Summer Sundown is a celebration of our Central/Southern Illinois music scene, with two days of music from bands haling from Champaign to Carbondale and everywhere in between...along with two AMAZING headliners from Memphis and Nashville.

Summer Sundown would like to welcome: Southern Avenue - Memphis, TN Steve Poltz - Nashville, TN Matt Poss Band - Effingham, IL Jenny Johnson Band - Carbondale, IL Bones Jugs - Urbana, IL John Spicer and The Fightin' Side - Patoka, IL The Surviving Members - Effingham, IL Fiona Kimble - Champaign, IL Bill Poss and the Useful Tools - Effingham, IL Local Honey - Effingham, IL Todd Hazelrigg Music - Charleston, IL Mountain King - Cisne, IL Tim Crosby & the Lightning Strikes - Carbondale, IL Taylor Steele & The Love Preachers - Efffingham, IL Bathtub Hooch Band - Effingham, IL The Greyhounds - Effingham, IL Elastic Waist Band - Greenville, IL ...and more to come!

7:30 p.m., Saturday, June 23, 2018 Doors and Bar Open at 7 pm $10 advance, $12 or $5 (students) night of show

Every show the Jenny Johnson Band does, they come rehearsed, arranged and as polished as possible. That won’t be the case when they come to The Varsity on June 23.

Jenny has written a set of new songs to be presented for the first time. The band, along with musical friends from the community, will be joining Jenny’s band as they work out these songs for the first time all together on stage.

This is a one-of-a-kind, intimate night where the process is shared with the audience. They don’t know who’s going to solo, how the songs are going to sound, or if the songs are any good. Some of the songs won’t even be finished by the time the show rolls around, but those will be performed, too, including some you might never hear again.

The performance at The Varsity will be in the Balcony space, which features state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems.

The show begins at 7:30 Saturday, June 23. Advance tickets are $10 at www.thevarsitycenter.eventbrite.com only. Tickets at the door on the night of the show are $12 or $5 for students.

Doors and The Varsity Bar open at 7 p.m. The bar features wine, beer, select cocktails, spiked coffee drinks, soda and snacks.

For the last six years, Ivas John's "Blue Christmas" concert has been a hallmark of the holiday season in Southern Illinois. Drawing from the region's best and brightest musical acts, the show has been featured on WSIU TV for the last three years running. The extraordinary lineup this year will include The Swamp Tigers, Wil Maring & Robert Bowlin, The Jenny Johnson Band, The Gordons, Shadi Frick, Robbie Stokes, The Free Range Chicks, and more! Tickets are available at The Life Community Center (618-549-4222), and Plaza Records. We look forward to making this the BLUEST Christmas you've ever had!!!!

Join Planetary Radio host MAT KAPLAN for two interactive panel discussions and audience Q&A sessions covering a wide range of eclipse related topics - from eclipse basics and what to expect, to amateur astronomy, astrophotography, and more!

The event will be live-streamed online at wsiu.org/eclipse and planetary.org. The event is FREE and open to the public (but tickets are required). Reserve space now through the SIU Ticket Office by phone at (618) 453-2000, online at SIUSALUKIS.COM, or in person at the SIU Arena Ticket Office.

SPECIAL GUESTS | Jenny Johnson Local musician Jenny Johnson, of Jenny Johnson Band, will perform music from her catalog, including an original song inspired by the solar eclipse.

PARKING | This exciting event will draw visitors from all over the country! We encourage guests to arrival early and explore our beautiful campus. Public parking is available for visitors both on campus and at select municipal lots nearby. Learn more about parking options: http://www.carbondaleeclipse.com/get-around/

Learn more about the event at http://www.wsiu.org/planetaryradiolive.