Jingle Bell Jam back for second year at Elgin studio
Side Street Studio Arts hosted its second annual Jingle Bell Jam!, a day of music, featuring area bands and solo musicians in Elgin.
The event, from 2 to 11 p.m. Saturday at 15 Ziegler Court, expanded this year to include two additional venues - Next Door Theater at 15½ Ziegler Court, and Rediscover Records at 9 S. Spring St.
The lineup of artists included a dozen acts representing genres such as rock, experimental and singer-songwriter. Three of the bands played at this event last year and others performed at the gallery other times. $2 of the $12 suggested donation went to the Food for Greater Elgin food pantry.
The Side Street Studio Arts director Erin Rehberg said more than 150 people came last year, and the goal for this year was 200. She said the event is a great way for bands to get exposure and audience crossover with other bands. It's also the studio's last event for 2014. "(It's) just kind of closing out the year. It's the last we do in the year with a bang," Rehberg said, interjecting a laugh, "literally."
"Personally for me, I get to stand around and hear great music, local music that I didn't know they existed until we opened this place all day," she said. "So that's really fun."