Willimantic arts, events, and civic energy.
State of the Art works like a lively community noticeboard with microphones on. Chris Beaudry moves between River Room updates, guest conversations, ticket details, street festivals, arts fundraisers, food ventures, and Willimantic civic life.
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State of the Art is local radio built around Willimantic's working arts and community calendar. Chris Beaudry moves quickly. He opens with the station, the weather, the people behind the board, and whatever is happening around town, then folds that practical setup into interviews with organizers, artists, civic leaders, and small-business people. The River Room is a steady presence, but the show keeps widening the frame. Recent episodes bring in Winter Blues Fest, the Third Thursday Street Festival, Thread City Hop Fest, America 250 events, the Know Your Farmer Fair, Crane's Wings Martial Arts, the Connecticut Blues Society, and Click Willimantic. That range gives the show its shape. Music is rarely just music here; it is also a fundraiser, a venue relationship, a ticket link, a volunteer effort, or a reason to get people onto Main Street. Food is treated the same way, whether the conversation turns to local oysters, food trucks, farm-to-table events, co-op stops, or kitchen support. The pacing can feel almost overstuffed, but that is part of the point. Names, dates, addresses, prices, websites, sponsors, and shout-outs pile up because the show is trying to make community activity usable, not abstract. Guests are asked about their projects, but also about how those projects fit into Willimantic's broader civic fabric. There is room for affectionate studio banter with J. Matt Ruppar, RJ, and Anthony, plus the occasional correction, digression, or live logistical check. The result feels less like a polished culture magazine and more like a trusted weekly dispatch from someone who knows the rooms, stages, fairs, kitchens, and committees involved. State of the Art is especially good at turning event logistics into a story about local momentum. It gives listeners the who, where, when, and why. It also keeps the tone generous. Even a ticket giveaway or venue plug is framed as part of a shared ecosystem of artists, nonprofits, farms, schools, businesses, and civic volunteers. The show works best for people who care about Willimantic and northeastern Connecticut, or for anyone interested in how a small arts scene actually keeps itself alive week by week.
Made for: For listeners who want a practical, warm guide to Willimantic-area concerts, fundraisers, food events, festivals, and community projects. It especially suits people who like local arts coverage with real names, real venues, and clear next steps.
What sets it apart: State of the Art blends guest interviews with a working community calendar, so the coverage feels useful as well as affectionate. Its strength is specificity: venues, ticket links, organizations, streets, fundraisers, and shout-outs all stay in the mix.
A discussion about local music, art, and theatre with the artists hosted by Chris Beaudry as well as discussions about upcoming events at the River Room
Based on 5 episodes we listened to · September 2026
Chris Beaudry connects Willimantic's concerts and blues events to the venues, fundraisers and community partnerships that make them happen.
State of the Art moves through Willimantic's cultural life with the easy bustle of local radio, as Chris Beaudry shifts between guest conversations, event notices and exchanges with the team behind the board.
This is the show that turns Willimantic's cultural calendar into your next actual plan.
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Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
A birthday show that treats venue upkeep and food-business support as part of the same community effort.
State of the Art keeps its focus moving between the River Room's one-year birthday and Click's work with local food businesses. Chris Beaudry introduces Catherine Stahlberg, who moves through member businesses, Veggie Stock, a farm-to-table event at Westford Hill, and the…
A local music hour built around concerts, memberships, and weekend plans.
Chris Beaudry's hour keeps its focus close to home, centering Patty Tuitt's work with the Connecticut Blue Society and the group's membership push.
A straightforward push for Winter Blues Fest 2026 and the free Third Thursday Street Festival programming it helps support.
State of the Art keeps its focus on Winter Blues Fest 2026 and the community effort around it. Chris Beaudry lays out why the fundraiser matters for Willimantic Third Thursday Street Festival, while the practical details stay front and center: the Willimantic Elks Club, the…
A Main Street dojo conversation that turns local radio into a neighborhood map.
State of the Art stays close to Main Street, where Chris Beaudry sits down with Dr. David Bellis, also known as Sensei Dave, the owner, proprietor, and master instructor at Crane's Wings Martial Arts.
Local radio becomes a community calendar, with music dates, service work, and behind-the-scenes chatter.
Chris Beaudry turns State of the Art into a live community bulletin, moving from Representative Susan Johnson to the new Willimantic Latino Lions Club and the local voices that keep the station in motion. J.
Chris Beaudry opens the show with the River Room's first birthday.
State of the Art opens on a warm afternoon with summer weather, strawberries from the co-op, and guests in the studio.
This episode features an interview with Beth Baral, president of Soroptimist International of Willimantic, discussing community service and women's empowerment initiatives.
This episode introduces community events in Willimantic and Wyndham, including festivals and fundraisers, with the host announcing his role as chairperson for Wyndham's America's 250th celebrations.
This episode features a discussion about the upcoming Know Your Farmer Fair in Willamantic, Connecticut, and highlights recent arts events and community initiatives.
Chris Beaudry opens the show with a lively push for the upcoming Winter Blues Fest 2026.
The host opens on a beautiful 72-degree day and brings Dr.
Host Chris Beaudry welcomes guests Jason Altieri and Bev York to discuss upcoming local events in Willimantic, Connecticut, while sharing community updates and weather-related banter.
This episode features an interview with Bev York discussing the America 250 celebration for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, focusing on local events in Wyndham and Willimantic.
Chris Beaudry opens the hour from WILI 95.3 FM in Willimantic with J.
This episode features a pre-taped interview with Sharmara Kapo and Roberto Nadar, coordinators for the Wyndham Multicultural Latin Multicultural, discussing local activities and weather in the area.
Chris Beaudry hosts an episode discussing local summer events in Woolimantic and surrounding areas, with a lighthearted opening about a colorful Simpsons-themed shirt and Hank Azaria's voice talents.
This episode features an interview with multi-talented local musician and educator Tyler Campbell, discussing his work and upcoming events.
Chris Beaudry hosts Jason Ryland on State of the Art to discuss his upcoming appearance at the Third Thursday Street Festival, featuring multiple bands and favorable weather.
Host Chris Beaudry introduces the radio show State of the Art, discusses listener engagement and potential syndication, and welcomes guest Kathleen Paterson, who is involved with Storrs Downtown concerts and is transitioning from her singing career.