The Sentinel: WEFTOPIA benefit concert Sunday aims to raise $45K for C-U community radio station

WEFTOPIA benefit concert Sunday aims to raise $45K for C-U community radio station

Seventeen acts will perform at Rose Bowl Tavern Sunday to help fund 43-year-old radio station after critical transmitting equipment repairs.

Benefit concert to be held at Urbana's Rose Bowl

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Starting at 2pm on Sunday, 17 acts - from jazz to blues and little rap - will take part in a benefit show to help raise money for WEFT.

URBANA - On Sunday, June 22nd, local music fans will have plenty to tune into as The Rose Bowl Tavern will host WEFTOPIA, a special benefit concert for WEFT, a local community radio station at 90.1 on the FM dial. The event aims to raise funds to offset major repairs that have cost over $45,000, necessary to restore the station's broadcasting power to 100%.

The benefit concert will feature 17 local musicians and bands performing mini-sets 15 to 35 minutes long, showcasing a diverse range of music genres. The lineup includes the Painkillers Blues Band, known for their mix of Chicago, Southern, and swing blues, and ZENtheRapper, aka Donté Winslow, who crafts unique narratives through his alternative hip-hop sounds.

For WEFT, the event represents more than just a fundraiser, it’s a reflection of the station’s mission to connect community through the power of voice and music.

Other notable performances include the Hot Club of Urbana jazz combo, who will take the stage at 7:25 PM, and Rory Book & The Volumes, closing out the night at 9 PM. The full lineup includes Roseli, Kevin Elliott, Flapjaques, TV Blues Band, Tessa Turner, DJ Froztbyte, The K-Tels, Paul Kotheimer, 94 Cove, Broadmoor Quartet, Jules Rose, Curb Service, and gravefruit.

Donations accepted at the Rose Bowl on Sunday will go directly towards the repair expenses. Fans can also make donations online at weft.org/support or through PayPal.

WEFT, a non-commercial radio station locally owned by Prairie Air, Incorporated, has been serving the diverse communities of East Central Illinois and worldwide since 1981. The benefit concert is a testament to the community's support for the station and its mission to provide an accessible, responsible, and responsive radio alternative.

Here is Sunday's lineup: