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Prairie Crossroads Blues Society

Champaign-Urbana IL

Blues Happenings

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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!

• Ray-Band host the PCBS jam - Wednesday March 27
• Sapphire Blues Band host the PCBS jam - Sunday April 14
• 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

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!

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BluesCENTRAL SnowMELT Weekend
March 29 - 31, 2019
various Urbana & Champaign locations
Instructor - Chris Dove
music provided by Susan Williams Band & Kevin King Quartet

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.

  

• SnowMELT Weekend
• Friday March 29
• 50/50 Blues/Swing Social Dance with Kevin King Quartet -Urbana Dance Company


• Saturday March 30
• Early Dance with Susan Williams Band (Dinner available for purchase) - Neil Street Blues
• Main Dance - Channing Murray


• Sunday March 31
• Workshops with Instructor Chris Dove - TBA
• Farewell Potluck Brunch and Practice Dance - TBA

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PCBS Monthly Meeting/Juke Joint Show
5:30 pm Thursday April 18
Po' Boys, 202 East University Ave., Urbana
Kilborn Alley plays 6:30 - 9:30

NOTE: Kilborn Alley is in Europe during the 2nd week of April, so PCBS, Kilborn and Po' Boys are moving the meeting/juke joint show to the 3rd Thursday!

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.

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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

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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

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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

 

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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.