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:

  • 2:00 - 2:15 Roseli
  • 2:20 - 2:35 Kevin Elliott
  • 2:40 - 2:55 Flapjaques
  • 3:15 - 3:40 TV Blues Band
  • 4:00 - 4:25 Painkillers Blues Band
  • 4:30 - 4:45 Tessa Turner
  • 4:50 - 5:05 DJ Froztbyte
  • 5:10 - 5:35 The K-Tels
  • 5:40 - 5:55 Paul Kotheimer
  • 6:00 - 6:15. 94 Cove
  • 6:20 - 6:45 Broadmoor Quartet
  • 6:50 - 7:05 Jules Rose
  • 7:10 - 7:25 Curb Service
  • 7:25 - 8:00 Hot Club of Urbana
  • 8:00 - 8:25. Zen The Rapper
  • 8:30 - 8:55 Gravefruit
  • 9:00 - 9:30 Rory Book & The Volumes



CATsNAP benefit raises money to address cat overpopulation and pet healthcare

Elena Negruta and Ingrid Kammin
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
URBANA - Vocalists Elena Negruta and Ingrid Kammin preform a classical piece at the The CATsNAP Benefit Concert on Sunday afternoon at the Rose Bowl Tavern. The three-hour fundraiser also featured performances from the Church Street Ramblers, the Peter Tijerina Quintet, and Tania Arazi Coambs Trio. CATsNAP is a local cat shelter whose mission is to reduce pet overpopulation and improve the welfare of animals in Champaign County. The organization offers referrals for a low income spay/neuter service, assists with pet adoptions, and provides educational material to help pet owners care for their furry family members.

Vibrant Urbana soprano set to preform in April

URBANA -- Earlier this week, vocal soloist Elena Negruta revealed dates for three upcoming appearances in Urbana. A seasoned performer, Negruta was born in the Republic of Moldova. At the age of 14, she won first place at the Golden Stork International Youth Talent Festival in Nikolayev located in the now war-torn country of Ukraine.

Soloist Elena Negruta
Photo by Clark Brooks
After immigrating to the United States, she transitioned to classical music and completed her Masters in Vocal Performance at the University of Illinois School of Music. Negruta is known for her ability to captivating renditions and versatile repertoire in baroque, musical theatre, and modern opera.

The soloist's first performance in April will be at Cello Festival 2022. Hosted by Urbana's First United Methodist Church, she will perform this Saturday, April 2, at 3:30pm.

Two weeks later, Negruta returns to the stage at Smith Memorial Hall on the University of Illinois campus as a featured vocal soloist at a Doctoral recital with music director, vocal coach, and pianist Cheryl Forest Morganson. The concert starts at 7:30p and admission is free to the public on April 18.

The last of the three appearances slated for this month is a benefit concert for Ukraine on April 26 in the south lobby of the Music Building at 114 West Nevada in Urbana. The event starts at 7pm.

Below, in a video released in December 2020, the soprano sings Youkali, a piece from the musical "Marie Galante" written by German-American composer Kurt Weill.




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