How cool is Champaign-Urbana?

According to Art Chantry, very very cool. In fact after two days and two nights in Champaign-Urbana, he wasn't ready to leave. So if you're wondering what else Art Chantry did while he was in town (beside giving talks), check out this SmilePolitely food review.

eating dinner with art

so we picked up art & myrie at the airport tonight & headed to radio maire for dinner. wow. so many amazing stories and just not enough time.

i love it when you meet someone larger than life and they don't know it. he's so down to earth and funny to boot. then you sit him at a table with geoff merritt and they toss stories back and forth about the music industry like a cracked out volley ball game. i was happy to just be able to sit there and eat next to them, much less comfortably chat it up like we've all known each other for years.

if there's one thing you do this week... this month... this year, it should include something with art chantry, and there are plenty of opportunities over the next couple days for just that. designers, music lovers, screen printers, pop culture gurus... this is the place to be.

thank you parkland, renter, parasol, hawthorn & paul young for making this happen!

Parasol Records to host party in honor of Art Chantry

Breaking news! Geoff Merritt will be hosting a post-reception party at Parasol Records (303 W Griggs St, Urbana) in honor of Art Chantry. So far Angie Heaton, New Ruins and Beaujolais have agreed to perform. So come to meet Art Chantry at the opening reception at Parkland Art Gallery on Thursday, November 6 from 6 to 8pm. Then head over to Parasol right afterward for some good music and beer. The festivities start at 8:30pm and ends when it ends.

Michael Powers to perform at opening reception

Local drummer and percussion legend Michael Powers has just agreed to perform at Art Chantry's opening reception. A one-man wonder, Power's "Gig Man's Royal Blues Band" will make happy noises and merry rhythms all night long. Talk about a drummer who marches to his own beat, Power's high energy sounds will pump up this reception to another level. Don't miss the chance to meet Art Chantry in person at 7pm when he'll do his art gallery talk. Come early, stay late: the reception starts at 6pm and will go to 8pm. Food and beverages on us. For directions see www.artchantry.parkland.edu/where.html

what would you ask art chantry

hey gang! so yeah, art chantry is coming to c-u. and now you can despise me a little bit because i get to interview him. i'll pause for you to recollect your near hatred.... 

i have a slew of questions to ask from the typical "what inspires you?" to "what bands are you following now?" but i'm curious if there's anything you have in mind. what would you ask art chantry if you had the chance for a one on one? 

for the record... you do have a chance for a one on one. art chantry is super humble and kind, so if you stop by for his opening chat (which you should) i'm sure he'll be excited to get to know the fine folks of c-u. 

thanks y'all, 

anni

Art Chantry is really coming!

Today we received word from Lisa Costello, Parkland Art Gallery director, that plane tickets for Art Chantry has been purchased. After years of pursuing Art and trying to get him to come to Champaign, it feels great that he's finally going to make it here!