about the festival and the organization’s path to this year’s event. -
Under the direction of Carla Wootton, the Springfield Youth Symphony will travel to New York City to collaborate with leaders in the classical music world and perform at Carnegie Hall, marking a major milestone for the ensemble. -
New York Times bestselling author Cullen Bunn discusses his new novel, the NPR Tiny Desk Contest deadline draws near, ArtCon comes to Neosho, SMAC hosts a solo photography exhibition, and we hear music from Mabel Laine and Roxie & the Moon King. -
We chat with the founder of Glenstone Records and one of the artists on their roster, Springfield Little Theatre’s production of Come From Away, a new Sculpture Walk Springfield installation at the Library Center, Dog Man: The Musical in Nixa, Artist INC Express workshop and Springfield Symphony Orchestra’s recent performance of Stravinsky’s Petrushka. -
New York Times bestselling author Cullen Bunn joined Arts News to talk about his latest horror novel, Bones of Our Stars, Blood of Our World. -
The 2026 NPR Tiny Desk Contest is now open, inviting unsigned musicians to submit an original song for a chance to perform a Tiny Desk Concert at NPR headquarters.
