Sundown Sessions, May 26, 2012 at Cowboy Monkey

I like to say that I’ve had a gig at every spot in Champaign-Urbana, but that’s not 100% true. There’s still one local gig that has eluded me for many years.

While I’ve certainly had some incredible moments behind the decks inside at Cowboy Monkey, I’ve never had an outdoor gig at Monkey’s spectacular beer garden. For many years, that was because DJs (and bands for that matter) weren’t playing outside at all. I’m not sure if that was a specific strategy or just something that no one pursued, but trust me, if there was a potential chance to play outside at Cowboy Monkey, I would have been jumping at it.

Starting last year, Cowboy Monkey actually did start booking early outdoor entertainment on Saturday nights. Thanks to Monkey’s Saturday Sundown Sessions, I’ve heard some really great jazz combos, DJs, and even a Brazillian guitar/upright bass/hand drums trio that perfectly fit the outdoor summer vibe.

Some of you may even remember that I was booked to play one of those Saturday Sundown Sessions last year. Unfortunately, whether it’s the very first event I ever booked back in 2001, or my 7 hour all-vinyl marathon set last year at Exile on Main St., my involvement in an outdoor event almost always brings rain. Sometimes it passes, but last year, my Sundown Session at Monkey was rained out.

So on Saturday, May 26, I’m going to pray for 75 degree weather without a cloud in the sky. As a Cubs fan, I’ve also braced myself for a torrential downpour. But if it’s at all possible, I’m going to be spinning records from 6:30 – 8:30 pm outside at Cowboy Monkey.

If the weather holds, you should expect to hear soul, jazz, roots, ska, afrobeat and laidback grooves. Basically, music that is perfect to listen to as the sun goes down in the summer.

Hope to see you there!