Wes Urbaniak | Bishop Hill, IL

🍉 6pm - potluck/social hour

🎤 7pm - show

💵 $20-30 suggested donation

👨‍👩‍👧 All ages, family-friendly

🎫 Get Tickets at xroadscc.org/events!

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https://wesurbaniak.com/

I live in a forest in a yurt on an island of the Yellowstone River below mountains here in Montana. Yeah, quite a statement, and one that leads a person to wonder. How?

Wes Urbaniak is an amalgamation of songwriting, storytelling and unique craftsmanship. His music is real, honest, bold and a little odd in the best way possible. The experiences of his life have created stories through his songs. He pushes the limits within the human mind while opening up the possibilities for the human spirit to explore what’s dwelling within. His whole world is a wonderfully delirious imagination rendered into reality. It’s quite difficult to describe the beauty within which he lives and creates – it is something that must be experienced in real time. Wes lives in a yurt, in a forest, on an island in the Yellowstone River, and is surrounded by the mountains of Montana with his 100% adorable pup, Wilbur. His shop and studio are also on the island where he lives, wanders, and pokes at the nature of the curious mind. In the shop, he builds instruments primarily from reclaimed sources (100+ year old pianos / Red Rock Amphitheater Benches / naturally felled trees). In the studio, and wandering the island in the many hours of each day, he has learned to pull the strings around on most stringed instruments. His mind hears symphonies, his heart (Coyote) drives him to create them by pulling the whole world through his Spirit (Ala) and into a form of art, music, poetry, and dreams pushed into reality. Here we go Bearishly into what comes next…

Wes Urbaniak and The Mountain Folk is a genre bending band, but the roots always pull up like folk music. The live music world and the people in it have become as wild as the weather. WuMF has undergone significant changes while trying to embrace this new wild, but continues to progress through the simplicity of strings, harmonies, and foundational lyrics. In the world of plastic-look-at-me’s, a deeper connection to art persists here – it’s rare, but so good on the heart to witness and be a part of.

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The potluck is optional, but it is a great chance to connect others in the audience and maybe even share a meal with the artist. It also helps ensure the artist isn't having to have a meal from a gas station. We'll provide the plates, bowls, silverware, napkins, and, if you need it, serving spoons. Feel free to bring anything you'd like--an entrée, appetizer, dessert, or drink to share. Bring something you will enjoy eating, because if you enjoy it, it is likely others will as well.

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Crossroads Cultural Connections is supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, Illinois Humanities, the Doris and Ken Kolb Charitable Trust, Big Bluestem Wind, and generous donors like you! To learn more about how you can help visit: https://www.xroadscc.org/support-us.

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Host or Publisher Bishop Hill Creative Commons