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Jimmy Rea

Arts Reporter & Host

Jimmy 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.

  • Music and concerts from Asleep at the Wheel, Beaux Jenkins, Eric Leick, we chat with Sean Spyres & Chris Thompson about the Ozarks Lyric Opera and the opening of their 45th season w/ "The Tender Land", 1st Friday Art Walk, Margaret Cho at the Blue Room Comedy Club, The Grinch at Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts, dance, theatre, and more!
  • New music from Brett Miller, local choir concerts, "A Taste of Ireland" has 3 tour stops in Missouri, music and gigs from Sister Lucille, Arkansauce, Landon Rolfe, Kristi Merideth, and Aurthur Duncan, Ozzie Award winners, theatre production openings from MSU theatre dept. and the Marshfield Community Theatre, storytelling at Roaring River State Park, a special Halloween spooky audio theatre episode by Frightmare Theatre.
  • Music and shows from Jin J X and The Lacewings, Springfield Little Theatre opens "Murder on the Orient Express," KSMU jingle throwback from Trak Masta Tom, Branson Regional Arts Council new executive director, Springfield Contemporary Theatre opens "The Woman in Black," Taste of Tlaquepaque, a Square Dance at Mother's Brewing Co. and more!
  • Buster Clifton Davis and his new single "Ol' Dad", spooky movies, sneak peak at Springfield Contemporary Theatre's upcoming opening, Ozzie Awards nominees Rocky Horror Picture Show at the High Tide Theatrical, a John Prine tribute with Dallas Jones at Tie & Timber Beer Co., and music from The Sideburns and ShapeEater and a whole lot more as we move into Fall!
  • The Johnny Mullins Collections Vol. 2 released by Melinda Mullins and the Layton Hollow Gals, First Friday Artwalk, Springfield Jazz Festival, Randy Bacon exhibition "Finding Hope"
  • Sculpture Walk Springfield unveils the new Spidertag Interactive Neon Mural, Papa Green Shoes Returns, Folk music from Carolina Mendoza, SGF Culture Fest, Haha Tonka headlines Highlonesome Music Fest, poetry by Rex Ybanez.
  • The High Lonesome Music Festival at Dockley Ranch, Classic Film Series at the Moxie Cinema, David Carr and the Ozarks Film Foundry, MSU Symphony host a sensory-friendly concert, Cider Days, music by Justin Larkin, Joanne Taylor Shaw, Rhonda Vincent and the debut of the KSMU singers for Pledge Week!
  • A new local novel, Springfield Little Theatre kicks off the 90th season, a bike and music festival, and music by The Cleverys, Jenna English and Seth Darby.
  • First Friday Art Walk, Brandon Moore, Japanese Fall Festival, Ozarks Lyric Opera, KSMU turns 50, HERmonious Festival celebrating female musicians and benefiting Women in Need
  • Comedy from Chad Harris, Sculpture Walk's new Spidertag Interactive Neon Mural, Bad Art by Good People and more!