[jazzblues] Canopy Club to host Nature's Table 2008 Reunion Concerts

[Jeff Machota]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jeff Machota
Cell: 217/722-8601
Email: thetable at naturestable.net

7/10/2008

CANOPY CLUB TO HOST NATURE'S TABLE 2008 REUNION CONCERTS

Performances on Consecutive Nights to Feature Jazz and Blues Music from
Music Venue's Past

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The second annual Nature's Table reunion is scheduled to be held Friday,
August 15, and Saturday, August 16, at the Canopy Club in Urbana,
Illinois.

Nature's Table was a whole food restaurant and live music venue in
Urbana, Illinois from the 1979 to 1991.  The restaurant featured live
music seven nights a week, including an eclectic mix of jazz, folk,
blues, bluegrass, and experimental music. Besides providing a space for
local acts, Nature's Table also featured national touring artists.

When the University of Illinois reclaimed the property in 1991, the
community lost a unique local resource.

Terry Masar, former owner of the restaurant, felt that the time had come
to reunite some of the artists who had performed at the venue
many years ago, and in 2007 organized the first reunion concert in
Champaign.  This year, the reunion event has been expanded to two
consecutive nights, and has been moved to a larger, indoor venue to
accomodate a greater number of attendees.

"Based on the success of last year's reunion, we think this year's event
will be even better," Masar says.

Jeff Machota, who worked at Nature's Table starting in the mid-1980s, is
encouraged about the reunion. "We have a great line-up this year,"
Machota says, "Whether you went to Nature's Table or not, we'll think
you enjoy both nights of this year's reunion.

Scheduled blues performers (Friday) include The Freak Brothers, The
Surreal Deal, and The Mighty Pranksters.

Scheduled jazz performers (Saturday) include The Bob & Jeff Show; hot
music (tba); Guido Sinclair Tribute featuring Tom Paynter; Jeff Helgesen
and Friends, Condition Blue; and The Joan Hickey Trio with Joel Spencer.

Admission for each night will be $10.  Advance tickets will be available
from the Canopy Club. Doors open at 8:00pm on Friday and 5:30pm on
Saturday.

Additional information is available at the following website:

http://www.naturestable.net/


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If you'd like more information about this topic, or to schedule an
interview, please call Jeff Machota at 217/722-8601 or e-mail
thetable at naturestable.net.

The Canopy Club is located at 708 South Goodwin Avenue in Urbana,
Illinois.