This past weekend, the Rose Bowl Tavern hosted the CU Folk and Roots Winter Weekend: a two-day, no-cover event showcasing local performers from the Champaign-Urbana community. From blues and Cajun-inspired sounds to mariachi music, the event offered a rich cultural experience for those eager and willing to listen.
The Folk and Roots Festival was founded 17 years ago as a nonprofit organization run by volunteers to give back to the eclectic C-U music community.
The festival occurs every October and features a variety of events, including musical performances, workshops and a storytelling hour. These events are hosted by venues across C-U, some ticketed and some free to the public.
Carrie Chandler, director of the Folk and Roots Festival, describes Winter Weekend as a way to get their name back out there and build anticipation for the festival, as it also marks the announcement of the upcoming festival dates.
This weekend included a performance by the Turino Family Band, a local father-son duo who are no strangers to the Rose Bowl Tavern or the festival. Matt Turino — bringing fiddle, guitar and vocals to the band — credits the diversity of musicians and perspectives for their consistent involvement in the festival.
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“I think what the festival can do is it brings new ideas, new aesthetics, new ways of doing things that our local scene can build on,” Turino said. “And so both for the musicians in town, I think it kind of bolsters ideas and possibilities that are there. And then for people hearing it, I think it kind of gives them a wider palette than what we have available on the daily.”
Turino also notes the intimacy of the space as an integral part of the listening experience. With the Rose Bowl Tavern being a notable music venue in downtown Urbana, locals know it for its ability to connect musicians to the audience.
“I love all the interactive aspects … this just kind of feels like home to me, since I grew up in it,” Turino said.
Despite the festival being the main attraction, the organization provides many opportunities for the community.
“As a nonprofit, it’s important to us that we’re continuing our mission of giving back to the music community,” Chandler said. “We do programming at the Urbana Free Library, and we do programming at Crystal Lake Park every Friday in the summer.”
At its core, the festival expresses love for the folk genre and those involved in the scene. Chandler emphasizes the passion and work done by volunteers that make the event what it is.
“It’s a bunch of people that put their heads together to plan this really awesome event that’s very community-based and very diversity-based as well,” Chandler said.
JP Goguen, a member of the steering committee, described the rewarding work of volunteering and getting others from the community involved.
“People kind of see how much work it takes, but also how down people are to do it because it’s fun and it supports the arts, and it brings a lot of activity to the community,” Goguen said. “I think when you are volunteering, you’re kind of also inspiring other people and getting a lot of appreciation.”
