Krannert Events
KRANNERT CENTER AND FOX/ATKINS PRESENT
OUTSIDE AT THE RESEARCH PARK 2012
July 13 and August 3 at 6:30pm
FREE
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts once again joins forces with Fox/Atkins Development, LLC, for a two-show series of summer concerts at the U of I Research Park. Both concerts are free and open to the public. OUTSIDE at the Research Park plays upon a simple concept: great music, fresh food, a green state of mind, and an open, relaxed environment. The performance space and seating area are located just south of the building at the corner of First Street and St. Mary’s Road in Champaign. The tree-lined, grassy space has hosted thousands of audience members each summer since the inception of OUTSIDE in 2007.
Headliners for the 2012 series will be the Brazilian-rooted, Deep South funk masters Nation Beat on July 13 and bluegrass rockers The Giving Tree Band on August 3.
Come Together
Krannert Center’s senior associate director Rebecca McBride emphasizes that the OUTSIDE at the Research Park series is an important celebration of “our richly diverse community and the many individuals and businesses who are committed to sustainable practices that further enhance the quality of life in Central Illinois.” The 2012 OUTSIDE series will continue to demonstrate Krannert Center’s commitment to reduce waste, decrease energy consumption, and provide environmentally friendly services to patrons. McBride notes that “the Center’s ongoing green initiatives have been furthered at OUTSIDE, where we’ll again offer biodegradable containers and utensils, easy-to-access recycling bins, even more bike racks for those arriving on two wheels, and marketing materials printed on recycled paper.”
The second performance on Friday, August 3, is a great opportunity for the entire region to rev up for the forthcoming 2012-13 season at Krannert Center; tickets for these events go on sale Saturday, August 11, at 10am. The August 3 event will also feature a green fair that will invite sustainability-minded local businesses and organizations to take advantage of free exhibit space to share information about their green efforts. Interested parties can contact Lisa Lillig at 217/244-6298 or lillig@illinois.edu for more information.
Performances
Friday, July 13, 2012, at 6:30pm, free
Nation Beat with opening act the Bow-Dacious String Band
Immerse in secondline and maracatu, a little zydeco and forró, plus funk and Brazilian country as Nation Beat gets the party started OUTSIDE for 2012. Calling it “Americana music from both Americas,” bandleader Scott Kettner traces the group’s distinctive sound—honed through years of collaboration on stage and in the studio—to its origins in northeastern Brazil and the Deep South of the United States. Kettner with captivating singer Liliana Araujo host this open-air party swirling with Mardi Gras and Carnival melodies.
Founded in 2003 and led by Robin Kearton, the Bow-Dacious String Band collects kids as young as seven through 20-somethings with spunk and skill for improvised music, popular tunes, and traditional pieces. This joyful bunch devoted to cooperation has elated crowds at the Boneyard Arts Festival and the Taste of Champaign.
Friday, August 3, 2012, at 6:30pm, free
Green Fair: Featuring a Bike Rodeo sponsored by Safer Routes to School with support from The Bike Project of Urbana-Champaign at 6pm
The Giving Tree Band with opening act Mo’ Betta Music
Country folk and driving bluegrass spin out from The Giving Tree Band, whose dense harmonies and rock spirit evoke the enduring magic of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and the Beatles. Eric and Todd Fink—the songwriting powerhouse brothers on guitar and banjo—pen narratives that unfurl with joy and charm. Dubbed “the greenest band in the land” by Mother Earth News, this group performs on instruments made from reclaimed and naturally fallen wood, has produced recordings fueled by solar energy and packaged with recycled and biodegradable materials, and helps maintain its carbon-neutral footprint with bike commutes.
Starting at 6pm, you can browse the Green Fair for products and resources for sustainable practices, and bring your youngsters to the Bike Rodeo sponsored by Safer Routes to School with support from The Bike Project of Urbana-Champaign for tips on bike handling and safety.
At 6:30pm, grab a spot in front of the stage for tunes from Mo’ Betta Music. Grade school and high school students from the community perform, gain skills on instruments from the clarinet to the electric guitar, and become more involved socially and academically through this program sponsored by the Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center at the University of Illinois.
Location, Parking, and Services
These concerts will be held just southwest of Assembly Hall on First Street in the Research Park. Free parking is available in the lot south of the Caterpillar/SAIC Building at 1901 South First Street.
All performances are free and open to the general public.
Beverages, wine, and food are available from Houlihan’s Restaurant in the concession area locatedat the northwest corner of the Caterpillar/SAIC Building.
Restrooms are available inside the Caterpillar/SAIC Building at 1901 South First Street.
Presented by Krannert Center in association with Fox/Atkins Development, LLC, and the University of Illinois
Corporate Sponsors:
Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon
Illinois Natural History Survey/Prairie Research Institute
Community Partner:
The Bike Project of Urbana-Champaign
Additional Information
Visit www.KrannertCenter.com or call 217/333-6280 or 800/KCPATIX (527-2849).
Patrons who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, or speech-impaired may also contact Krannert Center via TTY at 217/333-9714
