Tag: music

A man plays the clarinet at an outdoor performance. Two other musicians play instruments alongside him.

WILL Call: What’s Happening in Central Illinois Sep. 11 – Sep. 14

Opening night of one play and auditions for another at the Station Theatre, a jazz walk, an arts festival, and more are happening in Central Illinois this week.

BERTHA rocks ELLNORA guitar festival with ‘Grateful Drag’

In 2020, Melody Walker and her friend Caitlin Doyle decided they wanted to form an all-female Grateful Dead cover band. After a few male friends expressed interest in taking part in the group, they allowed it — as long as they dressed like women.

People line the streets of a town with lawnmowers and brooms for a celebration.

WILL Call: What’s Happening in Central Illinois Sep. 4 – Sep. 7

ELLNORA Guitar Festival, a night market, a broomcorn festival, and more are happening in Central Illinois this week.

People gather around a large block of cheese as it is sliced

WILL Call: What’s Happening in Central Illinois Aug. 28 – Aug. 31

A sweetcorn festival, a popcorn festival, a blues festival, a cheese festival, and more are happening in Central Illinois this week.

People on tractors and golf carts in a field.

WILL Call: What’s Happening in Central Illinois Aug. 21 – Aug. 27

An audition workshop, the premier working vintage farm show in the U.S., one of the biggest garage sales across CU, music and sweet corn festivals, and more are happening in Central Illinois this week.

Funk, flow and freedom: How the legacy of Black music continues

From gospel to house, jazz to rhythm and blues, Black music has helped shape the foundation of American music, but where did it all start?

A group of musicians singing and performing with instruments.

Five Cities Baroque Festival returns to Central Illinois for its third year

The Five Cities Baroque Festival kicks off this weekend across Central Illinois, celebrating the western classical music of the 17th and 18th centuries.

The Beat returns to downtown Champaign

The Beat kicks off this Saturday at 8pm in downtown Champaign.

Three men pose next to text reading "The Fray is Back."

Making a comeback: The Fray’s guitarist discusses band’s music and current tour

The Fray is performing at the Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater this weekend as part of its 2025 tour.

‘Celebrating Africa’ event highlights North African and Arab belonging at the University of Illinois

Attendees of the “Celebrating Africa” event on on April 25 were transported to Africa with Zimbabwean music, dances and the aromas of authentic dishes like Senegalese jollof, Egyptian koshari, Ethiopian injera, Moroccan mint tea, and South African specialties. Each plate told a story of migration and shared history.