Prairie Crossroads Blues Society

Champaign-Urbana IL

Blues Happenings

[Groove Avenue Blues Jam Poster]

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!

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 today, Michael Ledbetter (Nick Moss Band, Monster Mike Welch & Mike Ledbetter) 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!

[Kilborn Alley promo]

PCBS Monthly Meeting/Juke Joint Show
5:30 pm Thursday February 14
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.

Congratulations to local IBC Winners

Torrey Casey & South Side Hustle
Winners of the ICBC (Illinois Central Blues Club)
2018 IBC Band Challenge

Robert "Lefty Preacher" Sampson
winner of the IBC Solo/Duo Challenge for this area
hosted by the Decatur Blues Society

The Jenkins Brothers (Alex & Benny)
winners of the IBC Solo/Duo Challenge
hosted by the Windy City Blues Society
at the Inaugural Windy CIty Blues Fest

Visit the Blues Foundation's website for all the International Blues Challenge information

Good Luck in Memphis at the Blues Foundation's
International Blues Challenge, January 22 - 26

The Blues Foundation announced the Nominees for the 40th Blues Music Awards
to be held in May 2019 in Memphis, TN
Here's a link to the Nominees.

Tbe Blues Foundation held the
2018 Blues Music Awards Thursday May 10 in Memphis, TN
here's a link to Winners


Donate to Prairie Crossroads Blues Society
to support all of our programs,
2019 Blues Fest, BITS, IBC Band Challenge


You can donate any amount to PCBS
using this Paypal Donation Button

You can earmark your donations specifically for our Education programs. It's a great way to help us achieve our mission of educating about the blues and be a part of bringing up the next generation of blues musicians and fans.

Your tax deductable donation to our Education Fund helps to keep these programs alive

This PayPal link will direct your donation in any amount directly to our educational efforts, including our "Blues In The Schools" (BITS) program.


You can become a PCBS Member or renew your Mempbership online at our Membership page. There's even an option to sign up for multiple years.

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

[Abraham Johnson Celebration of Life]

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

[BluesCentral Monday Dance Poster]

Blues Dancing every Monday
BluesCentral hosts Lessons and Dancing
6:00 Free Lessons
7:00 - 9:00 Free Dancing
Cowboy Monkey, 6 Taylor St. Champaign

BluesCENTRAL Dancers sponsor lessons & dances, 6:00 pm every Monday night. Free Beginner Lessons at 6:00, and Free Social Dancing 7:00 to 9:00

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

[Prairie Crossroads Blues Society Jack Davis Logo]

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
Name on membership

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.

You can now earmark your donations specifically for our Education programs. It's a great way to help us achieve our mission of educating about the blues and be a part of bringing up the next generation of blues musicians and fans.

Your tax deductable donation to our Education Fund helps to keep these programs alive

This PayPal link will direct your donation in any amount directly to our educational efforts, including our "Blues In The Schools" (BITS) program.


CU Folk & Roots Winter Weekend
February 14 - 16, 2019
Three Great Nights, Two Great Venues

Thursday and Friday at The Iron Post
Saturday at The Rose Bowl
artists include: T'Monde, Chikadee Sermon
Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle, Hobnob String Band
Timbalu, Hot Club of Urbana

The 2019 CU Folk & Roots Fest will be held on October 24 - 26
folkandroots.org

Blues Fest is Back, Baby!


Prairie Crossroads Blues Fest
Saturday August 11, 2:00 - 10:00 PM
Champaign County Fairgrounds
Rain or Shine!
Food trucks, beverages, 8 hours of great Blues Music!
Check out our Blues Fest page

Wow! How much Fun was that?
Check back soon, we plan to have announcements
about the 2019 Fest by the end of January

The Blues Blast Music Awards
were recently held in Rockford Illinois

Congratulations to all the Winners

Jimmy Johnson and Sugar Pie De Santo
were honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards

R.I.P.

Jody Williams
2/3/1935 - 12/1/2018

Eddie C. Campbell
5/6/1939 - 11/20/2018

Otis Rush
4/29/1935 - 9/29/2018

Lazy Lester
(born Leslie Carswell Johnson)
6/20/1933 - 8/22/2018

Matt "Guitar" Murphy
(born Matthew Tyler Murphy)
12/29/1929 - 6/15/2018

Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater
(born Edward Harrington)
1/10/1935 - 6/1/2018

Deborah Coleman
10/03/1956 - 4/12/2018

Blues Hall of Famer
Eddie Shaw
3/20/1937 - 1/29/2018

Denise LaSalle
(born as Ora Denise Allen)
7/16/1939 - 1/8/2018