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88 Broadway. Photo: Sarah Syman

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The return of the Urbana Blues, Brews and BBQ Festival means a return to a weekend of sloppy eats and blues greats from across the country. The Festival, which takes place on Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27 on Main Street in downtown Urbana ends at 10:30 p.m. each night — an early curfew for locals and visiting folks alike. In lieu of an early evening in, Urbana’s 88 Broadway has stepped up to host an after party show from Candy Foster and Kilborn Alley Blues Band on Friday and Saturday evening respectively.

“We jumped at the opportunity to work alongside the festival. Our shows will be the icing on the cake for all the night owls who aren’t done partying yet,” said Jodie Whealy, booking agent for 88 Broadway.

The shows, which will be held in the courtyard of the Lincoln Square Mall (in which 88 Broadway is currently housed), will be a free event for both Festival participants and those who could not make it out to the daytime event. The Blues, Brews and BBQ Festival is an outdoor event, so as Whealy explains, “After being in the sun all day everyone will probably be ready for a little air conditioning [at 88 Broadway] as well.”

The two free events will directly follow the closing of the Festival each evening at 10:30 p.m. and hopes to integrate the unique layout of 88 Broadway. “We’d really like to provide people with an unparalleled venue experience. We’re the only place in town you can go, take a seat, enjoy a live show and have dinner and drinks brought right to you. It’s like a full-service concert!” said Whealy.

Though 88 Broadway is predominantly known as a piano bar, after July, the pianos will play roughly once a month with more emphasis on booked acts like the Blues, Brews and BBQ after party shows.

For more information on the after party and upcoming events, visit http://www.88broadwaybar.com.