Park District books the best of the best for Champaign’s Streetfest

In the mood for an outdoor, downtown venue featuring a stellar line-up of local bands? For relaxed ambiance and diversity of entertainment, be sure to stop-by Champaign Park District’s third and final Downtown Streetfest Saturday, August 9. From 7 p.m. until midnight, the intersection of Neil and Main streets will be filled with the voices and sounds of four of CU’s best musical talents: Tall Tale, Krukid, Elsinore, and Headlights.
Katie Flint, Event Manager of Streetfest, said she hopes the show will celebrate and accentuate the revitalized downtown scene, as well as appeal to a diverse audience, including those who don’t frequent the club or concert scene, but love coming to outdoor, family-friendly events. This Saturday’s plans should be simple — grab your family and friends, and mosey on down to your favorite Champaign restaurant or bar. Then enjoy an unparalleled exhibition of the local music scene.
In the wake of the release of their latest album Pirate Ship, the so-called “indie pop princesses” of Tall Tale will commence the Streetfest with melodies old and new. Featuring front-women who compare their music to “the way you felt the first time you saw Peter Pan,” Tall Tale guarantees concertgoers a fun time.
At 8:15, the musical gears will shift from indie-pop to hip-hop, as Ugandan “MC” Krukid takes the stage. A two-time winner at WPGU’s Local Music Awards for “Best Hip Hop Artist,” Edwin “Krukid” Ruyonga has broken onto the local scene with a vengeance. Krukid’s impressive resume includes opening for such celebrated acts as The Roots, Lupe Fiasco, and AfroMan.
With a full-length album coming out this fall, the third regionally-acclaimed act of the night, Elsinore, should be anxious to perform back at home. Self-described as a “band in transition,” Ryan Groff and his gang will have arrived back from West Coast touring just in time for Champaign’s Streetfest
Last, but certainly not least, the nationally recognized CU natives of Headlights will take the stage. Having had much to celebrate upon the spring release of their sophomore album, Some Racing, Some Stopping, as well as the band’s June tour with charming husband-wife duo Mates of State, the indie-popsters of Headlights should be ready and raring to go.
With such a great lineup, the Downtown Streetfest should be the perfect excuse to spend another summer night downtown before the students return and the University revs up campus for another school year.

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