Very Merry Marion: Bringing Christmas Magic to Southern Illinois

The Sound of Southern Illinois: Backline Five's Journey | Union Street Podcast

Union Street Podcast: Backline Five on “The Sound,” Southern Illinois Shows, and Upcoming SinglesThe Union Street Podcast features Backline Five members John Shadowins and lead singer Edwin Linson discussing their debut single “The Sound,” released June 5 and unexpectedly gaining more streams in Romania than the U.S. They describe Backline Five as a two-year-old five-piece built for big-stage entertainment rather than typical bar covers, blending rock and soul with some funk and country touches, and explain how the band formed, added members, and landed festival stages like the Du Quoin State Fair, Herron Fest, and Old King Cole. Edwin shares writing “The Sound” quickly from a chord progression, while John details learning to groove at 155+ BPM in the studio. They outline releases 30 days apart: “Circles” July 1, “Burnin’ Daylight” August 3, and “Here and Now” before Labor Day, plus plans to record more songs, a Union Street-themed EP, a community-driven music video, and show dates including Goreville Freedom Fest and Marion Elks July 4–5.00:00 Podcast Intro and Guests04:55 Single Release and Romania Buzz05:56 Who Is Backline Five07:17 Finding the Right Lineup12:36 Big Stages and Original Songs14:59 Defining the Bands Sound18:34 Crowd Favorites and Video Idea23:06 Writing and Recording The Sound29:21 Reactions and Release Strategy32:44 Dream Venues and Next Single36:05 Circles Origin and Studio Wins42:11 EP Rollout and Union Street Arts44:48 Rehearsal Space Perks45:22 Recording Where You Rehearse45:54 Stage Setup And Cues47:19 Scene Shoutouts Apocalypstick48:55 Rehearsal Strategy And Scheduling51:17 Crowd Reading And Set Flow52:13 Mashups Funk And Rock54:43 Band Chemistry And Gear56:43 Local Studio Value And Art01:00:01 Producer Ideas And Vocal Tag01:02:04 Favorites And Signature Closer01:03:47 What The Scene Needs Next01:06:38 Best Venues And Festivals01:11:27 Current Listening And Influences01:13:53 Dream Openers And Big Goals01:16:45 Next Step And Closing Promo

🎙️ UNION STREET PODCAST LIVE

Join us live from Union Street Arts as we talk about the new single, the recording process, behind-the-scenes stories from the studio, and spin the track live.📍 LIVE at Union Street Arts🎧 “The Sound” streaming now everywhere🎥 Podcast + live discussion tonight⚡ Produced & recorded at Union Street ArtsDrop your questions in the comments and tune in live! #Backline5 [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/backline5] #TheSound [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/thesound] #UnionStreetArts [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/unionstreetarts] #SouthernIllinoisMusic [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/southernillinoismusic] #PodcastLive [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/podcastlive]

Inside Project Human X: Artists Shine in Southern Illinois | Union Street Podcast

In a Facebook livestream from Project HumanX in Carbondale, Illinois, the host interviews artist Marquez Scoggin as supporters vote in the People’s Artist competition, where he moves between second and first place and ultimately finishes first to advance into the Top 20. Scooggin describes PHX’s six-plus years as a community art studio with guided classes and a glow-in-the-dark paint splatter space, plus support for local artists, art shows (including a Chicago showcase), and Language X jewelry and custom shirts. He explains the People’s Artist contest benefits ($25,000, LA exhibition, Art Forum feature) and how to vote daily. Scoggin shares his origin story, including his mother’s cancer inspiring Language X, a 12-color alphabet, and museum exhibition, then demonstrates live pouring-paint technique while discussing school events (300–500 students), upcoming Language X University sessions, Art in the Garden, and future studio plans.00:00 Going Live Setup00:24 Meet Marquez at PHX01:27 Studio Tour Overview02:35 Top 20 Countdown Push04:43 Supporting Local Artists06:23 Language X Jewelry08:07 Custom Shirts Showcase15:22 How Voting Works18:21 Community Support Story21:22 First Place Celebration25:58 What to Expect at PHX30:18 Art Forms Offered34:06 From First Class to Now39:55 Fortune Favors the Brave43:24 Bet on Yourself44:03 Believe Painting Saves PHX46:20 Community Shoutouts and Quotes48:23 Art in the Garden Preview52:23 Competition Next Steps56:46 From 80 to 500 Kids01:02:51 Language X Explained01:05:27 Origin Story and Alphabet01:15:04 First Words Love and Peace01:19:32 Museum Show Email Surprise01:21:54 Three Month Sprint01:23:01 Spray Paint Breakthrough01:24:14 Affirmation Circle Piece01:25:49 Museum Show Count01:26:48 Dream Museum Moment01:31:18 Why Museums Matter01:34:51 Live Art Setup01:36:16 Pour Painting Breakthrough01:37:23 Three Canvases Strategy01:43:25 Grid Lines Tutorial01:45:27 Studio Hours Invite01:49:21 Paint Border Tips01:53:40 Rapper Era and Healing01:57:12 Change Over Controversy02:00:31 Message Planning Collab02:01:59 Color Pouring Begins02:04:32 First Place Gratitude02:05:57 Picking Greens and Pieces02:06:35 Stream Timing Mixup02:10:01 Live Rap and Color Talk02:11:45 Color Psychology Explained02:14:42 Origin and Client Stories02:17:03 Memory Techniques for Words02:21:45 Studio Location and Community02:24:58 Language X University Launch02:28:45 Voting Battle and Supporters02:34:39 Art as Therapy02:38:08 Dreams Can Come True Piece02:40:44 Collabs and Future Plans02:45:52 Summer Events and Kids Art02:49:13 Local Shoutouts and Belief02:50:55 Shout Out 618 Create02:52:10 Defining Union Word02:53:43 Project Humanx Origin02:58:49 PHX Logo Explained03:03:03 Mural Vision Language X03:07:02 Union Street Colors03:12:32 Countdown To Results03:16:23 First Place Celebration03:17:40 Keep Voting Next Round03:24:29 Art Flow And Drying03:28:21 Final Thanks Sign OffUNION STREET ARTS: https://www.unionstreetarts.com/

The People's Artist: Marquez Scoggin

Marquez Scoggin on Project Human X, Language X, and the People’s Artist of America AwardLuke O'Neill interviews artist Marquez Scoggin about Project Human X (PHX), a community art center in Carbondale near SIU that evolved from paint parties into a multi-art “buffet” offering pottery, resin, stained glass, art shows, murals, paint-and-sips, and a glow-in-the-dark splatter paint room that draws visitors from out of state. Skaggs describes supporting local artists and teaching creativity as stress release, plus bringing PHX programs into schools, including projects with 300 and 500 students. He explains Language X, a constructed color-based language inspired by his mother’s pancreatic cancer journey and his love of words, beginning with the first word “love,” inspired by his daughter. He discusses his museum shows, a current closing reception, Language X University, and being selected for the People’s Artist of America competition (PeoplesArtist.org), encouraging voting and support.00:00 Welcome and Introductions00:51 How We Met01:41 Finding Project Human X02:19 PHX Mission and Classes05:11 Glow Splatter Room Story08:16 Showcasing Local Artists09:11 Language X Origins10:33 Mother’s Legacy and Words12:26 Constructed Language Breakthrough14:55 Reading a Color Passage16:38 First Word Love20:17 Seed of Life Symbolism23:47 Design Process and Museum Show25:31 Pour Painting Demo26:15 Neurographic Art Therapy27:06 People’s Artist Award31:35 How to Vote and Support32:27 Murals and Community Plans33:14 School Workshops at Scale35:01 Art vs AI for Kids37:06 Language That AI Can’t Read38:34 Collabs and Upcoming Events40:34 Show Closing and Dictionary43:11 Learn at Language X University44:11 Follow Your Heart Closing47:12 Final Thanks and Links

Laughs at Union Street: Comedy Comes Alive with Brice Evans and David Kirk

Laughs at Union Street: Brice Evans & David Kirk on Big Comedy Nights, Upcoming Shows, and the Little Egypt Comedy FestThe Union Street Arts Industry Podcast welcomes back local comedians Brice Evans and David Kirk to discuss a busy stretch for comedy in Marion, Illinois. They promote an upcoming Union Street Arts show on Friday, May 1 featuring Alex Raimondo (with credits including HBO, Showtime, Netflix, Comedy Central, and Hulu) and mention a Thursday show the night before with Fiona Cauley, who previously sold out Celebrations Event Center and has since appeared on Jimmy Fallon and performed at Madison Square Garden. They recap recent sold-out, two-show night with Casey Rocket at Celebrations and note his generosity, including donating money to St. Francis and giving $500 to Kirk’s son. Brice shares opening for Pauly Shore at the Civic Center and performing in Nashville at Zanies and Third Coast. They also announce plans for the first annual Little Egypt Comedy Fest, October 8–10, with Union Street as a featured venue and submissions and sponsorships available at littleegyptcomedyfest.com.00:00 Welcome Back Banter00:49 Five Timers And Merch01:29 Comedy Shows Preview02:39 Alex Raimundo Announcement05:20 Tickets And Links05:49 Fiona Cauley Update07:30 Casey Rocket Recap12:58 How Booking Happens14:47 Small World Connections15:08 Dusty Slay Hat Saga18:15 Local Comedy Momentum21:11 Marion Square Revival25:25 Little Egypt Comedy Fest27:19 Poster Reveal Sponsors28:28 Venues Lineup Teases29:12 Live Show Energy WrapUNION STREET ARTS: https://www.unionstreetarts.com/shop