What do Kid Rock, Fall Out Boy, Wilco, Japanese Breakfast, Beach Bunny and The Smashing Pumpkins have in common? They’ve all played at The Canopy Club in Urbana.

Events Director Kate Turk said it’s important for The Canopy Club to defend its title of “Best Live Music Venue” in Champaign-Urbana — an honor it has held since 2017.

She said she appreciates the venue’s ability to host a diverse range of performers, parties and other events.

“We’re not just a country venue, and we’re not just a rock venue or an EDM venue,” Turk said. “We’ve got something different going on every night. I love that. As a music lover, it’s great. You don’t get sick of what you do because you’re doing something different every night, which is great.”

Director of Marketing Ian Strasser agreed with Turk, adding that he appreciates the venue’s smaller, more intimate setting.

“When you’re here, you’re 50 feet away from this band or DJ that’s on stage playing their heart out,” Strasser said. “Even if it’s a sold-out show in here, there’s always a level of intimacy that is really unique that you don’t get in all venues.”

He added that the venue unites concertgoers and creates community.

“There’s a really special feeling when you’re in a room with everyone who has a shared interest in the person onstage performing versus a bunch of people looking in all directions in a bar,” Strasser said. “It’s not as cohesive, it’s just kind of all over the place. But here, it’s a shared experience.”

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