Get current news, updates, and info about shows on our Facebook page

Prairie Crossroads Blues Society

Champaign-Urbana IL

Blues Happenings

Celebrate 4/20!
Kilborn Alley Blues Band 19th Anniversary Show
3:00 - 6:00 pm Saturday April 20
The Iron Post
120 S. Race St., Urbana

Wow! Has it been 19 years since Kilborn Alley played their 1st show, April 29, 2000 at the old Neil Street Pub? These "kids" have been playing their own brand of gritty Chicago blues throughout the world. Trips to Holland, Germany, Norway and the UK. They've played all over the United States even getting up to Alaska. We are lucky to have one of the world's premier blues bands, Kilborn Alley, playing right in our backyard.

If you've been to any of the KABB Anniversary Celebration shows in the past, you know they like to bring some of their friends to town and make the party even more fun! This time their good friends in the Corey Dennison Band are coming down from Chicago to add to the celebration. Corey and Gerry Hundt and the boys will be at The Iron Post and kick things up a bit. This is a show not to be missed.

kilbornalley.com

Candy Foster & Shades of Blue
7:00 - 10:00 pm Saturday April 20
The Pink Pig
Ogden

Candy Foster and his band keep the fun going on Saturday. The Pink Pig in Ogden has been hosting bands on Saturdays, and lately has been featuring some great local blues bands. Great food, plenty of beverages and some excellent, Soul and R&B music.

Kathy Harden
Lynda's Happy Birthday/Moving to California Party
6:30 - 9:30 pm Saturday April 20
The Clark Bar
207 W. Clark St., Champaign

Kathy Harden says, "Lynda's turning 70 & moving to California!! OMG!!! We are gonna party up & down & all around at The Clark Bar!! Better get there early for a seat & some dinner!! I'm providing music with the likes of Tommy Grassman & Davey Cooper, along with an array of surprise guests!!!!! We're gonna show Lynda some BIG LOVE... "

Facebook Event

---

---

---

PCBS Blues Jams!
Pipa's Pub, 604 S. Country Fair Dr., Champaign
2nd Sunday of each month, 4:00 - 7:00 pm
4th Wednesday of each month, 7:00 - 10:00 pm

Prairie Crossroads Blues Society holds two jams each month. The 2nd Sunday of each month from 4:00 to 7:00 pm and the 4th Wednesday of each month from 7:00 to 10:00 pm. Both jams are held at Pipa's Pub, 604 S. Country Fair Dr., Champaign.

The host band typically plays the first set, then we open it up to all the jammers in the house. Bring your instrument and plan on sitting in!

• Grand Ambassador host the PCBS jam - Wednesday April 24
• The Blues Deacons host the PCBS jam - Sunday May 12
• The Midtown Blues Band hosts the PCBS jam - Sunday June 9
• Skylar Rogers & The Blue Diamonds hosts the PCBS jam - Sunday October 13

Wow! What a Jam! Hope you were able to catch the Jam at Pipa's on Sunday Nov. 11. One of the best Blues vocalists of his generation, Michael Ledbetter (Nick Moss Band, Welch-Ledbetter Connection) hosted. Besides that his friend, ace guitarist Dany Franchi, a young Italian player came along. Add in Andrew "Blaze" Thomas from Bloomington to play drums and Nick Fane on bass. Simply amazing!

Hey, we had two special jams as part of the Blues Fest Weekend. The Painkillers hosted the Happy Hour Blues Jam, Friday August 10, at Bunny's in Urbana from 4:30 to 8:30. On Sunday August 12, Robert Kimbrough Sr. brought his Cotton Patch Soul Blues to Pipa's Pub and hosted the jam from 4:00 to 7:00. Those were both great jams, hope you had a chance to participate.

Grab your instrument and join in the fun!

Google map to Pipa's Pub, 604 S. Country Fair Dr. Champaign.

Prairie Crossroads Blues Society is happy to help revive the tradition of a blues jam in the C-U area!

---

PCBS Monthly Meeting/Juke Joint Show
5:30 pm Thursday May 9
Po' Boys, 202 East University Ave., Urbana
Kilborn Alley plays 6:30 - 9:30

We combined our monthly meetings with the Kilborn Alley Juke Joint shows at Po' Boys! It's a chance to enjoy some delicious Po' Boys food, some beverages from local craft brewer's Triptych Brewing with great blues music and lively conversation. The joint's been packed with blues fans, friends and family enjoying the party atmosphere!

We're always open to suggestions about our monthly blues jams and are looking for folks to get more involved with our Blues In The Schools program. Consider becoming a PCBS Member and help us reach out to other blues lovers in our communities.

---

Blues Dancing every Monday
BluesCentral hosts Lessons and Dancing
6:00 Free Lessons
7:00 - 9:00 Free Dancing
Guido's, 2 E. Main St. Champaign

BluesCENTRAL Dancers sponsor lessons & dances, 6:00 pm every Monday night. NOTE: New Location Lessons and Dances are taking place at Guido's for the next couple months due to construction at the original location.

NOTE: New Location Lessons and Dances are taking place at Guido's for the next couple months due to construction at the original location.

Don't know how to dance to the blues? Don't worry! Beginner lessons at 6:00 pm will get you started. Or just come socialize with us and enjoy Cowboy Monkey's great selection of beers and wines.

Don't have a partner to dance with? No problem! We are friendly and love to dance with everyone!

Check out the BluesCENTRAL Dancers Facebook Page

---

---

---

---

---

R.I.P. Abraham Johnson
12/29/1945 - 11/27/2018

Wow! What a Celebration - Thanks to Everyone!

You can still donate to the Abraham Johnson Memorial Fund
at the Kilborn Alley website

Thanks to our friends at WEFT 90.1 FM
and UPTV (Urbana Public TV)
here's a Youtube video of
Abraham Johnson on WEFT Sessions
featuring Kilborn Alley Blues Band

---

Membership

Want to become part of the growing community of Blues lovers in the Champaign-Urbana and East Central Illinois area? Sign up to become a member of Prairie Crossroads Blues Society. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organized to Preserve, Promote and Educate about the Blues.

Since we were formed in 2010 we've been supporting local blues artists share their music with a wider audience. We consistently look to bring new blues artists to our area so fans get a chance to see the huge amount of talent touring on a regional and national basis. We also have a strong BITS - Blues In The Schools program.

Whether you enjoy our jams and shows, or support our efforts to teach youngsters the history and basics of blues music, now is the right time to become a PCBS Member

Membership Options:
Student = $10 per year
Individual = $20 per year
Family = $25 per year
Band = $50 per year
Corporate = $100 per year

For Family, Band and Corporate memberships, we'll contact you for the names of additional members or you can send us that information via email: pcbsmembership@gmail.com.

Please select your type of Membership

Student $10.00 Individual $20.00 Family $25.00 Band $50.00 Corporate $100.00

Name on membership

---

Champaign Unit 4 Schools - Instrument Drive
The Music Shoppe, 27 E. Marketview Drive
Fri. Feb. 1, 10 - 6 & Sat. Feb. 2, 10 - 3
Give a child the chance to play music

 

Bring any used instrument to The Music Shoppe and Champaign Schools will provide it to a student in need.

 

Donations are tax deductible and need not be in working order, they'll evaluate for repair if necessary.

 

Contact Angi Franklin (217) 351-3800 ext. 1289

 

---

Blues In The Schools

Check out the awesome Thank You notes from the South Side Elementary School students after the PCBS Spring 2015 BITS program. Thank You Page

Visit our Education Page for details about many of the educational programs PCBS has put on. If you'd like PCBS to conduct a Blues In The Schools program at your school contact us at: prairiecrossroadsblues@gmail.com.