Upcoming Cultural Events at UC-IMC

JAN. 22ND—IMC SHOWS PRESENTS: BEAT
KITCHEN
@ UC-IMC, Saturday, Jan. 22nd, Start Time: 9:00PM
Adm. $5
Beat Kitchen is Champaign-Urbana’s premiere
funk/soul/reggae band, known for it’s intriguing repertoire
of classics that, in the words of front man Brandon T.
Washington, “you may have heard before, but you’ve
never heard it quite like this.” Formed in 2001 by Michael
McLoughlin and Brad Decker, the BK has evolved into a
nine-piece professionally-minded band, dedicated to preserving
and promoting the true sound of funk, soul, reggae,
rock, and hip-hop of yesterday and today. Their energizing
shows include music from the Meters, Toots and the
Maytals, Grant Green, The Dap-Kings, Radiohead, The
Roots, the arrangements of Mark Ronson, and more.
Check out Beat Kitchen’s Music at: www.myspace.com/
beatkitchenfunk
JAN. 29TH—INSURGENT THEATRE: ULYSSES’
CREWMEN
@ UC-IMC, January 29th, Start Time: 7:30PM
Admission: $5 Donation
A militant dissenter abuses her hostage from the US delegation
while faintly aware of the audience surrounding her. This
claustrophobic scene creates a space for radical introspection,
defiant theatre and tactical conversations. With only a few
props, two actors, one of who is bound and gagged, and a
serious commitment to DIY politics, Insurgent Theatre refutes
ancient dogmas found in Homer’s Odyssey and examines the
psychosexual underpinnings of empire and rebellion.
Written by Ben Turk
Starring Kate Pleuss and Ben Turk
Music by Mark Enslin will combine a shredded avant
flamenco guitar piece, Church Committee testimony with
toys & percussion, and a wall of idiosyncratic keyboard…
ON TOUR SINCE SEPT 09 Insurgent Theatre has
staged over 30 performances of Ulysses’ Crewmen in various
theatres, bars, infoshops, and other non-traditional
spaces accross the US, including a performance in Pittsburgh
during the G20 summit protests on Oct 24th.
For more information please check out: http://insurgenttheatre.
org/
JAN. 30TH—IMC SHOWS PRESENTS: BRUISER
AND THE VIRTUES DANCE EVENT
@ UC-IMC, Saturday, January 30, 2010
7pm—Swing Dance Lesson,
8pm—Bruiser and the Virtues
Adm: $5
A chance to cut a rug, and learn some swing dance moves.
There will be an hour long swing dance lesson, and then
Bruiser and the Virtues will get you movin to the beat.
Tunes range from
the rockin’ jumpblues
of T-Bone
Walker, to Booker T
and the MGs, to
Bruiser originals.
One of the true
gems of the regional
music scene.
“Bruiser and The Virtues: The jazzier side of Bruce
“Bruiser” Rummenie… wonderfully concocted songs in
the way of classic dance band tunes; a hot saxophone,
piano, upright bass, drums, and Bruiser on a big fat electric
archtop guitar. This band is precious and awesome.”—
OpeningBands.com 2005
Bruiser and the Virtues dare you to join their rhythm
train before it pulls out of the station for the trip uptown.
The musicality of the band is unquestionable and impressive.
Bruiser’s vocals pour over the tracks like smooth
whisky over ice. Kudos to the rhythm section for bop
extraordinaire, while the horns burn, keyboardist Neal
Robinson comps, swings, and makes the ol’ 88s beg for
mercy. “A gas.”—Cody Sokolowski, The Octopus, 2001
In 2004, The Virtues won the Illinois Central Blues
Society Challenge and went on to compete in the International
Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN, performing at B. B
King’s Nightclub on Beale St. in February, 2005.
Check out Bruiser and the Virtues here:
http://www.myspace.com/bruiserrummenie
CU FOLK AND ROOTS FESTIVAL COMES
IN FEBRUARY
The UC-IMC along with Heartland Galleries of Urbana
announce a spring concert series. The series will feature two
former Prairie Home Companion performers and an up and
coming band. All concerts will be at the IMC 202 South
Broadway in Urbana.
On Saturday February 27th Claudia Schmidt will be
performing and doing a vocal workshop. The vocal workshop
taking place from 2-4 pm will teach people how to
harmonize and enjoy singing, the performance will begin
at 8 pm. One critic has described a Claudia Schmidt concert
as “….a lot like falling in love. You never know what’s
going to happen next, but chances are it’s going to be wonderful,
every moment is burned into your memory, and
you know you’ll never be the same again.” She is wellknown
to public radio listeners during her regular stints
on “A Prairie Home Companion” in its early incarnation.
Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. The workshop
will be $20 and a combination workshop and concert ticket
is $25. Advance tickets will be available at Heartland
Galleries, the IMC, and by calling 493-4654. www.claudiaschmidt.
com
On Saturday March 13th Bill Staines will be performing.
The show starts at 8 pm. Singing mostly his own
songs, Bill has become one of the most popular singers on
the folk music circuit today and averages around 200 concert
dates a year. Mr. Staines weaves a magical blend of wit
and gentle humor into his performances, and as one
reviewer wrote, “he has a sense of timing to match the best
stand-up comic.” His music is a slice of Americana, reflecting
with the same ease, his feelings about the prairie people
of the Midwest or the adventurers of the Yukon. Bill
has performed on Prairie Home Companion and Mountain
Stage, both on NPR. Tickets are $10 advance and $15 at
the door. Advance tickets available at Heartland Galleries,
the IMC, and by calling 493-4654.
www.acousticmusic.com/staines/index.htm
On Wednesday May 19th one of the real up and coming
Bluegrass/Americana Bands in the country will visit the
IMC. Red Molly recently featured in Dirty Linen Magazine
and scheduled to perform at Merle Fest this year, will
grace the stage at the IMC. Red Molly consistently brings
concert-goers to their feet with stunning three-part harmonies,
crisp musicianship and a warm, engaging stage
presence. They have earned a devoted and ever-widening
fan base, and have begun to tour nationally. Laurie MacAllister,
Abbie Gardner and Carolann Solebello have a lot of
fun on stage, and it’s contagious. The Boston Globe says:
“Everything Red Molly sings is delivered with tick-tight
arrangements, crystalline vocals, and caramel harmonies.
But what is most striking is the ardor they bring to everything
they do, whether snuggling into the sweet parochialism
of an old spiritual, or the gritty pathos of a Gillian
Welch tune. They come on less like stars strutting for their
minions than pals sharing their favorite songs. In the
friendly world of the coffeehouse, that remains a star-making
quality.” Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the
door. Advance tickets will be available at Heartland Galleries,
the IMC, and by calling 493-4654.
www.redmolly.com/