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Prairie Crossroads Blues Society

Champaign-Urbana IL

Blues Happenings

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Pre-Fest Party at Bunny's

Prairie Crossroads Blues Fest Weekend
Bunny's Tavern, 119 W. Water St. Urbana
Friday, August 9, 4:30 to 11:00
Painkillers Blues Band hosts a jam, 4:30 - 7:30
Sapphire Blues Band plays 8:00 - 11:00

Kick your Blues Fest Weekend off with a happy hour jam and a show at Bunny's Taverrn, hidden away in downtown Urbana. Returning after last year's hugely popular jam at Bunny's the Painkillers Blues Band host a jam from 4:30 to 7:30 on Friday August 9. Bring your instrument and sit in on the jam. We hear some Fest performers will be in town early to join in on the fun.

Stick and stay as local favorites Sapphire keep the fun going with plenty of your favorite tunes. They play Blues, Blues Rock, Classic Rock and even a few Country tunes. Check out Sapphire on Facebook

 

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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!

• Jack Whittle & The Disclaimers hosts the PCBS jam - Sunday July 14
• Videos and pics of Jack Whittle hosting September 9, 2018
• Doc Shredd & The HeartStrings hosts the PCBS jam - Wednesday July 24
• Lucious Spiller hosts the PCBS jam - Sunday August 11
• Robert Kimbrough Sr.?? hosts the PCBS jam - Sunday September 8
• Skylar Rogers & The Blue Diamonds hosts the PCBS jam - Sunday October 13
• The Blues Deacons host the PCBS jam - Sunday November 10

Thanks to our friend and PCBS member Mike Feldman for these excellent videos of some of our recent jams PCBS Blues Jams.

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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Candy Foster's
Fine Arts Scholarship Fundraiser
12:00 - 3:00 pm Sunday August 11
Bunny's Tavern, 119 W. Water St., Urbana

 

Candy Foster has been performing classic rhythm and blues throughout the Midwest for 50 years and is known as one of the hardest working blues singers in the area. Now he's giving back!

 

Food, Refreshnebts, Prizes
& GREAT MUSIC
for a GREAT CAUSE

 

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2019 Guitar Raffle

Congratulations to Kelsey Hays! Thanks to everyone who bought raffle tickets in our autographed guitar raffle. We picked the winning ticket at the Kilborn Alley Blues Fest Fundraiser at The Iron Post the evening of July 13. It was a Yamaha F325 acoustic guitar. All the proceeds go to help us put on the 2019 Prairie Crossroads Blues Fest. This guitar was autographed at the 2010 Blues Brews & BBQ Fest held in Urbana. Fluid Events graciously donated this guitar to PCBS to help us restart an annual Blues Fest in our area.

• autographs include:
• Eddie Taylor Jr.
• Cedric Burnside
• Lightnin' Malcolm
• Big Bill Morganfield
• Bernard Allison
• Eddie Vaan Shaw
• Wayne Baker Brooks

Eddie Taylor Jr. was the brother of Demetria Taylor, one of our Fest Headliners. Sadly Eddie passed away earlier this year.

The winner was at The Iron Post and was excited to be able to take the guitar home with her.

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PCBS Monthly Meeting/Juke Joint Show
5:30 pm Thursday August 15
Po' Boys, 202 East University Ave., Urbana
Kilborn Alley plays 6:30 - 9:30

Note: We're coordinating our meetings with Po' Boys and Kilborn Alley and will hold our August meeting on the 3rd Thursday of the month.

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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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

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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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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.