song + story

Events known as Song + Story, are a music series where we invite local and touring acts to perform and share the inspiration behind their work. 

Song + Story: 

What It Is and Why It Matters

Song + Story is a live, listening-room music series designed to bring original songs, the stories behind them, and the artists who write them into closer connection with audiences in the Illinois Valley. Built around a multi-act bill, each event creates space for local, regional, and touring songwriters to share not only finished performances, but also the personal experiences, creative choices, and community ties that shape their work.

The idea grew out of the creative community surrounding Here and Again, Inc., the nonprofit founded by Ottawa, Illinois resident Katie Troccoli to support community-enriching creative projects. Its first project, community radio station WRWO 94.5 FM, helped establish Wallace Hall as a gathering place for musicians even before the station officially launched. Monthly songwriter nights there gave artists a place to test new material, revisit older songs, exchange feedback, and build relationships with other writers.

Song + Story later took shape through conversations among Illinois Valley and Chicago-area songwriters who had met through open mics, songwriter circles, and local performances. What emerged was a simple but meaningful format: an affordable, donation-based show in a focused listening environment, featuring artists whose work is rooted in strong songwriting and genuine connection.

For artists, Song + Story offers more than another gig. It gives songwriters a respectful room where audiences are invited to listen closely, learn the context behind the music, and discover performers they may not otherwise encounter. The series also helps artists build bridges across communities, share bills with peers from different places, develop new listeners, and preserve high-quality recordings of select songs through multi-camera taping.

For the community, Song + Story brings fresh original music into a local setting at a price people can afford. For songwriters, it creates visibility, documentation, collaboration, and a sense of belonging—supporting artists not only as performers, but as storytellers, neighbors, and contributors to the creative life of the Illinois Valley.