Jingle Bell Jam benefit to rock your holiday in Elgin
Side Street Studio Arts, 15 Ziegler Court in downtown Elgin, hosts its third annual "Jingle Bell Jam," featuring four area bands, on Saturday, Dec. 19. Doors open at 5 p.m. with bands beginning at 6:30 p.m., with a $12 suggested donation at the door.
This year's Jingle Bell Jam will not only rock you into your holidays, but new this year, will partner bands with nonprofit organizations in order to raise funds for both the bands and the organizations. Each participating band has selected an organization to partner with in order to raise awareness and funds.
With their suggested donation at the door, Jingle Bell Jam audiences will receive a ticket to place in the band/charity jar they wish to support. Each charity will receive $1 for every ticket in their jar. Additional tickets may be purchased for $1.
Additional proceeds will go the support the musicians and Side Street Studio Arts.
Participating bands and organizations: Early Autumn Station with the Diaper Bank of Northern Illinois; Man Bites Dog with Ecker Center for Mental Health; Little Yellow Dog with Kiva; and Oceans and Oceans with To Write Love On Her Arms.
"We thoroughly enjoy this event every year," said SSSA Director Amanda Harris. "Jingle Bell Jam will close off 2015 with some of our favorite artists to work with, including our 2015 Battle of the Bands winner Oceans and Oceans. It will be a great evening, and a fun way to raise funds for these important nonprofit organizations."
For information, contact Side Street Studio Arts at (847) 429-2276, visit www.SideStreetStudioArts.org or the Jingle Bell Jam Facebook event page.
Side Street Studio Arts is hosting a monthlong series of events in conjunction with "Krampuslauf - Elgin." The third annual exhibit, curated in conjunction with Elgin artists John LaFleur and David Metzter, as well as Jingle Bell Jam, and the inaugural "Krampus Krawl" Dec. 4, are all based upon the lore of the northern European Krampus, the dark companion of St. Nicholas, the traditional European winter gift-bringer who rewards good children each year on Dec. 6. The kindly old saint leaves the task of punishing bad children to Krampus. Usually seen with horns, hoofs and monstrous tongue, he also can be disguised a sinister gentleman dressed in black, or a hairy man-beast.
Gallery hours for "Krampuslauf - Elgin" are: noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, or by appointment.
The featured artists include: Bruce Bachelder and Mike Rende of BaM!, Dave Bremer, Sam Burt, Jeff Busch, Erin Cramer, Kate Dickey, Jane Erlandson and Nancy Guthrie, John E. French, Metzger, Christopher Palm, Amy Porter, Ken Simonsen, Don Widmer, Lindsey Wiseman, Kimberly Witz and more.
For information, call Side Street Studio Arts at (847) 429-2276, visit www.SideStreetStudioArts.org or the Krampuslauf - Elgin, IL Facebook event page at www.facebook.com/KrampuslaufElginIL/.
Side Street Studio Arts was founded by Tanner Melvin and Erin Rehberg in 2013 as an outlet for the Elgin arts scene. Currently under the direction of Amanda Harris, Melvin, and Rehberg, Side Street provides educational and creative resources and an accessible space, run by artists. Its mission is to support the artist and artistic journey through collaboration.