Prairie Crossroads Blues Society

09/03/2026

No matter where you live in East-Central Illinois, there's great Blues music to find this LABOR DAY WEEKEND!

EDIT: Peoria Blues and Heritage Music Festival has been cancelled.

Rhythm & Blues in the Park (Decatur Central Park)
https://share.google/oB7UxrawxbVHxWUj6

Bacon & Blues (The Railyard in Springfield)
https://share.google/rsNqNlf6WTwRfXmT9

Peoria Blues and Heritage Music Festival
https://share.google/2QukiZ9scjponhjSI

James Jones Trio
Rose Bowl Tavern, Friday September 4, 8 to 11 pm

Billy Galt
Huber's, Friday September 4, 7 to 10 pm

Susan Williams and The Wright Groove
The Corner Lounge in Catlin, Friday, September 4th, 8 to 11 pm

Andrew Duncanson & Take A Ride ft. Michael Peloquin
Rose Bowl Tavern, Monday, September 7 at 2:00 pm

Big Mo and The Phat Groove
Huber's, Saturday September 5, 7 to 10 pm

08/23/2026

Check out this amazing harp solo by Mark Hummel at about 1:30! He and his band were featured last week at the Rose Bowl Tavern. You can always find their full schedule at https://rosebowltavern.com/ -container

(video by David Adcock)

08/20/2026

TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT! Come on out to the Rose Bowl Tavern from 8:00-10:00 for amazing music from Mark Hummel and his world renowned band!

Mark Hummel Allstars live at the Rose Bowl Tavern Thursday, August 20th Tickets $20 ADV | $25 at the door 7:30pm doors 8:00pm show Tickets--> https://www.eventb

08/19/2026

Downtown Urbana is on a Roll for hosting LOTS of especially great music lately. Of course, the Prairie Crossroads Blues Fest featured 5 great Blues bands on August 7-8 in the Bunny’s parking lot. Also, some great shows at the Rose Bowl recently have included Larry and Joe, and Big Sandy and the Fly-Rite Boys.

And the great music around town continues on this Thursday, August 20 when the great Mark Hummel and his very talented band return to the Rose Bowl at 8:00 p.m. for a CD Release party
for his new CD: “Road Dog”. Hummel is an internationally acclaimed, and Grammy-nominated harmonica player playing out of the San Francisco Bay area.

Mark has toured and recorded with LOTS of Blues legends, and has appeared on over 30 recordings since 1985. He has been with Electro Fi Records since 2000, releasing five CDs. His
current tour also features band members Billy Flynn, Rodrigo Mantovani and Patrick Seals.

Here are a few recent comments about Mark’s work:

“Mark Hummel is a Harmonica Virtuoso. He is one of a handful of the Best Players ever on the Instrument”. – Blues Revue Magazine

Hummel plays the harmonica with the fat, full sound that made Little Walter sound almost like a saxophonist rather than a harp man". -Chicago Sun-Times

Enjoy this recent video of Mark playing some great Chicago Blues:
https://youtube.com/shorts/7w9fo-gyty0?si=8RkfyINk6Tz43TwF

Don’t miss this great show on August 20 at 7:00 at the Rose Bowl, downtown Urbana!

08/13/2026

PCBS held our monthly meeting at Po' Boys Restaurant and discussed our recent Bluesfest. We also made plans for more events this fall while Kenny Odum provided the fine entertainment! We hope to see you at our next meeting on September 10th.

08/09/2026

On behalf of Prairie Crossroads Blues Society, THANK YOU to everyone who came to the 8th Annual Prairie Crossroads Blues Fest! We hope you enjoyed the music, and loved the chance to meet and talk with you. We also want to thank this year's sponsors who helped make our event possible, as well as all the local restaurants and businesses who contributed raffle prizes. Special mention goes out to our great sound crew for all of their hard work. And finally, a huge THANKS goes out to our host and all the staff at Bunny's for allowing us the use of their parking lot!

We think the smile on the winner of our guitar prize drawing says it all, and look forward to seeing you again soon!

First Federal Savings Bank of Champaign-Urbana Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District Minuteman Press Champaign-Urbana Corson Music Old Orchard Lanes and Links Casa Del Mar Po' Boys Restaurant Big Grove Tavern Black Dog Smoke & Ale House Monical's Pizza Peoria Charter Coach

08/09/2026

08/09/2026

Thanks to Zack Widup for the great photos of these good times and great musicians!

The Painkillers Blues Band Candy Foster and Shades of Blue Bubble City Playboys Andrew Duncanson & Take A Ride ft. Michael Peloquin Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials

08/08/2026

Come join the fun while you can still find a place to sit! It’s a beautiful night to get you some Blues…
8th Annual Prairie Crossroads Blues Fest

08/08/2026

Day two of our FREE 8th Annual Prairie Crossroads Blues Fest hits ALL the right notes beginning with the Bubble City Playboys at 4:00, Andrew Duncanson & Take A Ride ft. Michael Peloquin at 6:00, and our headliner Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials at 8:30. There's truly something for every kind of Blues fan today at Bunny's Tavern! You'll also have the chance to win one of many raffle prizes, plus a Fender Squire Sonic Stratocastor and a 50/50 drawing. Don't forget your lawn chair and see you soon! (Donations appreciated)