Prairie Crossroads Blues Society

Champaign-Urbana IL

Blues Happenings

United Way of Danville Fundraiser
Saturday June 25

[Candy - United Way Fundraiser]

Masonic Temple - 115 W. North St. - Danville
Doors open at 5:30
Musi, Food & Fundraising
Blues Style

Facebook Event

Happy Birthday PCBS!

On May 23, 2010, the historic first meeting of the organization was held at Jupiters at the Crossing, with eleven members present. The mission of the society was framed in the following words: To educate, preserve, and promote the blues tradition in East Central Illinois

read - "The Prairie Crossroads Blues Society is Created"
by Sandy Hannum

The second meeting was held on June 22 at the Champaign Library. Volunteers stepped up to fill the following committee chairs: Membership, Sherry Cibelli; Marketing, Scott Harper; Entertainment, Dave Adcock; Newsletter Co-chairs, Dennis Wismer and Sandy Hannum:

Backstory
Local blues buffs Rich and Sherry Cibelli had been attending Memphis in May for many years. They enjoyed hanging around in the blues tent with fellow Illinoisan Bob Paleczny. All were members of The Blues Foundation, and were enthused about the work of the organization

and read - "The Backstory of the Prairie Crossroads Blues Society"
by Sandy Hannum

[Prairie Crossroads Blues Society Jack Davis Logo]

Renew your Membership

As we were formed in late May & early June of 2010 and signed up many new members at the Urbana Blues Brews & BBQ's that year, PCBS has switched and now all Memberships renew in June. It's time for most of you to renew your Memberships

Visit the PCBS Membership Sign Up Page to Sign up or renew your membership (there's even a way to sign up for multiple years)

Want to become part of the 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 strive to bring new blues artists to our area, many 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

PCBS Monthly Meeting
5:30 pm Thursday July 14, 2022
Po' Boys - Urbana

Now with music too - Blues Deacons play July 14th

Thanks to our friends at Po' Boys for supplying a great place for PCBS to hold our monthly meetings. Inside or outside, soccially distanced when necessary. Come out as we dive into serious planning of our Summer Blues Fest and other 2022 events.

As you're probably aware Po' Boys has some great food and cold beverages. Save room for desert, their pies are outstanding!

Thanks again to Kandra Miller for stepping into the PCBS Secretary position. We once again have Meeting Minutes uploaded on our web pages PCBS Meetings.

[Blues Jam]

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

No Cover - Donations Encouraged

Prairie Crossroads Blues Society holds 2 Jams each month the 2nd Sunday of each month from 4:00 to 7:00 pm, and 7:00 to 10:00 pm on the 4th Wednesday. 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!

Grab your instrument and sit in on the fun!

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

Pipa's Pub
604 S. Country Fair Dr.

[Pipa's March Calendar]

Music 3 days a week!
and a 2nd Sunday PCBS Blues Jam
New time for Wednesday shows
Now 5:00 to 8:00 pm

Prairie Crossroads Blues Society thanks Pipa's Pub for being an outstanding supportor of live local music

Congratulations to all the Performers

[2022 IBC Winners]

Congratulations to Decatur's
Charles Tiner
reprsenting Springfield's Illinois Central Blues Club
Charles made the Finals in the Solo/Duo Category !!

2022 Blues Hall of Fame Inductees
Lucille Bogan, Little Willie John, Johnnie Taylor
Otis Blackwell, Mary Katherine Aldin
Induction Ceremony - May 4, 2022

Congratulations to 2022 BMA Winners
Tommy Castro won 3 Awards
BMA Winners !!

Kilborn Alley Blues Band
NEW CD - "Takin' Time"

[Kilborn - County Line Motel - Iron Post]

Hey folks, Kilborn Alley released their new CD in April. Here's a link to one of the new tracks, County Line Motel on Youtube, it's available on most other platforms as well. This is a duet featuring Laquisha Burries!

Here's a treat for you! PCBS' Kandy Miller went to the IBC's in Memphis in January 2020. Read her review of a CD she purchased from a band she saw in the competition.

Johnny Wheels & The Swamp Donkeys "Live at Pyrate Llama"

Hurricane Ruth
PCBS 1st IBC Challenge Winner

[Hurricane Ruth Winner PCBS 1st IBC Challenge]

11 years ago - back in 2011

Prairie Crossroads Blues Society held our 1st IBC Challenge at Memphis On Main. Hurricane Ruth won and we sent the band down to Memphis to compete in the International event put on by the Blues Foundation.

R.I.P
David Kearney (Guitar Shorty)
9/8/34 - 4/20/22

[Guitar Shorty]

Alligator Record's Story

R.I.P Dave
you're sorely missed!!!!!

[Fauble on Soprano]

Our Blues family is hurting.
Dave Fauble, Long time Sax player
with the Kilborn Alley Blues Band
passed recently

Dave's News-Gazette Obit

RIP
Sam Lay
3/20/1935 - 1/29/2022

[Sam Lay]

What a drummer, Sam played with Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, James Cotton, Siegal-Schwall Band, Bob Dylan and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Sadly he died at age 86.

RIP
Jimmy Johnson
11/25/1928 - 1/31/2022
"Be Kind"

[Jimmy Johnson]

Josh Stimmel told me one time when I was fixin to leave the Urbana Blues Brews & BBQ Fest shortly before Jimmy played, "He's the best quitarist that will play here all weekend, Bob!"

RIP
Syl Johnson
7/1/1936 - 2/6/2022

[Syl Johnson]

Wow, Jimmy Johnson's younger brother Syl passed away just a few days after Jimmy. Born in Holly Springs MS he moved to Chicago in 1950 and lived next door to Magic Sam for a while.

RIP

We're sad to hear of the passing of Adrian Muex, one of the founders and leaders of the Blues Expressions. A Decatur based band, the Blues Expressions represented PCBS in the 2016 IBC Challenge in Memphis TN.

[Blues Expressions - 2016 IBC]

Adrian's family has created a Go Fund Me page to help with Adrian's funeral Expenses
Adrian Muex - Go Fund Me - Funeral Expenses

Our music community has lost a lot of talent and a lot of love over the last year. In 2020 we lost Alex Jenkins to COVID. In 2021 we've lost Jerry Lee Gingery, Kevin Flowers, Paul Wirth and Dr. Bob McIntyre.

the thoughts and prayers of PCBS go out to their friends & families. We've set up a special page to remember these wonderful musicians and their love of Blues