Arts News January 9, 2026

By Jimmy Rea,

Jessica Balisle

Published January 9, 2026 at 11:00 AM CST

Part two of our feature on the African Children’s Choir as its tour stops in the Ozarks, Drury University’s new a cappella group Pulse releases its first single and video, The Music Man arrives at Hammons Hall, the Tiny Desk Contest opens, poetry in the Ozarks, and we hear music from J@llen and the SPS All-District Honor Choir.

January 9 - Level Up at MoonTown Sound

January 9 - Barak Hill at Cellar + Plate

January 10 - Red Light Runner at Southbound

January 10 - Cinema Saturday: The Garfield Movie at Strafford Branch Library

January 11 - African Children's Choir at Fairview Christian Church, Carthage, MO.

January 11 - Marbin at The Regency Live

January 12 - 14 - Meredith Willson's 'THE MUSIC MAN'

Arts News

Jimmy Rea

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.<br/>

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Jessica Balisle

Jessica Gray Balisle, a Springfield native, grew up listening to KSMU. When she's not wrangling operations and compliance issues, she co-hosts live music show Studio Live and produces arts and culture stories. Jessica plays bass in local band the Hook Knives. She and her husband Todd live with their two cats, Ellie and Jean-Ralphio, and way too many house plants.

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