CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) — The Ellnora Guitar Festival marks its 20th anniversary at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts this weekend, local producer Seth Fein is reflecting on how the Champaign-Urbana community has helped foster a thriving live music ecosystem for decades.
“This town has always had a deep appreciation for meaningful performances,” said Fein, producer of ILLIAC and The Pygmalion Festival. “It’s not just about big names—it’s about the idea that music and performance matter, and that they belong to the public. That’s what makes festivals like ELLNORA possible here.”
The three-day festival brings world-class guitarists from across genres—blues, jazz, classical, funk, and beyond—into the heart of Central Illinois. The celebration kicks off Thursday with free performances from artists like Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge, Marel Hidalgo, and Bertha: Grateful Drag, followed by ticketed headliners including Jeff Tweedy, Rosanne Cash, and Gary Clark Jr.
Fein, who has been producing local events for over 20 years, says this community’s consistent support is what makes a festival like this sustainable.
“I’m incredibly grateful to venues like The Canopy Club and Krannert Center—they’ve believed in this mission from the beginning,” Fein said. “They’ve opened doors, literally and figuratively, to help us grow something that feels both locally rooted and globally relevant.”
Fein adds that presenting free, high-quality performances to the public remains essential to the identity of the region. “Whether it’s at a bar, a concert hall, or a public plaza—what we do here has value. And people here show up for that value.”
Tickets went on sale August 13 and are available online at KrannertCenter.com.