WTVP is Proud to Present Heartland Sound…Staged – the Roundstone Buskers
Airs Thanksgiving Night – Thursday, Nov. 22nd – from
8-9 p.m. on WTVP-HD.
Thanksgiving night will bring an exciting new show your way! The program, hosted by renowned storyteller Brian
“Fox” Ellis, features the Celtic sound of the popular Roundstone Buskers, and is the pilot for a new series
entitled Heartland Sound…Staged. The proposed series, the brainchild of producers Paul Kluber,
Robin & Tony Crowe and Ellis, will feature unique sounds in unique settings around the Midwest.
The opening program is dynamic and beautifully photographed. “We filmed the pilot episode at
sunset on top of the Peoria Heights Water Tower. This allowed three distinctive lights, including full sun,
sunset’s golden hues and a starry, starry night,” said Kluber. “We had ten cameras with a helicopter doing a
fly by to film the crowd, tower, band and the surrounding river bluffs and valley!”
The Roundstone Buskers, originally formed in 2001 by long-time friends Tom Jones, Bruce Burton
and Shannan Sullivan, have played many major Irish Festivals and venues around the country. Irish music has a
strong fan bases in central Illinois, and the group is “a traditional Irish band with a rockin’ folk kick,”
according to Robin Crowe.
Many local, talented, people came together to create this show. They were recruited from theatre
and concert staging, studio and live audio recording, corporate, industrial, commercial and live TV expertise.
The show, directed by WTVP Senior Producer Todd Pilon, utilized all those skills to produce this episode of
Heartland Sound...Staged. "Normally working with just one or two of the crew, within our normal
day to day jobs, we'd never get the opportunity to all work together on one interesting show like this," said Kluber.
The show will air Thanksgiving Night – Thursday, Nov. 22 – from 8-9 p.m.
