Explore Champaign-Urbana on Friday Night

Live Music

The Prairie Ensemble: A Post-Summer Potpourri

7:00pm - 12:00am

Venue: Faith United Methodist Church, Address: 1719 S. Prospect Ave. , Champaign, Cost: $16 Adult, $13 Senior, $6 Student/Child

Since its first concert in 1996, The Prairie Ensemble has laid out its mission to make first-rate music fun, approachable, and affordable for everyone. This concert will feature works by Kodaly, Haydn, Sibelius, and Shostakovich.

Greg Baker and His Neon Neighbors

8:00pm - 11:00pm

Venue: Huber's West End Store , Address: 1312 W. Church St. , Champaign, Cost: Free, Entry Age: 19, Rock

Ben Bedford

9:00pm - 12:00am

Venue: The Embassy Tavern & Grill, Address: 114 S. Race St. , Urbana, Cost: Free, Entry Age: 18, Blues

The Show

10:00pm - 12:00am

Venue: Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center, Address: 202 S. Broadway Ave. , Urbana, Cost: Free, Entry Age: all

“The Show is a 2 hour live radio program broadcast on WRFU-LP, Urbana 104.5 FM every Friday @ 10 PM. Each Friday, scholars converge to discuss important political and social topics. Along with some of the best local artists performing live sets.To be a guest in the audience or request to appear The Show, please contact wrfu [at] insightbb [dot] com. Check out these links on youtube to see what it is like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lAflH1zsI8 he Show is a 2 hour live radio program broadcast on WRF”

On the Tube

1^st Presidential Debate

8:00pm - 10:00pm

Hosted by Jim Lehrer, the first debate between Barack Obama and John McCain will be broadcast from the University of Mississippi. The debate will be divided into eight 10-minute segments on foreign policy and national security. You will not experience Champaign-Urbana by watching this debate.

On the Stage

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago

7:30pm - 12:00am

Venue: Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

Address: 500 S. Goodwin Ave. , Urbana, Cost: Flex: 38 / SC 33 / Stu 23 / UI & Yth 18 Single: 40 / SC 35 / Stu 25 / UI & Yth 20, Entry Age: all

“Jim Vincent, artistic director Exuberant, athletic, and eclectic, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago celebrates 30 years as one of the most innovative forces in contemporary dance. Hubbard Street’s versatile artists blend classical grace, whimsy, romance, and high-voltage virtuosity, exhilarating audiences internationally. Strokes through the Tail by Marguerite Donlon sets this evening’s tone. Intrigued by Mozart’s style of musical notation, Donlon has crafted a tightly knit piece celebrating the composer’s ingenious wit in Symphony No. 40. Also featured are the clever full-company Minus 16—by Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin and accompanied by Dean Martin, cha-cha, mambo, techno, and traditional Israeli music—and a new work by Hubbard Street dancer Alejandro Cerrudo, who has debuted on the choreographic scene with uncommon works of “great delicacy, invention, subtlety, and charm.”

7:30pm - 12:00am

Venue: Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Address: 500 S. Goodwin Ave. , Urbana, Cost: Flex: 14 / SC & Stu 13 / UI & Yth 8 Single: 15 / SC & Stu 14 / UI & Yth 9

“By Lisa Kron This tale of a young woman trying to understand her own “wellness” quickly disintegrates into comic chaos. Solo performance artist Lisa Kron reflects on her Midwestern coming-of-age in the racially tense 1960s as she explores health and illness in the individual. In Well, what appears to be a one-person show evolves into an ensemble effort, and in doing so the play and the players in this community reveal even more about what it means to be “well.” For more information, visit: s35973.gridserver.com/”

For more choices on live bands, DJ’s or karaoke, please visit the217.com