What: Whitey Morgan and Cody Jinks
Where: The Accord ($20)
When: Wednesday, February 24th at 8:30
Coming out of Flint, Michigan, Whitey Morgan and the 78’s are a honky-tonk group that draw inspiration from folks like Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings. Check out this video to get an idea of their style. They are joined by Cody Jinks, an up-and-coming country musician who has a lot of talent.
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What: Haywyre
Where: The Canopy Club ($13 in advance, $15 at the door)
When: Wednesday, February 24th at 9 p.m.
Haywyre is an electronic project that incorporates elements of jazz and electronica. Martin Vogt is the man behind Hawyre and with a background in piano performance he uses the piano as the foundation of his improvisation. Check out this video of him performing live.
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What: Bret Michaels
Where: The City Center ($30)
When: Thursday, February 25th at 7 p.m.
Bret Michaels is best known as the front man of hair metal band Poison, and more recently for his work with the reality TV show Rock of Love. He has promised that it will be a party on Thursday night.
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What: Feral States, Metavari, and Jorts
Where: Mike N Molly’s ($7)
When: Thursday, February 25th at 8 p.m.
Feral States are the headliner for this show over at Mike N Molly’s. They are an experimental orchestral rock group that is currently based out of Urbana. They are joined by Metavari, an electronic group from Fort Wayne, IN that created a whole EP inspired by the TV show Twin Peaks. Local electronic project Jorts rounds out the lineup.
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What: Wes Walker & DYL
Where: The Canopy Club ($16 in advance, $21 at the door)
When: Friday, February 26th at 9 p.m.
Wes Walker & DYL hit it big with their song “Jordan Belfort”, refrencing the main character from The Wolf of Wall Street. The video for the song features Walker and DYL partying on a yacht with a bunch of girls in bikinis – I’m not sure if it is meant to be ironic.
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What: Square Donuts and Kayla & the Moon Lace Band
Where: Mike N Molly’s ($7)
When: Friday, February 26th at 9 p.m.
Square Donuts are a local funk/blues band that just released their debut EP Put the Jam On this Janurary. If you like what you hear then come check them out Friday night as they perform along with Kayla & the Moon Lace Band.
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What: Baraka and Black Esther
Where: Cowboy Monkey ($7)
When: Friday, February 26th at 9:30
Baraka is an electronic jazz project headed by Geoffrey Dean.
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What: Girls Next Door
Where: The Canopy Club ($5 in advance $10 at the door)
When: Saturday, February 27th at 7 p.m.
Come out to The Canopy Club early on Saturday to catch Girls Next Door, a popular a capella group from the U of I.
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What: Famous Dex
Where: The Canopy Club ($13-26)
When: Saturday, February 27th at 10 p.m.
Later on Saturday night at The Canopy Club, Chicago rapper Famous Dex will hit the stage with support from DJ Oreo. Famous Dex has gained a lot of popularity recently with songs like “2 Times”.
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What: GIRLS ROCK!
Where: Mike N Molly’s ($10)
When: Saturday, February 27th at 8:30 p.m.
This is a benefit concert that is being put on in an effort to establish a Girls Rock! camp here in C-U. Girls Rock! is a camp that helps girls find their voice and gain self-esteem through music education and performance. The concert with feature local musicians Rebecca Rego, Emily Otnes, Fiona Kimble, and Maddy Marsan.
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What: Dan Hubbard Album Release Show
Where: Cowboy Monkey ($7)
When: Saturday, February 27th at 8 p.m.
Dan Hubbard is a singer-songwriter from Bloomington who has released seven albums and toured throughout the Midwest since 2003. He will be supported by The Bashful Youngens, who are fresh off the release of their debut album, and local alt-country group Penny Horses.
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What: Morgan Orion & The Afterburners
Where: The Accord ($8)
When: Sunday, February 28th at 8 p.m.
Finish off your weekend with another album release show, this one featuring Morgan Orion, a folk musician originally from Urbana who has since moved to New Orleans and is now back to celebrate the release of his latest album The Tunnel of Love and the Hell of Hot Licks. He will be joined by Chachi and the Bandidos, and Cole Rabenort (of The Fights).
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What: Euriah with Ordinary People and Grand Ambassador
Where: Thee Death Tower
When: Sunday, February 28th at 9 p.m.
Solid lineup for this Sunday night show at Thee Death Tower, featuring local emo group Euriah, as well as Ordinary People and Grand Ambassador.