Joy and Brandon began working together in a local rock band and have since joined forces to create Feel Free – a high energy acoustic duo playing rock and pop covers to please every crowd.

The Nightcaps are a new vocal/guitar quartet featuring three prominent C-U female vocalists. All four members are veterans of the C-U music scene and perform vocal-centric rock, pop, blues, and jazz.

A mainstay in Champaign-Urbana’s music scene for nearly two decades, the Tons ‘O’ Fun Band fills the stage with nine talented and experienced musicians and a signature four-piece horn section. The Tons ‘O’ Fun Band’s three vocalists will deliver a wide variety of classics remembered and loved by young and old alike.

Reigning 2018 and 2019 Herald & Review Reader’s Choice Best Local Band, and voted the 2019 Tops in The 217 Best Local Band by Illini Radio Group, Wrestless Whiskey is one of Illinois’ hottest bands. They entertain with classic and modern country rock hits and focus on interaction with their fans in the crowd.

Performing a mix of original compositions and classics from American icons like Louis Jordan and T-Bone Walker, Bruiser & The Virtues deliver an energizing sound to get everyone dancing, and can slow it down with slow blues and smooth ballads.

Hailing from Chicago, The Guilty Aces deliver energetic swing that’s as if someone took 50’s Rock ‘n Roll and plugged it into Dave Grohl’s guitar amp.

Since 1980, Captain Rat & The Blind Rivets has performed their humorous, satirical, high energy show around the nation while playing popular American music from the era of the Monkees, Elvis, Turtles, and the Ventures.

The Community Center for Arts’ Bow-dascious String Band consists of children ages 6 through 18 who perform popular music from around the world on violin, viola, cello, bass, guitar, mandolin, banjo, and other stringed instruments.

The Banks Bridgewater Lewis Fine Arts Academy Jazz Ensemble and Drumline offers local middle school and high school students opportunities to perform great jazz in both big band and combo ensembles. These student music ensembles come together to provide a delightful array of traditional fiddle and jazz music standards to highlight the tremendous artistic talent and diversity of our communities’ youth and their teachers.

A zany musical duo who sing a variety of selections from America’s popular songbook to portray an imaginary train excursion across the country. Their songs introduce the audience to the individuals they meet and silly stories they tell about their travels through such melodies as My Sweethear is a Mule and Hard Tranvlin’.

Bali Lantari perform a variety of traditional and newly composed music selections for the gamelan ensemble. The group is accompanied by colorful Balinese dancers. Their performances always bring the dazzling sights and sounds of Balinese culture to our Urbana-Champaign community.

One of Urbana-Champaign’s newest professional music ensembles featuring Congolese rumba melodies that blend gospel, jazz, and African rhythms into a unique sonic experience. The ensemble’s songs of Africa will be sung in their native language of Lingala as well as English, French, Kikongo, Swahili, and Tshiluba.

The Traditional Jazz Orchestra plays hot swinging music from the early 20th century when jazz was young created by the band leaders. Their performances are a great way to start or end the weekend. The Traditional Jazz Orchestra will introduce the three exceptional high school marching bands that will follow them.

Urbana-Champaign’s three outstanding high school marching bands return to the 2019 Sweetcorn Festival to perform another exciting series of music selections from their three new field shows that they have been working on this summer. Their performance is guaranteed to highlight the exceptional artistic talent these young musicians and their directors bring to our wonderful community. The three bands will come together for a finale performance of Tom Wallace’s arrangement of Margarett Cobb and Bruce Channel’s “Hey Baby”.

Urbana-Champaign’s three outstanding high school marching bands return to the 2019 Sweetcorn Festival to perform another exciting series of music selections from their three new field shows that they have been working on this summer. Their performance is guaranteed to highlight the exceptional artistic talent these young musicians and their directors bring to our wonderful community. The three bands will come together for a finale performance of Tom Wallace’s arrangement of Margarett Cobb and Bruce Channel’s “Hey Baby”.

Urbana-Champaign’s three outstanding high school marching bands return to the 2019 Sweetcorn Festival to perform another exciting series of music selections from their three new field shows that they have been working on this summer. Their performance is guaranteed to highlight the exceptional artistic talent these young musicians and their directors bring to our wonderful community. The three bands will come together for a finale performance of Tom Wallace’s arrangement of Margarett Cobb and Bruce Channel’s “Hey Baby”.

Paul Kotheimer is a songwriter, activist, recording artist, and performer of DiY/acoustic, indie rock, and political folk music, performing since the late 1980’s, based in Urbana, Illinois. He is also the founder of DiY/folk & acoustic recording company, the hand-made record label (www.handmaderecords.com). Paul’s songs are characterized by intricate, poetically expressive lyrics. Many of his political folk songs adapt melodies traditional to American folk and protest music, adding new lyrics. Along with a repertoire of witty and insightful originals, Paul performs classic treasures such as Lydia the Tattooed Lady, made famous by Groucho Marx.

Emily Anne is a local musician (guitar, piano, accordion) and singer/songwriter. She sings with the voice of an angel but the grit of a country girl. Her wide variety of folk originals and country covers will rouse even the most ardent of critics for a boot-stompin’ drinking song or a hear-breaking country waltz. For this performance, Emily will be joined by multi-instrumentalist Cody Jensen.

Jordan Kaye and the Jordanaires – led by Jordan Kaye, this band offers up a variety of folk music, country songs, jazz standards, western swing and more. He’s immersed himself into the Nashville music scene and his guitar playing continues to evolve. Fronting the Prairie Dogs for many years, Jordan also performed with the traditional jazz band Medicare 7, 8 or 9. He knows hundreds of jokes, thousands of songs and twice as many guitar chords.

Chachi and the Bandidos – fronted by Marten “Chachi” Stromberg and featuring Everett Elam on guitar, this band plays country classics and b-sides, RnB hits and deep cuts, soul and rock n’ roll; everything from Willie Nelson to Chuck Berry to Marvin Gaye.

Led by Billy Galt (guitar/vocals), the band also includes Andy Burnett on drums and Beau “Blind Dog” Renshaw on bass. Together, these three veterans form a tight blues machine while retaining a raw, soulful edge. With a huge catalog of material including originals, lesser-known covers, well-known classics and modern blues hits, the Deacons serve up a live show that is soulful, bluesy, and a lot of fun.

As a part of the final Downtown Get Down, DJ Silkee will be spinning all your favorites to dance to with the whole family!

Get down to the soulful hip-hop, R&B, and 90s goodness of New Souls!

Congolese musicians Jean Rene Balekita and Bomoyi sing in English, French, Lingala, Kikongo and Tshiluba. Their music is tinged with Gospel and Jazz, all played with solid and infectious African rhythms.

Local country music stalwarts, the Caleb Cook Band is dedicated to providing a good time through the preservation of Classic Country, Roots and Old Time music. Studying the music of the greats such as Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and Buck Owens, the Caleb Cook Band draws inspiration while composing music in the same timeless style.