In a world where connection is hard to come by, the six-man band BorderTown & Co. has made it their mission to bridge the gap, transforming small-town roots and spontaneous jam sessions into music that draws strangers together and turns every show into a family reunion.

The band’s beginnings were humble. In 2022, it was just a duo: Tyler Young and Beau Siddens. They were writing songs, playing local gigs, and winning over crowds, literally, as they took home the People’s Choice Award in Danville’s Got Talent competition. A year later, Josh Turner joined and helped pull in more of the region’s top musicians to form a full band. Today, the lineup includes Young on lead vocals, Kylan Kurkendall on lead guitar, Jaxon Dillon-Fish on rhythm guitar, Matt Dickerson on fiddle, Nick Gonzales on drums, and Turner holding down the low end.

“While Beau doesn’t perform with us, he’s still very involved and a very important part of BorderTown & Co.,” Turner said.

For the members of BorderTown & Co., music is more than just a way to pass the time, it’s a lifeline, a shared language, and a hometown story told in chords and lyrics. 

“We grew up in the Midwest around friends and family that just had music everywhere,” Turner said. “Unfortunately, also in the Midwest, there wasn’t always a lot to do besides get into trouble or play music, so luckily we had that outlet. And I think that’s exactly why we’ve stuck with it; we really can’t imagine doing anything else.”

That choice has carried the group through garages, bars, hometown stages, and now, fairgrounds and regional venues across Illinois. But no matter how far they go, BorderTown & Co. remains rooted in the people and places that raised them, most notably, Danville, Illinois, which inspired their name. Sitting right on the Indiana border, Danville is both a literal and symbolic home base for the band, where their blend of country, rock, and a touch of metal was born.

“I love performing with these guys because they’re among the best musicians in the world, but they’re even better people,” Turner said. “We all go about our business the same way. We hold ourselves and each other to an extremely high standard, and I think the audience can feel that. 

“I really can’t say enough about the guys that work here. We know what this band is capable of, and we all share the same vision for it. These are exciting times indeed.

That cohesion and shared purpose shine on stage, where the band performs long sets filled with both original music and fan-favorite covers. While they take pride in their songwriting, most of which, Turner says, happens “organically” during rehearsal jam sessions, they know how to work a crowd.

“We want people to feel like they’re seeing something new and different,” Turner said.

For BorderTown & Co., the shows this summer aren’t just gigs—they’re reunions. Playing in places like at the Ribcage in St. Joseph (June 7), in Mahomet at Barber Park (June 13), and the Vermilion County Fair (June 27) feels like coming home, again and again.

The summer highlight? A long-awaited performance at the Six Strings Club in Bloomington on August 9, hosted by their longtime supporters at El Bandido Yankee Tequila. It’s a full-circle moment for a band that’s grown rapidly since those early duo days, and they hint that even bigger news is on the way.

“We do have some really big news coming very soon that I was hoping to drop here, but unfortunately, we’re not quite there yet,” Turner said. “So follow us, come see us, listen to our music, and be happy.”

Until then, Bordertown’s music can be found on Pandora.