Uptown Sounds returned to the Village Commons in DeKalb on Thursday, bringing with it the flavor of jazz and drawing in crowds to listen, dance, and even study along to live music.
It was all orchestrated by Opportunity DeKalb and Breakroom and Friends in partnership with businesses in the Village Commons shopping center.
Opportunity DeKalb Executive Director Chad Glover said the idea behind the event is simple.
“Uptown Sounds is a very organic event where we set up music and see what happens,” Glover said.
Uptown Sounds is a free weekly live music event that runs in the fall outside the Village Commons shopping center. Typically, the performances will feature jazz music by local musicians.
Glover said he sees significance in bringing energy and live music to the Village Commons.
Glover noted that he and others are tasked with working collaboratively to revitalize the city’s Annie Glidden North neighborhood.
“One of the things that people constantly said to us was, ‘Chad, why do we have to go to other parts of DeKalb to have their live music?’” Glover said. “So, that was a goal overall was to bring live music. So, pretty much every event we’re involved in has live music.”
NIU student Fernando Garduno was enjoying the live music at a table joined by some of his classmates. He said he was into the vibe created by the band’s sound.
“Experimentalism – I like how different they are,” Garduno said. “It feels nice.”
NIU student Marlowe Galvez, who is a music minor, said he’s glad he decided to drop in for Uptown Sounds.
“It’s really calm,” Galvez said. “It’s chill. It’s also really nice out. It’s the perfect weather conditions for it.”
Glover said it’s clear that Uptown Sounds brings a whole new energy to the Village Commons.
“It creates a cool environment,” Glover said. “It’s kind of a welcoming for start of school here at NIU. … I think people generally told us it’s an uplifting and enjoyable fun way to spend their evening, whether they come for five minutes or they spend an hour here.”
Glover said businesses in the Village Commons have embraced Uptown Sounds and what it aims to accomplish.
“They have really loved it,” he said. “It’s a way to highlight the area. I think a lot of times it’s in a part of town that sometimes will get overlooked.”
There are three more weeks of Uptown Sounds in the works this fall.