Press Release from Krannert Center

KRANNERT CENTER AND FOX/ATKINS PRESENT
OUTSIDE AT THE RESEARCH PARK
July 11 and 25, August 8 at 7:30pm


Krannert Center for the Performing Arts again joins forces with Fox/Atkins Development LLC for a three-show series of summer concerts at the U of I Research Park. All three concerts are free and open to the public. OUTSIDE at the Research Park is a joint project that 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 hosted thousands of audience members during the inaugural 2007 series, which featured Funkadesi, Patty Larkin, and The Greencards. The 2008 series will welcome Rosie Ledet and The Zydeco Playboys (July 11), global fusion artists Bandoleros (July 25), and bluegrass rockers the South Austin Jug Band (August 8).


Come Together
Laura Frerichs of Fox/Atkins Development remarks that the concert series is a wonderful opportunity to share the amenities of the Research Park with the greater community and also provides a diverse cultural outlet for those who work within the facilities. Professionals and entrepreneurs in the technology community are innovators and appreciate the arts as another outlet for creativity.

Krannert Center director Mike Ross calls Fox/Atkins Development, which has been a longtime sponsor of the Center, “a valued partner” who “understands the importance of collaborative enterprises across community sectors.” Ross adds that the Center is “pleased to be continuing this relationship by providing programming and marketing support in order to share the communal experience of live, outdoor music with others.”


Krannert Center’s senior associate director Rebecca McBride notes that an important facet of the OUTSIDE at the Research Park series is to “celebrate the unique and rich community in which we live and to bring attention to the amazing people and organizations that collectively make Central Illinois such a special place." The 2008 OUTSIDE series will introduce a new initiative in which attention is focused on a community service group. This year, the Eastern Illinois Foodbank will receive proceeds from the sales of eco-friendly, 100% recycled cotton bags. Krannert Center’s commitment to community can also be seen in its ongoing efforts to reduce waste, decrease energy consumption, and provide environmentally friendly services to patrons. McBride observes that “these vital initiatives have been furthered at OUTSIDE, where we’ll again offer biodegradable containers and utensils, easy-to-access recycling bins, and marketing materials printed on recycled paper.”





Performances

Friday, July 11 at 7:30pm
Rosie Ledet and The Zydeco Playboys
This Church Point, Louisiana, native is the real deal when it comes to the southern Louisiana tradition of zydeco music, but she’s not afraid to throw in a good dose of R&B and a dash of country to mix with her soulfully husky voice and her impressive accordion chops. Ledet’s warm stage presence and infectious Creole-tinged beats have earned her one of the few female spots on the crawfish circuit, and along with that spot have come many accolades, including those from Offbeat Magazine’s “Best of the Best,” as Best Zydeco Performer, Best New Zydeco Performer, and Best Vocalist.
Opening act John Hoeffler begins at 6:30pm



Friday, July 25 at 7:30pm
Bandoleros
So you think you’re not a dancer? When the Bandoleros open up their trove of flamenco rhythms, Middle Eastern melodies, and Latin fire, you’ll want to change your ways and let the music sweep you up into the night air. The quartet has opened for such diverse greats as Tito Puente and Liquid Soul and claims their own divergent roots in Assyria, Venezuela, Cuba, Ecuador, and Russia. Though at times you’ll swear you’re hearing the Gipsy Kings (the Kings’ Patchai is a frequent collaborator), Bandoleros offer up a not-so-subtle blend of cultural influences as they perform in a sextet of languages that evoke warm nights, lively cafes, far-flung destinations, and the allure of an evening spent under the stars.
Opening act Brandon T. Washington begins at 6:30pm



Friday, August 8 at 7:30pm
South Austin Jug Band
The South Austin Jug Band has a sound that melds finger-picking bluegrass with a bit of rock bass, some driving electric guitar, the occasional surprise of digital looping—and no jug player. The dueling fiddles on sweet melancholy ballads like “Come to Me” season saucier instrumentals like “Po’ Boys in the Glovebox,” and you’re sure to love the upbeat covers from diverse artists like Beck, from whom the band’s gleaned the title for its latest release, Strange Invitation.
Opening act Kayla Brown begins at 6:30pm



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 concerts begin at 7:30pm (headline band) with a 6:30pm start time for the opening acts and all performances are free.

Beverages, wine, and food are available from the Biaggi’s Restaurant concession located at the northwest corner of the Caterpillar/SAIC Building.

Restrooms are available inside the Caterpillar/SAIC Building at 1901 South First Street.


Sponsors
Presented by Krannert Center, in association with Fox/Atkins Development LLC, the University of Illinois Research Park, and the Illinois Natural History Survey.


Additional Information
Visit 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.