Pygmalion 2019 - Five Can’t Miss Events
It’s not very often a world class festival of arts, culture, and community takes place in your backyard. For the greater Champaign County area, it just so happens to take place every year. Pygmalion is a hybrid of music, discussions, technology, and makers meeting for one incredible collection of performances and events. This year’s lineup is impressive, and every show has something for everybody. Let’s break down five shows and events you can’t miss this year.
JID, Friday September 27th – Canopy Club
The up and coming rapper is a J. Cole prodigy and total lyrical wordsmith. After making the XXL Freshman class in 2018, JID toured extensively behind his album, DiCaprio 2. The rapper is compared to contemporaries like Kendrick Lamar and his mentor J. Cole for thoughtful commentaries on rap culture and issues surrounding civil rights and black Americans. It’s a can’t miss show from one of the rising stars in hip hop.
The New Pornographers, Saturday September 28th – Canopy Club
Power-pop legends The New Pornographers are one of the most critically acclaimed bands of the last 15 years. Lead vocalists Neko Case and Carl Newman are two voices that are unmistakably etched into indie rock history. Not to mention, the entire ensemble plays fun music with lyrics worth reading on their own, as well as singing along to. Catch the historic act this year at Pygmalion 2019.
MICHELLE WOLF, THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 26TH – KRANNERT CENTER
In 2017, an HBO special earned Michelle Wolf quite a few fans. Following up the performance with more touring, host of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, and the Netflix show, “The Break with Michelle Wolf,” she’s making her way to Pygmalion in the middle of a historic hot streak. Mixing in race and gender issues to witty social commentary, Wolf is a master of her craft, and a performance you’ll definitely want to see.
PYGHACK, SEPTEMBER 27TH AND 28TH – KRANNERT CENTER
The Pygmalion hackathon evolves this year to incorporate an exhibition-style showcase of participants at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, presented by Research Park at the University of Illinois and Siebel Center for Design. Teams have the opportunity to choose from a set of challenges related to the topic, with a few challenge categories including things that assist or help the community, contribute to the Champaign-Urbana tech sector, or encourage collaboration. With four prizes for the top participants, PygHack is a great example of why many refer to Champaign-Urbana as the Silicon Prairie.
Antoni Prowoski, Friday September 27th – Krannert Center
Canadian chef and Queer Eye Fab Five member Antoni Prowoski is a student of the greats like Julia Child, Jacques Pépin, Anthony Bourdain via their shows and specials. He credits his mother, however, as his number one cooking influence. With a new cookbook, Antoni in the Kitchen, and a following as large as any chef or reality star, Antoni is equal parts thoughtful and thought-provoking in his talks across the country. He shares the stage in conversation with Michelle Zauner of the band Japanese Breakfast, who also performs at Pygmalion this year.
With Made Fest, a number of literary events, and so much more, Pygmalion 2019 is playing host to some very Outside of Ordinary thinkers and performers. Tickets are still available for most shows, and many events are free to attend. Check out more about Pygmalion 2019 here, and for a full list of events, check out our events calendar, and make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.